The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering of the University of Thessaly (DECE), and specifically the Creative Technologies Learning Lab (CTLL) research group, is designing digital educational actions for the development of cybersecurity knowledge in vocational training in collaboration with educational organisations from the European Union and the Western Balkans.
The actions aim to promote skills to address the risks that, along with the significant benefits, are introduced by the increasing digitisation of services in entrepreneurship, especially for SMEs that are a key part of the European economy. The European Union has set ambitious targets by 2030 for the broader use of digital services, artificial intelligence and big data, which makes it necessary to protect data and ensure that businesses operate. However, SMEs face limited resources and a shortage of skilled personnel compared to large ones. Vocational training (VET) can fill this gap by empowering human resources with digital skills and cybersecurity knowledge. Finally, the relevant initiatives of the European Union, such as ENISA, Digital Europe, and the Cyber Solidarity Act, should be extended to the Western Balkans, where there is a significant need for strategies and collaborations in this field.
The actions are developed in the framework of the research project Cyberfort: Empowering VET Systems and SMEs for Future Cyber Challenges, funded by the European Commission's Erasmus+ Capacity Building in Vocational Education and Training (CBVET) program, which aims to transfer cybersecurity know-how from the European Union to the Western Balkans.
The University of Thessaly participated in the 2nd project consortium meeting held in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, on September 17 and 18, 2025. Educational organisations from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, Turkey, and Portugal also attended the meeting.
