Part of the famed code-breaking site at Bletchley Park will be turned into the National College of Cyber Security, says QUFARO – a new not-for-profit body. Planned is a boarding college, free for pupils, (with some day students) selective because it targeting those gifted and ready to take on National Qualification level three typically (but not exclusively) 16-19-year-olds. Register your interest at www.qufaro.uk.
The organisers say that the UK already has programmes designed to identify and nurture upcoming cyber talent but they are often disconnected. That can make it hard for young people to chart a learning pathway from early-stage interest to qualification, employment and professional development. QUFARO is designed to plug these gaps. Mark Hughes, pictured, CEO of BT Security, is a QUFARO non-executive director and Stephanie Daman, CEO of Cyber Security Challenge UK, QUFARO executive director.
Students will be able to study in the very place where codebreakers cracked Nazi codes in the British war effort. Operational by 2018, the College will draw its syllabus from the individuals working in the cyber security industry in the UK, and integrate this with modules in complementary subjects such as maths, computer science, and physics.
QUFARO plans also to develop new cyber security courses, such as teacher awareness and training, and new virtual courses in the fundamentals of cyber security for those seeking a career change. The first of these is already live. The Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) in cyber security is the UK’s first cyber qualification for school pupils and independent learners wishing to study cyber between GCSE and university degree or vocational level. It has been funded and developed by QUFARO in collaboration with the Cyber Security Challenge UK, is backed by City and Guilds and opened in September; and is already oversubscribed.
QUFARO plans a £50m cyber innovation investment fund next year, to support entrepreneurs.
Alastair MacWilson, Chair of QUFARO and the Institute of Information Security Professionals, says: “Our cyber education and innovation landscape is complex, disconnected and incomplete putting us at risk of losing a whole generation of critical talent. For those interested in forging a career in cyber, the current pathway is filled with excellent but disparate initiatives – each playing a vital role without offering a truly unified ecosystem of learning and support. By connecting what already exists and filling the gaps, QUFARO will make it easier for budding professionals to grow their cyber security skills at every stage of their journey, and contribute more to the sector as a result.”
