IGF 2023 Launch / Award Event #71 Digital Safety and Cyber Security Curriculum

Time
Thursday, 12th October, 2023 (06:15 UTC) - Thursday, 12th October, 2023 (07:15 UTC)
Room
WS 7 – Room K
Subtheme

Cybersecurity, Cybercrime & Online Safety
Child Online Safety
Cyberattacks, Cyberconflicts and International Security
New Technologies and Risks to Online Security

  • Creators Union of Arab, ECOSOC Consultative Status, UN
  • Arab Media Union, ECOSOC Consultative Status, UN
  • The Strategic Partner, HDTC Training & Consulting Center.
Speakers
  • Lead Event Speakers:

    Dr. Ahmed Sarhan (Nick name Ahmed Nour) , The president of Creators Union of Arab and the Arab Media Union, in addition the Media and Intellectual property expert and researcher.

    Dr. Nabih AbdelMajid, professor at the Colleges of Technological Sciences in the United Arab Emirates, the IP owner of the Curriculam.

    Dr. Hala Adly Husseien, professor in the specialty of block chin, the Secretary-General of Women's Affairs at the Creators Union of Arab and the Secretary-General of the Union of Arab Women Leaders.

    On- Site Moderator

  • Dr. Nermin Selim, secretary general of Creators Union of Arab, Intellectual property expert and researcher.

Onsite Moderator

Dr. Nermin Selim

Online Moderator

Ms. Esraa Omar

Rapporteur

Dr. Nermin Selim

SDGs

4. Quality Education
5. Gender Equality
9. Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
10. Reduced Inequalities
11. Sustainable Cities and Communities
17. Partnerships for the Goals

Targets: 1) Education Quality The Student Digital Safety Certification (SDSC) curriculum demonstrates a strong commitment to enhancing education quality in the field of cybersecurity. By providing comprehensive coverage, fostering skill development, empowering parents and teachers, and employing interactive teaching methods, the curriculum effectively delivers its objectives. The integration of practical training and online tools ensures that participants gain hands-on experience and develop the necessary competencies to navigate the challenges posed by cyber threats. Generally, the SDSC curriculum sets a high standard for education quality in cybersecurity, equipping students, parents, and teachers with the knowledge and skills needed to ensure a safe and secure digital environment. 2) Gender Equality The Student Digital Safety Certification (SDSC) curriculum demonstrates a commitment to promoting gender equality by providing equal opportunities for both male and female participants. The curriculum does not differentiate or restrict access based on gender, ensuring that all students, regardless of their gender, can benefit from the program's educational resources. By addressing cyber threats and cybersecurity principles, the curriculum empowers both male and female students to navigate the digital world safely and responsibly. The curriculum's focus on critical thinking and problem-solving abilities does not favor one gender over the other, fostering an inclusive learning environment where all participants can thrive. Furthermore, by emphasizing the importance of parents and teachers in promoting a safe digital environment, the curriculum encourages gender equality in the roles and responsibilities of caregivers and educators. Generally, the SDSC curriculum plays a role in promoting gender equality by ensuring equal access, opportunities, and empowerment for all participants, irrespective of their gender. 3) Innovation & Infrastructure The Student Digital Safety Certification (SDSC) curriculum exemplifies a commitment to innovation and the development of necessary infrastructure to support effective learning. By utilizing an online platform, the curriculum leverages technology to provide a dynamic and interactive learning experience. The inclusion of training videos, practical training, quizzes, and assignments on the online platform enhances participant engagement and enables self-paced learning. This innovative approach allows students, parents, and teachers to access the curriculum conveniently from various locations, fostering flexibility and accessibility. The curriculum's integration of cybersecurity tools and technologies reflects the evolving nature of the field, ensuring that participants are exposed to the latest developments and trends. The emphasis on staying up-to-date with technology trends also encourages teachers to continually enhance their knowledge and adapt their instructional strategies accordingly. Generally, the SDSC curriculum showcases innovation by utilizing technology-driven teaching methods and building a robust infrastructure that supports effective learning and stays abreast of advancements in the cybersecurity domain. 4) Reduced Inequalities The Student Digital Safety Certification (SDSC) curriculum plays a significant role in reducing inequalities by ensuring accessibility and inclusivity for individuals with special needs. The curriculum's design, which relies on both auditory and visual components, caters to diverse learning styles, making it accessible for people with hearing or visual impairments. The use of sound in conjunction with written content ensures that participants can engage with the curriculum regardless of their specific needs. Additionally, the inclusion of everything on the screen ensures that individuals with visual impairments can access the information effectively through screen readers or other assistive technologies. By providing equal access to cybersecurity education, the SDSC curriculum reduces inequalities by empowering individuals with special needs to develop crucial knowledge and skills in digital safety. This commitment to inclusivity demonstrates a proactive effort to address inequalities and foster an environment where everyone can participate and benefit from the educational program. 5) Sustainable Cities & Communities The Student Digital Safety Certification (SDSC) curriculum contributes to the development of sustainable cities and communities by promoting digital safety and responsible technology use. As cities become increasingly interconnected and reliant on digital infrastructure, the need to address cybersecurity risks becomes paramount. By educating students, parents, and teachers about cyber threats, vulnerabilities, and mitigation strategies, the curriculum helps create a safer digital environment within communities. This, in turn, fosters trust and confidence in digital technologies, supporting the sustainable development of smart cities. The curriculum's focus on critical thinking and problem-solving skills equips participants with the ability to identify and address emerging cybersecurity challenges, ensuring the resilience and sustainability of digital systems within cities. Moreover, by empowering parents and teachers with knowledge and skills to protect themselves and their families, the curriculum enhances the overall safety and well-being of community members. Through its comprehensive approach to digital safety education, the SDSC curriculum plays a crucial role in building sustainable cities and communities by promoting a secure and responsible digital ecosystem. 6) Partnerships for Goals The Student Digital Safety Certification (SDSC) curriculum demonstrates a commitment to fostering partnerships for achieving sustainable development goals. The success of the curriculum relies on collaborative efforts between educational institutions, cybersecurity experts, technology providers, and relevant stakeholders. By forging partnerships with these entities, the curriculum ensures that it remains up-to-date, relevant, and aligned with the evolving cybersecurity landscape. Collaborations with educational institutions enable the integration of the curriculum into school curricula, reaching a broader student population and maximizing its impact. Engaging cybersecurity experts and technology providers allows the curriculum to incorporate the latest industry insights, best practices, and advancements. These partnerships ensure that the curriculum effectively addresses the goals of digital safety and cybersecurity education. By fostering collaborations and partnerships, the SDSC curriculum demonstrates a commitment to a multi-stakeholder approach, leveraging the expertise and resources of various organizations to achieve shared goals in creating a safer digital environment and promoting responsible technology use.

