Google.org Cybersecurity Seminars

We are teaming up with Google.org to offer more and better learning and job opportunities in cybersecurity to students at universities in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

About

Students taking part in the Cybersecurity Seminars will get to put what they learn into practice, which will not only advance their skills but also positively affect the communities around them.
They’ll do this by working on real security projects, receiving guidance from mentors, and competing in competitions that challenge them to solve security problems.

We have teamed up with Google.org up to improve cybersecurity education at selected universities across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. This effort is about giving students who are interested in cybersecurity more chances to learn and build careers in this fast-changing area. The partnership will help these universities teach a fuller range of cybersecurity subjects, covering everything from foundational concepts to advanced strategies for combating cyber threats.

Students taking part will learn by applying their classroom skills in real-life situations. This can include doing internships where they can work in the field, getting tips and networking with professional cybersecurity mentors, and taking part in hackathons, which challenge them to come up with solutions to actual security problems while working with others and sharing ideas.

Through this innovative mix of theory and practice, Google.org and Virtual Routes aspire to cultivate a new generation of cybersecurity experts ready to tackle the complex challenges faced by digital economies and societies.

How It Works

Selected universities across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa will receive up to $1 million in funds and access to Google’s technology and expertise. They’ll also receive educational materials and guidance from Virtual Routes.

Who we Support

This program supports selected higher education institutions across Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Higher education institutions that are not universities can take part, as long as their primary purpose is education and most of their courses are available to the general public. Examples of such higher education institutions include polytechnic institutes, professional or vocational colleges, or military or diplomatic academies.All supported institutions – universities or other higher education institutions – must be nonprofits.

PARTICIPATING UNIVERSITIES

Riga Technical University (LV)

RTU is a modern internationally recognized university. It is the only polytechnic university in Latvia and the largest university in the country – it educates and trains almost 15 thousand students.

Technical University of Cluj-Napoca (RO)

The Technical University of Cluj-Napoca (TUCN) is an "Advanced Research and Education" institution recognized nationally and internationally.

University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome (IT)

The Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, established in 1993, places technological innovation and the value of the individual at the core of its mission.

University of Malaga (ES)

Two primary objectives of the University of Málaga are to provide “quality teaching” and to strengthen research and technological development.

Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (GR)

Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTh) is the largest University in Greece covering all disciplines.

Transilvania University of Brasov & University of West Timisoara (RO)

Transilvania University of Brașov (UNITBV) is the largest university in the centre of Romania; it is a comprehensive university that offers study programmes in 43 domains.

Masaryk University (CZ)

Masaryk University, established in 1919, is one of the largest and leading research-driven universities in the Czech Republic, with over 30,000 students across 10 faculties.

Featured in

Resources

Cybersecurity and AI Readings Portal

We created a readings portal that serves as a guide to help instructors decide which readings to include on your syllabi. The curated lists are sourced from public syllabi of top universities across the world. The readings are organized into categories to make it easier for instructors to find relevant material for your courses.

A Guide on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) in Cybersecurity Education

This guide provides an overview of best practices for incorporating equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) into practical cybersecurity education, especially in the Google.org Cybersecurity Seminars program.

An Analysis of Cybersecurity Education Programs in Europe: Key Findings

This report presents key findings from an initial assessment of cybersecurity educational programs in seven European countries: the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Poland, Romania, and Ukraine. These countries were chosen because they are all participants in the open call for the Google.org Cybersecurity Seminars program.

Managing the challenges of AI detection in Academia

This report, researched during summer 2024, examines the increased use of AI chatbots in academia following the launch of ChatGPT in 2022 and the response by educational institutions through AI detection tools.

Local Community Organization (LCO) Engagement Guide

This guide provides best practices for higher education institutions when engaging with Local Community Organizations (LCOs) in practical cybersecurity education, especially as part of the Google.org Cybersecurity Seminars.