Syllabus of Cyber Security Course at Undergraduate and Post Graduate level

UGC introduces the Cyber Security Course syllabus, which aims to create responsible digital citizens

In a major development, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has introduced the Cyber Security Course syllabus at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. On the occasion of Cyber Jaagrookta Diwas, celebrated on October 6, UGC Chairman Professor M. Jagadesh Kumar launched this new syllabus to create awareness and prevent Cybercrime with the adoption of appropriate Cyber Hygiene.

The evolution of digitalization and information technology has simultaneously contributed to the growing threat of cyber security. With the increase in the cases of cybercrimes, there is a need to have people bring solutions to cyber-related issues, hence the syllabus has been prepared with an aim to create more aware, responsive, and responsible digital citizens, thereby contributing effectively to an overall healthy cybersecurity posture and ecosystem.

According to M. Jagadesh Kumar, UGC has made consistent attempts to raise cyber security awareness among Higher Educational Institutes (HEIs). As per UGC, HEIs may invite cyber security, computer, and IT-trained faculty, as well as other industry experts and subject matter experts, to deliver lectures, practicals, and tutorials on cyber security.

The syllabus focuses to incorporate all the essential elements of cyber security so that the students at the Graduation and Post-Graduation level understand the essence and concept of cyber security as a whole. The syllabus of cyber security at the Undergraduate level aims to be pitched at basic and mid-level wherein the syllabus at Post Graduate level will cover mid and advanced-level concepts, duly considering the fact that Post Graduation students would have exposure to the basic concepts of cyber security in the preceding degree.

The syllabus has been prepared in a way to have sufficient depth so that even students from the non-technical streams can develop a complete picture of cybersecurity. Essential components of cyber security, Cyber security threat landscape, Cybercrime, and its types, Remedial and Mitigation Measures, Reporting of Cybercrime, Cyber Law, Data privacy, and security are some of the aspects that have been taken into consideration in the formation of the syllabus.

The educational objectives of the program are:

– To equip students with the technical knowledge and skills needed to protect and defend against cyber threats

– To develop skills in students to help them plan, implement, and monitor cyber security mechanisms

– To expose students to governance, regulatory, legal, economic, environmental, social, and ethical contexts of cyber security

– To expose students to the responsible use of online social media networks

After completion of this degree program, it will develop a deeper understanding and familiarity with various types of cyberattacks and also help the students to analyse and evaluate existing legal frameworks and laws based on cyber security.

India has been witnessing significant and continuous growth in the cases of cybercrime, which breaches personal data on a massive scale leaving victims vulnerable to fraud, while lives are put at risk. The attackers impersonate themselves to mislead employees and customers.

Earlier on April 2022, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (Meity) informed the parliamentary panel that there was more than a five-fold jump in the number of cybercrime and fraud incidents recorded between 2018 and 2021. According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data, India reported 52,974 incidents of cyber crimes in 2021.