University of Oulu offers a specialization in cybersecurity
"A really good experience from the master's programme."
This is what Accenture's cybersecurity expert Anssi Antila, who graduated from the University of Oulu as one of the first cybersecurity-oriented masters, says.
"The course offerings were diverse and very up-to-date in content. The courses were generally very flexible, which at least for me made it easier to complete them while working alongside my studies," adds Mikael Pennanen, who also works as a cybersecurity expert at Accenture.
Cybersecurity refers to the security of a digital and networked society or organisation and its impact on their operations. At the University of Oulu, cybersecurity is one of the specialisation options within the computer science degree programme, and the subject can also be studied as elective courses.
In the master's degree phase of computer science, one can specialise further in the subject. Students in other degree programmes can apply for a transfer to computer science during bachelor studies or apply with a suitable bachelor's degree to the English-language master's programme in computer science, where the specialisation option is also available.
"Cybersecurity research has been conducted at the University of Oulu for over 25 years. The education is strongly based on this and therefore emphasises strengthening technical skills. Employment prospects are good," says Professor Kimmo Halunen.
Studies prepared for working life
Anssi Antila's job tasks are related to secure software development.
"I implement, among other things, security-related automations and participate in software development projects to guide the integration of security into all phases of software development," he says.
"I feel that I have been able to utilise most of the content from university courses, even things I wouldn't have thought of. The courses use materials that are also essential in working life, such as various security training platforms. In my work, I enjoy its challenges, human interaction, and varied tasks."
Mikael Pennanen's tasks at Accenture include, for example, security testing, secure automation, and threat assessments for clients' systems.
During their studies, Antila and Pennanen had the opportunity to collaborate with local companies, which both consider important.
"We often had company representatives visiting the courses, talking about their job tasks and the industry in general. The teaching staff on the courses seemed genuinely interested in cybersecurity and teaching it," says Pennanen.
Shortage of experts
In cybersecurity education, students learn various ways to analyse the cybersecurity of devices, software, and systems using different tools and methods. The education also includes studying the security of larger complex systems from the perspective of people and processes.
Graduates can work, for example, in companies and other organisations as experts in the design and implementation of cybersecurity, as individual vulnerability researchers, or in educational roles in the field.
There is currently a shortage of technical cybersecurity experts in Finland and globally, and the current cybersecurity education programmes at Finnish universities are not sufficient to meet this demand.
Bachelor's programme in Digitalisation, Computing and Electronics (3 + 2 years)
Master's programme in Computer Science and Engineering (2 years)