Work

Importance of Cybersecurity Competencies in Higher Education and for Employers

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: The global shortage of qualified cybersecurity professionals continues to intensify, underscoring the need for targeted and practice-oriented education and training. This study examines and compares the cybersecurity competencies emphasized in higher education with those prioritized by employers. The findings reveal notable discrepancies between academic and industry expectations. Employers, particularly larger organizations, assign the greatest importance to competencies related to organizational and human security, whereas higher education institutions tend to prioritize technical cybersecurity domains. These insights provide a foundation for designing more comprehensive and industry-aligned cybersecurity curricula and can support the development of educational pathways tailored to specific learner groups and workforce needs.

Source: Applied Sciences

DOI: 10.3390/app16073260

Authors: Marko Kompara, Lili Nemec Zlatolas, Muhamed Turkanović, Marko Hölbl

Institution: University of Maribor

Language: English

Topic: Information Systems Education and Curriculum Development

Subfield: Information Systems

Field: Computer Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Quality education

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,896