Consequently, it is evident that there is a pressing need not only for high-quality training for young security specialists but also for training that will enable them to better prepare for crises and potentially mitigate numerous threats before they escalate into full-blown crises.
This need prompted the formation of a consortium consisting of seven partner organizations from six countries. The primary objective of this consortium is to develop diverse digital teaching and learning materials focused on security risk management, including those recommendations for higher education institutions and training centres and organisations preparing security specialists.
These recommendations contain information on how to enhance security study programmes and incorporate the topic of security risk management into study and training programmes. This document includes recommendations regarding focus, topics, methods, and further educational suggestions. We hope that these recommendations will contribute to the improvement of study programmes and methods related to security education and security risk management in European countries, fostering a common approach in the preparation of young specialists.
The target audience for this material includes academic and management staff of higher education institutions, representatives from training centres offering education on security. This material can also be interesting for everyone who has a keen interest in security risk management, as well as professionals working within the field of security.
Report on Round Table Discussions
The first step for developing the recommendations was to organize discussions with experts from all 6 countries. In the autumn of 2022 the ERASMUS+ SECUREU project partners organised 6 round table discussions in Latvia, Lithuania, Finland, Spain, the Netherlands and Norway. We gathered security and risk management specialists to ask their opinions about questions like what we should teach to young security specialists, what skills are missing, what the future perspectives and perceived risks are for the security field.
It seems that all countries are trying to cope with similar problems and that the thoughts of the experts about necessary skills of security specialists and of the future of the security field as such are similar as well.
Experts from all the countries highlighted several similarities and skills sets which are important for young security specialists and should be improved – soft skills, strategic thinking and strategic management, better management skills in general, leadership skills. Special attention is required to developing abilities to manage information security, cyber-security, technological and digital literacy.
The future for the security field lies in information technologies, artificial intelligence, business analytics, cross-sectoral skills, building links between business and security, cyber security, data security and technology literacy.
The final version of the recommendations will be ready and published by the end of 2023.
