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Security education in the IT degrees of UK universities has been found wanting, according to a report by the Cyber Security Knowledge Transfer Network

UK universities are failing to teach IT students about security issues, with fewer than 20% of undergraduates receiving security education amounting to more than a few hours’ teaching.

The report, commissioned by the Cyber Security knowledge transfer network, analysed the course content of 75 UK universities offering IT degrees

and found that only one embedded security issues across a range of subjects.

At the same time, 47% of universities investigated were found to show ‘none’ or ‘token’ interest in integrated security education.

Report author and consultant Bill Whyte says that attempts to increase the time devoted to security teaching would “likely meet very strong opposition, as other competing subjects have strong claims for inclusion”. However, he adds, “Efforts to significantly increase the percentage of students receiving an amount of security education (a few hours) may be effective.”

Further reading

Stats entertainment – Squatters’ wrongs Tracking malicious cyber-squatters

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