LIFELONG LEARNING FOR RAISING CYBERSECURITY AWARENESS

The rapid growth of modern information and comunication technologies – the sine qua non condition for information society development – has had a major impact of social, economic, politic and cultural national envinronment and similarly, for our daily life. At present, the easily access to information and communication technologies represents one of the premises of good functioning in modern society.
Cyberspace is characterised by lack of borders, dynamism and anonymity, generating both opportunities for the development of the information society based on knowledge and, unfortunately risks to its functioning (individual, state and even cross-border).

Romania assumes both the development of dynamic informational environment based on interoperability and specific information society services and the fundamental rights and freedoms of citizens alongside with national security interests within legal framework. From this point of view, it is mandatory to develop the cybersecurity culture of ICT (Information and Communication Technology) systems for users who have limited information about cybersecurity risks and cyberdefence solutions. Vast knowledge both of cyberspace threats and risks and prevention and defense of these requires a good communication and cooperation among special actors of this field.

In this context, ensuring cybersecurity is a joint responsibility. End users play a crucial role in ensuring the security of networks and information systems: they need to be made aware of the risks they face online and be empowered to take simple steps to guard against them.

The lifelong learning is the continuous process of flexible learning opportunities, correlating the acquired competencies and education in formal institutions with developing the informal and non-formal competencies, especially at the workplace. This reflects a concept of continuous learning – anytime, anywhere. Also, the concept has under gone a serious of changes, the fundamental reasoning stays the same: people must update their knowledge and their competencies in their quality as individuals, citizens and employees. This is essential in an attempt to support competitively within global economy of knowledge based technology and in order to promote social integration as well as the participation in democratic society.

Therefore LLL includes, in a broader sense, all forms of learning (i.e.) formal education, non-formal education and informal education. This is LLL concept (i.e) the learning anywhere and anyway – permanent learning, which supposes a positive attitude towards learning.

This paper presents the methods and methodologies used to increasing cybersecurity awareness throught lifelong learning national program.