CYBER4ME

SUMMARY IDEA:
Cybersecurity and critical thinking skills are becoming ever more important in our society and working life. The project comes to address the recommendation of The European Commission which presented a new EU Cybersecurity Strategy. The digital transformation of society, intensified by the COVID-19 crisis, has expanded the threat landscape and is bringing about new challenges, which require adapted and innovative responses. The number of cyber-attacks continues to rise, with increasingly sophisticated attacks coming from a wide range of sources both inside and outside the EU. On 16 December 2020, the European Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy presented a new EU Cybersecurity Strategy. EU rules on the security of Network and Information Systems (NIS) are at the core of the Single Market for cybersecurity. The Commission proposes to reform these rules under a revised NIS Directive to increase the level of cyber resilience of all relevant sectors, public and private, that perform an important function for the economy and society.

The project opens up new routes into not only teaching what is cybersecurity and how to prevent it, but also to open up their career options in order to initially have a first hand experience of the various field of cybersecurity and then choose to study in a related topic. Summer time, has been seen as an opportunity to offer an innovative and interactive programme for teaching cybersecurity to teenagers, but also to explore the field of computing for a better career guidance bridging skills gap between education and the labour market.

The CYBER4ME project was developed based on a needs identification of the consortium, as it acknowledges and supports:
- the unique potential of using the non-working time of formal schooling, which as reported in the 2015 Eurydice Report ranges from 13-19 weeks holidays per year, for the benefit of the young people. The opportunity to use this free time, especially summer time, in non-formal learning participation can contribute towards raising attainment (PISA) and acquiring key skills/ attitudes related to employment that might not be promoted in formal education so much.
-The need explained by the EU Commission on 16 December 2020, regarding the cyberthreat landscape, expanded by the digital transformation of society and intensified by the COVID-19 crisis, that is bringing about new challenges, which require adapted and innovative responses.
- the changing role of youth workers to provide high-quality services based on building competences, raising quality standards, enriching expertise and reinforcing links between policy, research and practice.
- the great importance and crucial role that non-formal learning can play in the development of young people's competences, as it is considered as the 'hidden human capital' (OECD 2013).
-the need to equip young people to meet the digital era demands

The project pioneers to design, implement, evaluate and validate, a innovative, creative and flexible programme which aims to introduce young people/teenagers 13-17 yrs old to the world of ‘cyber’, by:
- Using the summer time, when schools are closed (average 12 weeks in CY, GR, IT), in a constructive way to set up CYBER4ME CHALLENGES CLUBS in youth centres/ NGOs/ institutions for teenagers in order to learn how to prevent cyber attacks, as purported by the ET2020 report.
- Creating SYNERGIES between various stakeholders, NGOs, Youth Centres, ICT providers, institutions, enterprises etc. based on the principle of Volunteers Expert Mentors, who will support and guide throughout the process the Youth Workers to set up and run a CLUB,
- Using the SYNERGIES to provide career guidance for young people to expand their spectrum of career prospects, by getting to know the various academic paths and careers related to the computing field through first hand experience
-Introducing the OPEN BADGES as a method to VALIDATE the cyber competences acquired by both the youth workers and the young people as a rational and transparent method used widely in the USA and EU for non-formal learning.
Based on the above the project is in line with the Erasmus+ priorities for promoting high-quality youth work as well as:
- Transparency and recognition of skills and qualifications: simplification and rationalization of tools for transparency, validation and recognition of learning outcomes.
- Educators: actions supporting continuing professional development of educators especially on dealing with work-based learning, digital competences and innovative pedagogies. This will include building effective partnership between providers and educational institutions as well as the development of programmes, modules and on line courses to strengthen the induction of educators. (Horizontal)
- Strengthening the profile of the educators (formal and non-formal learning) to deliver high quality teaching, adopt new methods and tools. (Specific)
- Improve achievement in relevant and high-level basic and transversal competences in a lifelong learning perspective (Hor)
- Promoting open and innovative education embedded in the digital era through creating synergies, digitalizing learning, promoting the use of ICT as a driver for systemic change to increase the quality and relevance of youth policies (Hor)
- Helping sustainable investment through the use of evidence-based reforms that deliver quality in (formal and non-formal) learning settings (Hor)
- Addressing under achievement in the basic skills of maths, science and literacy through more effective, innovative teaching methods (Spec)

EXPECTED OUTPUTS:

I.O. 1: Design of the CYBER4ME Competence Framework: Initial review and research into other code frameworks and design the targeted competence framework with inbuilt benchmarks and indicators to define and classify the competences that young people 13-17 years old need to acquire. An on-line survey and consultation with stakeholders will be organized to support the proposed Framework. A market in-depth survey of existing resources and tools will be organized to select the most appropriate ones based on the Cyber Framework developed. (P5&P1).

