Project
CyberSecure Teaching: Strengthening Digital Resilience in K-12, Vocational Education, and Teacher Training
Project sponsors
CyberSecure Teaching - Strengthening Digital Resilience in K-12, Vocational Education, and Teacher Training
Digital technologies are now an essential part of teaching and learning – but they also bring new risks. CyberSecure Teaching is an Erasmus+ Teacher Academies project coordinated by JAMK University of Applied Sciences that helps teachers and teacher educators build practical cybersecurity skills and confidently teach safe digital practices to children, young people and adult learners.
The project focuses on everyday situations teachers face in schools, vocational education, and teacher training:
How do you protect student data? How do you recognise phishing emails or fake content created with AI? How can cyberbullying or unsafe online behaviour be prevented through teaching?
What is done in the project?
1. Practical learning resources for teachers
CyberSecure Teaching develops concrete, ready-to-use learning materials that teachers can immediately apply in their work. These include:
- modular teaching materials equivalent to 5 ECTS,
- a 3 ECTS MOOC open to teachers across Europe,
- classroom activities, case examples, and assessment tools.
The materials help teachers both apply cyber hygiene in their own work and teach students how to act safely online, for example through password management, data protection, recognising online manipulation, and responsible use of AI tools.
2. European Community of Practice (CoP)
The project establishes an online Community of Practice where teachers, teacher educators, and cybersecurity experts meet. On the platform, participants can:
- discuss current cybersecurity issues affecting schools,
- follow expert interviews and topical news,
- share teaching ideas and materials,
- get peer support for real-life challenges in digital teaching environments.
The community responds quickly to emerging topics, such as new online scams or ethical questions around AI in education.
3. International Summer Schools for teachers
Two international Summer Schools (2 ECTS each) offer hands-on training on cybersecurity awareness and cyber hygiene. Participants take part in:
- interactive workshops and simulations,
- group work based on authentic school scenarios,
- peer learning with teachers from different European countries.
The Summer Schools strengthen professional skills, support lifelong learning, and encourage international collaboration in teacher education.
Who benefits from the project?
CyberSecure Teaching is designed for teachers and teacher educators who work in increasingly digital learning environments and want practical support for dealing with cybersecurity challenges in their everyday work. The project benefits primary and secondary school teachers as well as vocational teachers by providing concrete tools and teaching materials that help them protect student data, recognise digital risks, and guide learners towards safe and responsible online behaviour.
Teacher educators and teacher students also benefit from the project, as cybersecurity and cyber hygiene are integrated into teacher education in a structured and accessible way. The learning resources and MOOC developed in the project support both initial teacher education and continuous professional development, making it easier to include digital safety, risk management, and ethical use of technology as part of teaching competences.
Schools, vocational institutions, and teacher education providers gain long-term value from the project by strengthening their overall digital resilience. When teachers understand cyber hygiene practices and feel confident using and teaching them, learning environments become safer, more trustworthy, and more supportive of student well-being. At the same time, students benefit indirectly by learning how to navigate digital environments safely, critically, and responsibly, that is, skills that are essential for everyday life, studies, and future working life.
Project organisations
CyberSecure Teaching is implemented by a strong European consortium bringing together teacher education institutions, universities of applied sciences, schools, vocational education providers, and cybersecurity experts. The project is coordinated by Jamk University of Applied Sciences (Finland).
The consortium includes St. Pölten University of Applied Sciences (Austria), which contributes strong expertise in cybersecurity research and applied IT security, and Instituto Politécnico de Setúbal (Portugal), bringing experience in teacher education, ICT education, and international cooperation. From Spain, University of Navarra contributes expertise in teacher education, pedagogy, and quality assurance.
Inclusive education and special needs perspectives are strengthened through Masaryk University (Czech Republic), while digital pedagogy, community building, and technology-enhanced learning are supported by UCLL University of Applied Sciences (Belgium).
The consortium also includes vocational education providers and school partners who ensure that project outcomes are firmly grounded in everyday educational practice. These include Ylä-Savon Ammattiopisto (YSAO, Finland), University of Jyväskylä Teacher Training School (Finland), and HETEL (Spain), a vocational education association representing numerous training centres.
Together, the partner organisations combine pedagogical expertise, cybersecurity knowledge, and practical classroom experience to develop scalable, high-quality solutions that strengthen digital resilience in K–12 education, vocational education, and teacher training across Europe.
Contact information
For more information about the project, please contact:
Henna Pernu
Project Manager
Jamk University of Applied Sciences