A new degree course has launched in Malvern to enhance the town’s status as a national hub of cybersecurity.
The BSc (Hons) in Computer Networks and Cybersecurity is the first degree course to be launched by college group WCG at Malvern Hills Centre for Digital & Cyber Technology.
The centre is located on Malvern Hills Science Park alongside some of the region’s and country’s top cyber industry employers.
The new course is being delivered by Warwickshire College and University Centre (WCUC) and is the only degree-level qualification currently being delivered in Malvern.
The college group launched the degree in response to the economic requirements of the Malvern district identified by the Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership (WLEP) and it has already received 11 applications ahead of the upcoming academic year
The degree is being offered full-time and part-time, with other options including the foundation degree and top-up degree also receiving significant interest from applicants.
Last year, WCG became the first college in the UK to be granted Bachelor degree awarding powers by the Office for Students, alongside the Foundation degree awarding powers already in place.
Steve Taylor, Dean of Higher Education at WCUC, said: “We have launched this degree as a strategic response to the economic needs in Malvern and it will contribute to the already flourishing cybersecurity hub in the town.
“To have received the amount of applications we have for the first year is tremendously encouraging. We’re proud to be running the only degree-level course in Malvern and we understand it may be the first degree course ever to be run directly from the town.
“There has also been high-demand for the Computer Networks and Cybersecurity course at two of our other colleges, which is a clear indicator that young people are considering the sector as a viable future career choice.
“Our course delivery at Malvern Hills Centre for Digital & Cyber Technology has been carefully selected to support the priority skills for businesses in the Wychavon District.”
The equipment installed at Malvern Hills Centre for Digital & Cyber Technology is the latest as specified by Cisco to study towards the CCNA v7 qualification.
Ed Shuker, HE Computing Subject Lead, added: “Malvern Hills Science Park is the ideal location to run this course from, as it has an established reputation nationally in the computer network and cyber-security sector.
“There is a growing need for experts in this sector of the economy and a lack of skilled individuals to fill positions – and that includes here in Malvern and the wider region.
“The new course meets the requirements of employers and will prepare students for working in a sector which is constantly growing and developing.”