Abstract:

The Slovak Republic, like other EU countries, has an objective need to address critical infrastructure issues and consequently, the issue of protection and defence, in view of the dynamics of the real security environment. Critical infrastructure is understood to be an element or system of elements of critical infrastructure whose disruption or destruction would have serious adverse effects on the achievement of the economic and social function of the state and thus on the quality of life of the population in terms of protecting their life, health, safety, property, as well as environment.

Critical infrastructure in the energy sector is considered to be one of the most important infrastructure networks significantly entering into the operational continuity of the society. Her importance is also perceived from the point of view of interconnections and correlations with other sectors of critical infrastructure which is also supported by the fact that the European Union considers this sector to be strategic and European.

From the point of view of the importance of critical energy infrastructure in social life and economy, as well as the need to guarantee the protection of critical energy infrastructure and to demonstrate the state's readiness to respond effectively to crisis situations and terrorist threats there is a great need for professional, highly educated specialists at all levels of government and in the private sector.
Based on this fact, from academic year 2013/2014 the Faculty of Security Engineering, University of Zilina (FSE UNIZA) has been preparing specialists in the 1st and 2nd degree of higher education in the study field Civil Security, study program Critical Infrastructure Security and Protection (CISP).

The CISP study program is unique in the European space and FSE UNIZA is the only faculty in the Slovak Republic providing specialized security education aimed at managing the security and resilience of important systems and services as potential elements of the critical infrastructure system of the state.

The aim of this paper is to present an effort of the FSE UNIZA to develop links between research and education within the CISP study program with a priority focus on the European Critical Infrastructure sector - Energy. In order to provide students with the latest knowledge that brings a higher degree of education and to offer them own know-how, the FSE UNIZA participates in solving several domestic and foreign projects aimed at reducing the societal vulnerability due to the failure of important systems and services in energy or increasing the resilience of energy infrastructure systems and services. The paper also presents the specific research results achieved in the FP7 RAIN project and the national project financed by the Scientific Grant Agency of the Ministry of Education, science, research and sport of the Slovak Republic and the Slovak Academy of Sciences, contributing to enhancing the educational materials and the development of students' expertise in ensuring the protection of critical energy infrastructure.

Keywords:

Research, education, project, energy, critical infrastructure, protection.