The project aimed to address the growing needs and significant competency gaps among educators and secondary school students in the broad area of cybersecurity. The goal was to propose solutions, good practices, and educational materials that would help raise the level of security and digital skills in educational institutions. These materials were designed to be universal enough to also meet the educational needs of adult learners. Based on research conducted in 10 schools across Poland and the Czech Republic, key cybersecurity challenges were identified at the organizational, educational, and pastoral levels. It was noted that teaching in this area should emphasize critical and creative thinking as essential social competences for ensuring the digital safety and resilience of young people. At the organizational level, there was a need to implement systemic information security management and promote it as good practice in schools and other VET sector institutions. The project also focused on promoting safe and responsible behavior in cyberspace and counteracting hate speech and disinformation.
The Cybersec EduCheck project was implemented in response to the growing threats in the digital world and the insufficient preparedness of students and teachers to effectively respond to cybersecurity challenges. The main needs addressed by the project included: - lack of awareness and knowledge among students – research conducted in schools showed that young people often do not know how to protect their personal data and fail to understand risks related to phishing, cyberbullying, or online scams; - insufficient tools for teachers – educators required practical, modern teaching materials to effectively educate students on cybersecurity; - lack of a systemic approach in schools – many institutions lacked an established information security management policy and clearly defined roles regarding cybersecurity responsibilities. Therefore, the project aimed to: - create free, easily accessible educational materials (lesson plans and content on cybersecurity), - develop a handbook for schools supporting information security management (including good practices), - raise awareness and foster responsible digital behavior among students and teaching staff.