06.10.2021
On September 28, 2021, the USAID Ukraine Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity Project hosted an event called “Regional Dialogue on Cyber Security” at the Synergy Science Park of Kharkiv National University of Radio Electronics. The event focused on the development of cybersecurity in the Kharkiv region, namely finding ways to transform cybersecurity education in higher education institutions to build public-private partnerships.
During the opening of the first regional dialogue on cybersecurity, NURE Rector Valerii Semenets said that, due to the USAID project, the number of applicants interested in cybersecurity programmes is growing. NURE has significantly increased the number of students enrolled this year in the specialty 125 – Cybersecurity in three educational programs. And now there is a need to educate students on the latest standards and modern technologies, especially when NURE is one of the main suppliers of specialists for IT companies in Kharkiv.
Project leader Timothy Dubel emphasised the importance of developing cybersecurity in the Kharkiv region and the need for communication and cooperation between stakeholders, such as the public sector, private companies and higher education institutions, during his presentation.
Olexandr Potiy, Deputy Chairman of the State Service for Special Communications and Information Protection of Ukraine, also gave opening remarks. During his speech, Mr. Potiy noted that Kharkiv region and the city of Kharkiv have a strong potential to train specialists, and that Kharkiv higher education institutions occupy one of the leading positions in training specialists in the field of cybersecurity.
Two discussion panels were organised during the event. The discussion, dedicated to discussing national priorities to improve cyber security in the Kharkiv region, was joined by:
1) Olga Nasibullina, panel moderator and coordinator of the USAID project “Cybersecurity of Critical Infrastructure of Ukraine”;
2) Oleksandr Potiy, Deputy Chairman of the State Service for Special Communications and Information Protection of Ukraine;
3) Olga Shapoval, Executive Director, Kharkiv IT Cluster;
4) Ruslan Sen, Representative of the Cyberpolice;
5) Maryna Yevdokymenko, Educational Component Coordinator, USAID Critical Infrastructure of Ukraine Project;
6) Oleksandr Shevchenko, Head of the Digital Infrastructure and Security Department of the Digital Transformation Department of the Kharkiv City Council.
The first panel ended with a ceremony to award certificates to university professors who had mastered the Cybersecurity Summer Course within the project. 12 tutors from the V.V. Popovskyy ICE Department took a summer course in cybersecurity and received the relevant certificates.
The ceremony was conducted by Chris Abrams, Director of the Office of Economic Growth, USAID Ukraine, and Timothy Dubel. The certificates were awarded to teachers from such ZHEIs as the Kharkiv National University of Radioelectronics, Simon Kuznets Kharkiv National University of Economics and National Technical University Dnipropetrovsk Polytechnic, Zaporizhzhya Polytechnika National University and Mariupol State University.
The second panel, dedicated to discussing the organisation of cooperation between Ukraine’s critical infrastructure facilities, private companies and higher education institutions, was joined by:
1) Vitaliy Balashov, Chief Cybersecurity Specialist (EPAM) and Moderator of the Second Panel;
2) Maksym Zaika, Chief Specialist of the Cyber Security Coordination Department of the Digital Transformation Department of the Kharkiv City Council;
3) Alexander Adamov, Head of GlobalLogic Security; CEO of NioGuard Security Laboratory;
4) Artem Tkachenko, Acting Director of the Department of Digital Transformation of the Kharkiv Regional State Administration;
5) Arkadii Snihurov, Dean of the Faculty of Infocommunications of Kharkiv National University of Radio Electronics;
During the discussion, the main issue was to find out ways to develop cybersecurity in the Kharkiv region.
In general, the organized event “Regional Dialogue on Cyber Security” was one of the first steps for the development of cyber security in Kharkiv and Kharkiv region. Such activities are important for all stakeholders to establish communication and further cooperation.
