Abstract:

Considerations of critical infrastructure protection are now a major concern in Slovakia as in many other countries of the world. Critical infrastructure means an asset, system or part thereof which is essential for the maintenance of vital societal functions, health, safety, security, economic or social well-being of people, and the disruption or destruction of which would have a significant impact in a state as a result of the failure to maintain those functions. The concern stems from a variety of causes which include especially threats to infrastructure from natural disasters (e.g. heavy rainfall, landslides, forest fires, earthquakes, etc.) and from human malevolence (e.g. terrorism, sabotage), negligence and technological accidents. Public – private partnership arrangements between the related Ministries and operators, which are required to protect the critical infrastructure element from disruption and destruction, represents another important aspect of adequate protected critical infrastructure.

As an essential element of national and also international security, critical infrastructure protection requires highly educated professionals at all levels of government institutions as well as in the private sector. Government institutions realize state administration in the field of critical infrastructure. Private sector, represented by the operators of the critical infrastructure elements, is responsible for their operation and security.

The aim of this paper is to present an effort of the Faculty of Security Engineering, University of Zilina, Slovakia to develop study programme “Security and Protection of Critical Infrastructure” that will become part of the cutting-edge approach to the critical infrastructure protection education. It provides also presentation of basic concepts and aspects of understanding the security and protection of critical infrastructure, increasing interest and need for higher education in this field, description of the purpose and content of the study program at the Faculty of Security Engineering, University of Zilina, the professional profile of graduate and problems and challenges for academics to find relevant resources to support their knowledge.

Keywords:

Higher education, study program, critical infrastructure, security, protection.