Background

The rapid digital transformation of education has significantly reshaped the teaching profession and the skills it requires. As students increasingly rely on fast-evolving digital resources, teachers and educators not only need a solid understanding of these technologies but must also develop strong skills in cybersecurity and cyber hygiene. These skills are a prerequisite for safe learning and developmental environments, where personal and organizational data are protected and young people can explore their creativity securely. Teachers play a pivotal role in conveying the importance of cybersecurity and risk management in the digital world. However, current educational pathways often fall short when it comes to teaching these essential digital skills. This gap needs to be addressed for the benefit of both educators and students, enabling them to thrive in an increasingly complex digital landscape.

Project Content

The European Council highlights the need to support educators in understanding and safely using new digital technologies. This includes awareness of relevant EU legislation such as the Artificial Intelligence Act, the Digital Services Act, and the European strategy for data. At the same time, the Digital Education Action Plan 2021–2027 promotes cybersecurity awareness, particularly among children and young people. In line with these EU priorities, the CyberSecure Teaching project equips teachers and teacher educators with the tools, methods, and knowledge needed to understand and teach cyber hygiene practices. It supports educators in creating secure learning environments and guiding students in using digital technologies in a responsible manner and differentiate between low and high risk behavior.

Aims

CyberSecure Teaching aims to strengthen the digital competence and resilience of teachers by providing tools and knowledge to implement cyber hygiene and teach cybersecurity awareness. The project pursues three main goals:

• Innovative teaching resources: Experiential materials, guides, and digital tools help educators teach cybersecurity skills, promote safe and ethical technology use, and assess student knowledge.
• European Community of Practice (CoP): A platform for networking, mentoring, and sharing insights on topics such as ethical AI and cybersecurity for students with special needs.
• Summer School program: Combines lectures, hands-on exercises, and group activities to provide advanced training, encourage CoP participation, and support cross-campus mobility and lifelong professional development.
• Cyper-Awareness-Event: Takes place in all participating institutions of the six countries involved.

Results and Innovation

The CyberSecure Teaching project supports key EU priorities by strengthening educators’ digital and cybersecurity skills. It aligns with the Digital Education Action Plan and Council Recommendations on Improving Digital Skills by promoting digital literacy, ethical technology use, and data protection in schools. The project also addresses challenges in teacher education highlighted by the Council Conclusions on European Teachers and Trainers for the Future, which point to gaps in professional development and a growing need for international collaboration.

Through tailored resources, a European Community of Practice, and cross‑border summer schools, the initiative enhances the teaching of cybersecurity and the ability to manage digital risks. Its inclusive design ensures that the needs of students with special needs are addressed as well. Overall, the project fosters resilience and sustainable competence development across Europe’s education systems.

Funding