- Yasmine Idrissi Azzouzi
- Women in Cyber ITU
- Alissa Frenkel
Introductory
Does this course have any restrictions?
Event organizer(s)
Description
The objective of Her CyberTracks is to promote the equal, full, and meaningful representation of women in cybersecurity. To this end, the training course initiative equips women with the necessary skills and mindsets to succeed in cybersecurity through targeted cyber capacity building.
Her CyberTracks offers a one-stop curriculum based on three pillars:
- TRAIN: Develop capacity to contribute to a secure and resilient cyberspace. We provide expert training courses, delivered online and on-site, to equip women with the technical and soft skills needed to shape cybersecurity.
- MENTOR: Promote awareness and knowledge sharing of best practices in cybersecurity career development. We provide a platform for senior cyber professionals to mentor women at junior level and foster their professional and personal growth.
- INSPIRE: Positive role models in cybersecurity inspire and empower further women to actively participate and lead in the field. We organize inspirational keynote webinars, regional networking meetings and study visits to shift perceptions and (rightly) position women as valuable additions to the cybersecurity workforce.
The curriculum includes the Her CyberTracks Europe and Africa trainings, composed of on-site activities featuring soft skills masterclasses, simulations and hands-on exercises, mentorship circles, study visits to cybersecurity organisations, and engaging networking opportunities.
Participants may choose among three available CyberTracks: Policy & DiplomacyCyberTrack, Incident Response CyberTrack, Criminal Justice CyberTrack.
Who is eligible to participate:
The Her CyberTracks programme is being offered specifically to women residing in target countries in Africa, Europe/CIS and Arab regions.
Target countries from the Europe/CIS region: Albania, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Ukraine.
Target countries from the Africa region: Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo, Congo (Dem. Rep), Côte d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Africa, South Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Target countries from the Arab region: Algeria, Djibouti, Egypt, Comoros, Libya, Mauritania, Somalia, Tunisia.
Target audience for the Policy and Diplomacy CyberTrack: Women working in policy fields, e.g. cybersecurity, ICT/digital affairs, peace & security; and/or women in technical roles in cybersecurity interested in policy and diplomacy.
- Participants must have a minimum 2-3 years experience in the fields of policymaking or diplomacy, preferably in the fields of technology, cybersecurity and/or peace and security, or in technical cybersecurity fields;
- Participants must have a good working knowledge of English (main language of delivery and of the training materials). Some parts of the Policy & Diplomacy CyberTrack curriculum will be available in French (some self-paced e-learning courses) and in Ukrainian (only Cyber Diplomacy self-paced module);
- Willingness and ability to allocate circa 15 hours per month across six months;
- Access to stable Internet connection;
- There are no age restrictions.
Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:
- Discuss and explain key technical, political, and diplomatic aspects of cybersecurity, including international frameworks, national policies, and definitions relevant to cyber policy and cyber diplomacy.
- Learn to create and operationalize National Cybersecurity Strategies through a lifecycle approach, incorporating cross-cutting principles, good practices, and gender-responsive policymaking.
- Evaluate and engage with international, regional, and multistakeholder mechanisms for cybersecurity and cyber diplomacy, including confidence-building measures (CBMs) and responsible state behavior in cyberspace.
- Acquire public speaking, negotiation and chairing techniques, strategic consensus-building approaches, and self-confidence to effectively contribute as a team member, delegate, or leader in cybersecurity negotiations and multistakeholder processes.
- Apply a gender lens to cybersecurity policy and implementation, fostering inclusivity and equity in national and international cybersecurity practices.
The training approach incorporates a blend of self-paced and interactive learning methodologies to effectively achieve the training objectives:
- Self-paced courses: Participants will watch self-paced video presentations covering theoretical frameworks. This allows individuals to digest the content at their own pace, fostering a foundational understanding of key concepts;
- Live instructor-led Zoom sessions: Complementing the self-paced learning, live instructor-led Zoom sessions offer interactive opportunities for participants. These sessions will delve deeper into the material, facilitating discussions, regional case studies, and reflective exercises. Exact day and time of the sessions will be communicated in due time, however, please note that they will be in GMT+1 time zone. Recordings will be made available. These will follow mandatory forum contributions;
- Face-to-face simulations and group exercises: To reinforce theoretical knowledge and practical skills, face-to-face simulations and group exercises will be conducted. This hands-on approach enables participants to apply their learning in real-world scenarios, promoting collaborative learning and skills’ development;
- Mentorship: Mentorship by subject matter experts will be available to provide guidance, support, and personalized feedback throughout the training journey.
The assessment methods for measuring the achievement of learning objectives encompass a combination of knowledge assessments and practical evaluations:
- Quizzes: Following each self-paced module, participants will undertake a quiz to gauge their comprehension of the theoretical frameworks and content covered. These quizzes will contribute to assessing the understanding of key concepts and principles;
- Mandatory forum contribution following each online instructor-led sessions;
- Active participation to mentorship sessions;
Face-to-Face Simulations and Group Exercises: The practical application of learned concepts during face-to-face simulations and exercises will be evaluated using a structured evaluation framework. Participants' performance in these hands-on activities will be assessed based on predefined criteria, such as problem-solving ability, decision-making skills, and teamwork. The weights assigned to these evaluations will reflect their significance in demonstrating competency and skill mastery.
The grading matrix will allocate weights as follows:
Blended
- Online self-paced and instructor-led courses 40%
- Active participation to mentorship sessions 20%
- Face-to-face simulations and group exercises 40%
Online
- Online self-paced and instructor-led courses 50%
- Active participation to mentorship sessions 40%
A total score higher than 70% is required to obtain the ITU Certificate.
Registration information
Unless specified otherwise, all ITU Academy training courses are open to all interested professionals, irrespective of their race, ethnicity, age, gender, religion, economic status and other diverse backgrounds. We strongly encourage registrations from female participants, and participants from developing countries. This includes least developed countries, small island developing states and landlocked developing countries.