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Raul Garcia Hemonnet
Cybersecurity has become one of the strategic aspects for the business world in all sectors. There is little specialization in Spain related to this field. The Rey Juan Carlos University, within a pilot program of the Community of Madrid to increase the training of vocational training graduates in technological skills, has opened pre-registration for a one-year dual program on cybersecurity.
Marta Beltrán, professor and director of the master's degree in cybersecurity and privacy at URJC and one of those responsible for the initiative on behalf of the University, has defined this program as "a master's degree for graduates in vocational training that is designed jointly with the companies”, so, he added, “it responds to the demands for profiles requested by the market”.
In this program, students will spend half their time receiving university training and the other half in companies where, thanks to this training model, "they will be able to put into practice what they have learned in the classroom, in the day-to-day work of the company" .
The companies that collaborate with the URJC in this dual cybersecurity training program belong to the IT security and consulting sectors: Accenture, Altran, Deloitte, Oesia, ViewNext (IBM) and WestCon.
Together with the university, these companies will provide training to the 26 students who participate in the program. In addition, they will be paid a salary that includes and exceeds the amount of tuition and fees.
The pilot program is promoted by the Bertlesmann Foundation and the Spanish Consulting Association (AEC). Universities were asked to submit proposals and URJC was chosen to deliver the cybersecurity programme. The other two programs: Java and Big Data, will be taught by the University of Alcalá de Henares. The initiative is aimed at students from Higher Vocational Training Degrees in Network Information Systems Administration, Multiplatform Application Development and Web Application Development.
Strong commitment to cybersecurity
This program is part of the strong commitment to cybersecurity that the URJC has been making for several years. At the moment, the University has a MOOC on cybersecurity that is already in its fourth edition and two of its own titles and, in September, according to Marta Beltrán, "the first degree in Cybersecurity Engineering will be launched in Spain".
An important effort to offer training that is increasingly demanded by companies and society.