Abstract:

Cyber-security threats evolve as rapidly as the Internet expands, and staying protected against cyber-security threats requires all users, ranging from children and their parents to the most sophisticated users, their risk awareness and improvement of security practices on an ongoing basis. However, cyber educational system with all educational levels, including elementary education, higher education, universities and lifelong education, present core carriers for education and encouragement of cyber-security competence across the nation.

Recently, Montenegro (ME) has recognized the importance of modern cyber security society development, by taking the following steps:
(i) Government has adopted strategic documents in 2012 (Strategy for development of Information Society in ME 2012-2016), with goals and tasks of establishing quality level of cyber security;
(ii) National ME Computer Emergency Readiness Team (CERT) is established in 2012, and
(iii) CERT already took actions of assistance to government agencies for both, reducing the risks of computer security incidents and responding to such incidents when they occur.

Finally, the issues of cyber-security vulnerabilities, national security, public safety, and critical infrastructure were discussed on Explanatory session between EU and ME (2012) during the Screening chapter 10 – “Information society”. In this report, EU highlighted the necessity of initiating activities focused on cyber-security awareness, education, trainings, and professional development, all coordinated and systematically organized at national level.

Motivated by recent trends in cyber security education and as well as growing challenges of fighting against cyber treats and attacks at global level, ME universities in cooperation with relevant ministries and other institutions at national level, initiated national project titled ‘Enhancement of cyber educational system of ME’, which is accepted for funding by last TEMPUS call (544088-1-2013-1-SI-JPHES). The project is aimed on enhancing the overall ME cyber-security educational system and accelerating the availability of educational and training resources designed to improve the overall cyber security society in ME.

Project specific objectives are:
(i) increase public awareness of cyber-security risks, responsible use of the Internet, and cyber-security as a career path;
(ii) raise the competency and capability of information security professionals and practitioners through education, training, employment, and certification; and
(iii) develop the next generation of cyber-security workers by establishing Master study in Cyber security.

In this paper we present results of comprehensive analyses of current level of cyber educational system of ME with measuring indicators (e.g. organizational capacities, number of cyber security and general ICT courses, number of departments and study programs addressing some of cyber security issues, number of organized trainings and workshops, etc.) on which bases, innovative model with short-term and long-term goals are defined with respect to specificity of ME society (may be seen in small population, differences in regional development and prosperity, etc.).

Implementation of proposed model represent challenging issues for ME society in order to achieve advanced national prosperity and security in the 21st century through innovative cyber-security education, and thus, specific indicators are proposed for measuring progress level.

Keywords:

Cyber security, educational system, national level.