Students on two new undergraduate courses at Bournemouth University will have the chance to develop specialist skills to address the UK’s rapidly evolving national security and defence technology threats.
The new BSc Cyber Defence Intelligence and BEng Robotics and Autonomous Systems courses, in the Faculty of Media, Science and Technology and the School of Computing and Engineering have been designed in response to growing demand within the Ministry of Defence (MOD) for expertise in cyber resilience, artificial intelligence and autonomous technologies. The courses will prepare graduates to tackle some of the country’s most significant technological and strategic challenges, while opening the door to highly skilled jobs.
Bournemouth University has received a grant of approximately £2.8 million from the Office for Students and the MOD as part of a competitive process to develop these courses, which will include the creation of two new facilities for students to gain practical experience in realistic settings.
Students on the Cyber Defence Intelligence course will learn how to detect and respond to cyber threats in a new dedicated centre at the MOD’s BattleLab at the Dorset Innovation Park. Last year BU announced the launch of its Cyber Security Competence Centre, funded by an OfS grant of approximately £2.3m, including a Security Operations Centre of the Future, where simulations of critical cyber-attacks will be run to help students’ learning. The BattleLab facility will operate in a similar way, with students responding to simulated attacks on the UK’s defence systems amongst other related challenges.
Professor Alison Honour, Vice-Chancellor and CEO of Bournemouth University said, “At a time when our national security and defence technology face more advanced threats than ever, these new courses will provide a major opportunity for the next generation of cyber professionals to contribute actively to national resilience.
“The MoD is an important partner for us, with such a significant presence in Dorset and the South West. As well as creating opportunities for our students and graduates, these new courses will form a long-term partnership that will allow our institutions to work together in the national interest.”
The University also will develop a specialist lab on its Talbot Campus where students on the Autonomous Systems course will learn about developments in drone technology, including AI-powered systems. This facility will include an additional outdoor space which includes a specialised water tank so that the course will cover autonomous vehicles for land, air and sea deployment. A covered zone will also be created to simulate the effects of adverse weather conditions and signal disturbance.
Professor Christos Gatzidis, Pro Vice Chancellor Dean for the Faculty of Media, Science and Technology at BU said, “Through these courses, students will gain the technical knowledge and practical skills needed to protect the UK’s critical infrastructure, strengthen the country’s defence capabilities and ensure the UK can lead the development of new, intelligent technologies.
“By investing in these emerging fields, the University is preparing graduates not only for highly sought-after careers, but also to play a vital role in addressing some of the most pressing strategic challenges facing the nation today.”
Because of the national urgency in developing skills in these vital sectors, both courses will soon be open for applications for the next academic year, beginning in September.
Anyone interested in applying for the Cyber Defence and Intelligence and Robotics and Autonomous Systems courses can register their interest on the BU Website.