I.O.2: Creating the eco-system for the OPEN BADGE validation process based on the Competence Framework developed (IO1). The procedures, levels, challenges-quests, methods, endorsement process, badges selection etc. will be designed and a link into the provider's website will be initiated. Materials, templates, campaign, manuals etc. will be developed and produced (P4&P3).

I.O.3: Design of the CYBER4ME Summer Challenges Programme and Cyber Box: The programme will be offered to 15-20 teenagers 14-17 year old youngsters during 3-4 weeks in July-August 2023. During this I.O. all aspects regarding the organization, management, planning and implementation of the programme will be designed such as levels, regulations, procedures, promotion, templates, activities, challenges, awards, roles etc. The CyberTeaching/Learning Tools and Materials' will be designed(Cyber Guides, resources, visits and career orientation guide teaching material and training courses for the upgrade of YWs digital skills), information about the programme, leaflets, registration etc., a PROMO CAMPAIGN designed in all 5 languages for the dissemination of the project and a START UP TRAINING COURSE for Youth Workers (to be used for Short Term Training). (P5&P3&P2)

I.O.4: The consortium will design the dynamic and interactive open platform/portal to be used for the purposes of the project which will function as an Open Learning Environment, offering interconnectivity options through the CYBER4ME Society to be set up, and the e-Library for the continuous digital development of Youth Workers At this stage all products from IO1, IO2 and IO3 will be offered on the e-learning platform i.e. learning modules, ICT Guides, learning logs etc. (P2&P5)
IO5 – Cyber Summer Challenge Programme in practice: implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the programme in all partner countries with the participation of 20 young people, 5 Expert Mentors and 5 Youth workers/trainers/volunteers. The implementation stage will last 3-4 weeks and close monitoring and evaluation will be implied. The validation system of the OPEN BADGES will be implemented and the endorsement procedure will be followed. An Evaluation Report will be prepared based on 2 case studies in the form of portfolio. (P1&P4)

IO6- CYBER4ME Pack: An exploitation campaign/ strategy will be designed in support of teaching cyber skills to young people through non-formal learning setting in synergy with ICT professionals and experts in order to raise learning outcomes in other subjects and influence motivation, participation and inclusion.

The project is planned to be completed in 15 months based on a research cycle plan divided into 3 main interrelated stages showing development and continuation. The I.O.s are developed in a series of overlapping outputs phases incorporating research and analysis, design and development, testing and implementation and validation of project outputs.

SECOND MEETING IN SPAIN
THIRD MEETING IN PORTUGAL
FOURTH MEETING IN GREECE

TRAINING COURSES:

FIRST TRAINING COURSE IN CZECH REPUBLIC
SECOND TRAINING COURSE IN GERMANY
THIRD TRAINING COURSE IN DENMARK
FOURTH TRAINING COURSE IN FRANCE

M1
Trasnational Meeting 1: Kick-off meeting Italy
M2
Trasnational Meeting 2: Spain (together with C1-Training)
M3
Trasnational Meeting 3: Final meeting Portugal
E1
Multiplier Event in Greece - International Conference - CYBER4ME Competition
E2
Multiplier Event in Denmark
E3
Multiplier Event in France
E4
Multiplier Event in Germany (Visit of 4 young people winners of Cyber Competition from Greece)
E5
Multiplier Event in Spain and 2nd Partner Meeting
C1
Short-term joint staff event - training: ICT course for the youth workers/ professional staff/ mentors/ coordinators in order to be able to implement the CYBER4ME Programme (Back to back with 2nd Partner Meeting)
C2
Blended Mobility of Young People in Greece - 10 teenagers/young people who have reached the highest level of the CYBER4ME OPEN BADGES AWARDS will be given the opportunity to attend an intensive Cybersecurity course, visit Greece universities and ICT entreprises (together with Multiplier Event 1 - International Conference and CYBER4ME Competition and with Final Meeting)
C3
Blended Mobility of Young People in DE - this event will be organized for the 6 teenagers/young people from Greece who have reached the highest level of the CYBER4ME OPEN BADGES AWARDS will be given the opportunity to attend an intensive Cyber Security course, visit German universities and ICT entreprises. It will be organized in parallel with the Multiplier Event 4 which will have a transnational feature, as accompanying persons will be the partner coordinators.

LOCAL FINAL CONFERENCE
Each partner will organize the final conference at the end of the project in the identified period, for the dissemination of the results

In the selection process, the partners who will include FD in their KA2 young or KA2 VET projects will have priority.

If you want to join as a partner in this project, please send your PIF to projects@futurodigitale.org