Advancing cybersecurity education through industry partnerships

Keeping up with ever-advancing cyber threats is a continuous challenge for cybersecurity educators. Ajman University (AU) in the United Arab Emirates stays ahead of the curve by integrating industry partnerships, microcredentials and hands-on learning into cybersecurity programmes.

“Cybersecurity is no longer just a technical discipline but a critical component of national security, economic stability and organisational resilience,” says Atta ur Rehman Khan, professor at AU’s College of Engineering and Information Technology. “Cyberspace is now referred to as the fifth domain of warfare, and higher education must prepare the next generation of experts to protect critical infrastructure.”

In this rapidly evolving field, theoretical knowledge may become outdated by the time students graduate. To ensure the curriculum is up to date and relevant, Ajman University works closely with industry leaders. “Cybersecurity cannot be learned through theory alone – hands-on experience is essential,” Khan says. “Students need to experience the real-world environment, which they can only do through industry partnerships.”

The college has an advisory board that provides guidance on professional trends and emerging threats. “There is a global shortage of cybersecurity professionals, so developing industry-ready graduates is important,” says Khan. The university collaborates with industry networks to support students’ career development. Working with companies such as EC-Council, Amazon, Red Hat, Huawei and Cisco enables students to better understand complex cybersecurity challenges. Each semester, the university organises visits to major employers and invites industry experts to deliver workshops and seminars on campus.

Microcredentials provide opportunities for skills development by enabling students to complete a set of short courses as part of their degree. “These courses are industry-developed and continuously updated,” says Khan. “On top of that, our faculty members are involved in research and incorporate new insights into teaching.”

All students at Ajman University are required to complete a placement or internship relevant to their major before graduation. To boost employability, they are also encouraged to take industry certifications that strengthen their resumes. Through its partnerships with various training providers, the university enables students to acquire certifications at a lower cost and in a shorter time frame.

Grants offered by the university support applied research in cybersecurity, enabling faculty and students to work on real-world challenges with the same tools and practices used by professionals. Students contribute to these research initiatives, gaining practical exposure to current security practices. For example, they participate in projects involving threat detection, vulnerability analysis and secure system design, which enables them to apply cybersecurity concepts to real-world scenarios.

Ajman University’s combination of academic innovation, industry partnerships and applied research plays a central role in strengthening its programmes, equipping the next generation of cybersecurity professionals with the skills required to identify, mitigate and respond to evolving cyber threats.

Find out more about Ajman University.