Abstract:

The need for cybersecurity education is something that is already well known. This need is not only associated with cybersecurity experts but is also expressed towards all other users of digital technologies. As part of its regular study programs, the Zagreb University of Applied Sciences (TVZ) offers studies in various fields, not all of which are related to computing. Our students of electrical engineering, civil engineering and digital economics should also be aware of the potential dangers of the digital environment.

Our previous research based on the topic of cybersecurity shows that TVZ students and lecturers have a good level of CSA index, but also that TVZ should start with developing and conducting regular educational activities related to cybersecurity topics, as soon as possible. To investigate the specific interest in type of delivery, preferred format and language of cybersecurity education among all our students and lecturers, in this research we again used an online questionnaire, but this time with the purpose to find out what type of lectures, format and language of cybersecurity education they prefer and do they even recognize the importance of cybersecurity topics education for their professional development.

The obtained results indicate that students consider cybersecurity topics extremely important for their careers, precisely because they themselves had personal experiences with certain forms of cyber-attacks. Subject with cybersecurity topics, students would most like to have through an available subject within their study program, which content would mostly be focused on the practical application of cybersecurity challenges solving. The share of theoretical knowledge in those classes should be just informative, although their teachers are somewhat more inclined to bigger share of theoretical part of classes. Students show a tendency to hold these classes in person and prefer teaching materials in English, when compared to their lecturer’s preferences.

We will use all the obtained results in the content preparation of the cybersecurity course, the main purpose of which will be to raise the level of knowledge and skills in solving the ever-increasing challenges of ubiquitous digital technologies. Based on this, for the next academic year, we will propose the implementation of the optimal type, structure and language of a regular subject on cybersecurity to the Zagreb University of Applied Sciences. During further teaching of this subject, we will continuously supervise its quality, update content as well as the way of teaching.

Keywords:

Cybersecurity awareness, cybersecurity education, HEI, higher education.