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Gender-Inclusive Cybersecurity Education and Skills Development
Empowering girls and young women through experiential cybersecurity learning
Project Period
Mon YYYY - Mon YYYY
Funding Amount
£XXX XXX
Funded by
NCSC, DSIT, & QinetiQ
CyberKali
Project Overview
CyberKali was a gender- and diversity-focused cybersecurity education and engagement initiative delivered by Aston University and led by Dr Anitha Chinnaswamy, with funding from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT). The project addressed persistent gender and ethnic underrepresentation in the cybersecurity workforce by providing inclusive, experiential learning opportunities for girls and young women from diverse backgrounds.
While CyberKali predated the formal establishment of the Gender Equity Research and Inclusive Innovation Technology Group (GRIIT), it represents foundational work that directly informed GRIIT's research agenda in gender, cybersecurity, education, and inclusive innovation.
Focus and Approach
CyberKali adopted an education-led and practice-oriented approach to widening participation in cybersecurity. Through hands-on technical challenges, mentoring, and engagement with industry role models, the project aimed to strengthen participants' digital skills, confidence, and awareness of cybersecurity education and career pathways.
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Cybersecurity Skills and Awareness
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Delivered two CyberKali Capture the Flag (CTF) events, providing experiential exposure to cybersecurity concepts, digital risks, and defensive practices
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Enhanced participants' understanding of cybersecurity fundamentals, best practices, and ethical responsibilities
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Increased awareness of cybersecurity education pathways and career opportunities
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Participation, Confidence, and Aspiration
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Engaged girls and young women from underrepresented and diverse backgrounds at key educational decision-making stages
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96% of participants reported increased confidence in their cybersecurity knowledge and skills
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85% reported heightened interest in pursuing cybersecurity education or careers
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Mentorship and Role-Model Visibility
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Facilitated direct interaction with women cybersecurity professionals across technical, managerial, and strategic roles
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Supported informal and formal mentor–mentee relationships through guided challenges and structured networking
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Challenged gender stereotypes by increasing the visibility of women in cybersecurity
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Awareness of Gender Equity in Cybersecurity
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Raised participant awareness of gender imbalance within the cybersecurity sector
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Encouraged discussion of structural barriers and strategies to improve inclusivity and access
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Reinforced cybersecurity as a socially relevant and inclusive field
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Institutional and Sectoral Contribution
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Generated evaluative data and participant insights on diversity-focused cybersecurity interventions
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Informed subsequent research, outreach, and programme design at Aston University
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Contributed to the evidence base underpinning the later formation of GRIIT's education and empowerment research strand
Key Outputs and Outcomes
Contribution to GRIIT
Although completed prior to GRIIT's establishment, CyberKali provided critical empirical and practice-based insights into gender-inclusive cybersecurity education. The project's outcomes helped shape GRIIT's later focus on skills pipelines, education and empowerment, and equitable participation in digital and cybersecurity domains.
Key Collaborators
Coordinator
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ASTON UNIVERSITY
Dr. Anitha Chinnaswamy
Short description of role in project
Partner Organisations
Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT)
Principal Investigator
Short description of role in project