International Collaboration: Insights from cyber security education visits to the UK and Australia

Nigel A. Jones (CSE Connect and Kings College London) and Costis Toregas (NCyTE International Program and The George Washington University)

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Over the summer we reviewed our work on cyber security education collaboration.  These featured our joint reports on an initial visit by US academics to the UK, and then a UK/US delegation to Australia.  If you are interested in an international perspective on cyber security education and what we can achieve with you in an international community of practice, read on.

You’ll find the following joint reports in CSE Connect’s Sharehub under ICEC and also posted on the NCyTE website here. 

·       NCYTE Visit to UK Report

·       ICEC Australian Visit Report FINAL

·       The Role of International Collaboration in Cybersecurity Education

These documents chronicle the International Cybersecurity Education Collaborative's (ICEC) formation as an initiative between CSE Connect and the US’ National Cyber Training and Education Center (NCyTE).  They offer a deep dive into our efforts to address educational practice in an ecosystem that aims to meet the needs of students, employers and educators. As we reflected on these experiences, common challenges and innovative solutions underscored the substantive benefits and need for international collaboration.

Visit to the UK by NCyTE: A Dialogue on Shared Challenges

In November 2023, a delegation from the NCyTE visited the UK, laying the groundwork for sustained international collaboration in cybersecurity education.

The visit's core aim was to form institutional and personal relationships and scope engagement at various levels of maturity, from simple dialogue to joint projects and institutional development. Visit events and discussion spanned London, Manchester, and Exeter, focusing on regional dynamics and their impact on educational delivery.

Key discussions in the UK highlighted the importance of accessing diverse talent and potential, advocating for creative reframing of roles (e.g., 'digital firefighter') and tapping into talent from non-traditional backgrounds, such as the gaming community. The gaming topic has since been taken forward by our ICEC Industry Special Interest Group led by John Madelin and Kyle Jones. (See John’s LinkedIn post on his work at this year’s Advances in Cyber Security conference.)  The visit also explored innovative apprenticeship models, where employees learn while earning, avoiding traditional university debt. Resources like the UK's Cyber Body of Knowledge (CyBOK) and US online repositories like NICE Challenge Project were shared to support curricula and realistic work experience. The UK engagement emphasised a "Problem Book" approach to community problem-solving in cyber education. (Which we are now calling ‘impact projects’)

Expanding Horizons in Australia: Building on Collaboration

Building on the UK experience, an ICEC-supported visit took place in Canberra, Australia, from March 17-19, 2025. This initiative brought together cyber security education experts, policymakers, and industry leaders from the UK, US, and Australia to address critical cyber workforce challenges and share innovative strategies. The engagement aimed to foster thought leadership and create the foundations for long-term partnerships, particularly within and between participating nations. The Australian visit showcased Canberra's thriving cyber sector and impressive relationships among business, government, and academia, indicative of a strong "cyber ecosystem approach".

Commonalities and Highlights

Both the UK and Australia displayed a consistent focus on:

• The criticality of strong industry-education partnerships and ecosystem approaches to talent development.

• The paramount importance of initiatives to find and expand the talent pool, whoever or wherever they may be. (This work now led by Steph Aldrige at CSE Connect and Deanne Cranford Wesley at North Carolina Central University)

• The need for continuous faculty development to ensure educators deliver contextually relevant and inspiring content that meets employer needs.

• The exploration of innovative pedagogical techniques, including hands-on initiatives, gaming, and real-world scenarios to foster a competitive security mindset and tradecraft. (CSE Connect and NCyTE have now run workshops on AI in the classroom.)

• The challenge of defining and refining workforce language, roles, and skills frameworks, with a focus on competency-based assessments rather than just knowledge acquisition (Charles Clarke of CSE Connect has since collaborated with NCyTE in developing a UK specific pilot for competency based cyber security education and an impact project is live on the CSE Connect website here.)

• Addressing structural barriers in the talent pipeline, such as the lack of early-stage career opportunities and the need for flexible career pathways.

While these commonalities highlight universal challenges, some local highlights emerged. The UK visit focused on establishing the foundational framework for sustained international collaboration and exploring how regional differences within the UK influenced educational delivery. The Australian visit provided insights into Australia's specific strengths, such as Canberra's cohesive government-industry-academia ecosystem and a seemingly robust approach to academic staff vetting and professional development. There was a particular interest in task-based approach to competency rather than standardised job roles, offering a unique perspective on workforce development. Furthermore, the Australian visit included discussions on potentially creating an Australian equivalent of NCyTE or CSE Connect to foster national community building and engagement with ICEC.

Join the ICEC Network

The International Cybersecurity Education Collaborative (ICEC) is a testament to the power of shared expertise and collaborative action. Formed as a network between UK and US cyber security educators, in partnership with NCyTE and CSE Connect, ICEC is dedicated to strengthening cybersecurity education.

What ICEC Hopes to Achieve

Our mission is to bridge national and international efforts to strengthen cyber security education, support educators, and expand workforce development.

We aim to:

• Reduce the international cyber workforce gap through innovative programs and shared best practices.  This is not simply a question of numbers of people but the relevance of education to employer needs.

• Foster innovation in the classroom and in professional development.

• Promote diversity and inclusion in cyber careers and educational environments.

• Enhance industry-education engagement and align educational output with real-world workforce needs.

• Facilitate the harmonisation of global standards and frameworks in cybersecurity education.

• Build long-term partnerships and a robust, resilient cyber workforce for the future.

How You Can Contribute and Benefit

ICEC is a community of practice, where individuals passionate about cybersecurity education learn and grow together. By joining our network, you can:

• Contribute your expertise to our Impact Projects and Special Interest Groups (SIGs) focused on, for example, Innovation in the Classroom, Inclusion in the Workforce and Classroom, and Understanding Industry Workforce Needs.

• Participate in ongoing dialogue through regular online meetings and informal "morning coffee-afternoon tea" sessions, sharing challenges and solutions.

• Engage in joint research and projects that drive progress in cybersecurity education.

• Expand your professional network, connecting with experts, policymakers, and industry leaders from diverse international backgrounds.

• Gain insights from complementary approaches and best practices, reducing "innovation friction" and accelerating the adoption of good ideas.

• Influence global strategies for a resilient, inclusive, and future-ready cyber workforce.

• Support faculty development, enhancing your own and others' teaching skills and currency of curricula.

We invite you to read the full reports on our UK and Australian visits to understand the depth of these discussions and the potential for future collaboration.

The challenge of securing our interconnected world rests on an international view of the problem and a international view of the workforce that can solve it. ICEC is leading this effort by bringing together educators, industry, and government to build a skilled, adaptable, and diverse cyber workforce. It’s a collaborative effort. Join the ICEC network today and become part of this vital international initiative.