Format

30-50 onsite 30-50 online

Duration (minutes)
60
Language
English
Description

The initiative "Student Digital Safety Certification (SDSC) curriculum", aims to educate students, parents, and teachers on the importance and principles of cybersecurity, this curriculum is designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of cyber threats and vulnerabilities, as well as equip participants with the knowledge and skills to identify and mitigate cyber risks.

The Audience for this curriculum ( Students, Parents, Teachers and Community )

Digital safety and cyber security have become vital topics that affect individuals, businesses, and societies at large. The purpose of this curriculum is to equip participants with essential knowledge and skills to navigate the digital landscape safely, protect their personal information, and understand the principles of cyber security.

This curriculum for school & university students aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the threats and risks associated with digital technologies and the internet. It covers various aspects of digital safety, including online privacy, identity theft, secure online communication, and responsible digital citizenship. Additionally, it delves into the world of cyber security, addressing concepts such as network security, malware, social engineering, and incident response.

The Mission, Achieving leadership in the field of digital safety for the categories of education by providing information, tools, and resources consistent with the needs of each category.

Vision, Enabling the education categories with sufficient skills to deal with the digital world to maximize the benefit and reduce risks in an advanced knowledge learning society.

Note: This curriculum is ready for application and has been approved in principle by the Ministry of Education in the United Arab Emirates. We hope for an effective contribution from you and all concerned to implement it worldwide.

The session will be hybrid, so there will be a zoom link that permit the online participants to follow and discuss during the session, this will be via presentation screen.

There will be 3 speakers plus the session moderator, the main speaker will be the owner of the idea, he will present the Curriculum and its importance, then the other speaker will comment and discuss for the SDGs goals related to the idea & how it could be executed on the ground, and finally discussion will open for all online & onsite participants.

The session will need a presentation screen or video projector for the presentation slides, and we have our laptop.

A sample curriculum book will also be distributed in English to illustrate the idea of ​​the curriculum.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3V4KX0FBkh0

 

 

Key Takeaways (* deadline 2 hours after session)

The SDSC curriculum is vital in empowering students, parents, and teachers to create a cyber-resilient community. It provides a deep grasp of cybersecurity principles, equipping participants with skills to recognize and mitigate cyber risks. Emphasizing hands-on training, quizzes, and assignments, it offers an interactive learning experience, preparing the community to navigate online threats effectively.

SDSC curriculum adopts a holistic approach to digital safety, addressing students, parents, & teachers. It goes beyond technical skills, emphasizing critical thinking, problem-solving, & cyb.sec. trend awareness. Parents are educated online safety, while teachers are equipped to use technology effectively in education, stressing continuous learning. This approach fosters community digital literacy & a responsible digital environment for all.

Call to Action (* deadline 2 hours after session)

Play a proactive role in advocating for the integration of the (SDSC) within schools. Collaborate with educational authorities, school boards, & stakeholders to underscore the importance of digital safety education. Emphasize the curriculum's comprehensive approach & its capacity to empower students, parents, & teachers in navigating the digital world. Seek endorsements & accreditation from pertinent educational bodies for the inclusion of SDSC

Obtain International Recognition Take steps to obtain international endorsement for the SDSC curriculum. Showcase how it contributes to creating a safer, more responsible digital environment in developing nations. Advocate for unified efforts across diverse community sectors to strengthen digital sustainability & foster a safer online landscape in the era of artificial intelligence. This aligns with vision of achieving safe internet usage for all

Session Report (* deadline 26 October) - click on the ? symbol for instructions

The Creators Union of Arab & the Arab Media Union ECOSOC Consultative Status, as a civil society organizations within the IGF community, we have a responsibility to contribute to sustainable development and stay current with technological advancements, our recent initiative, "The Digital Safety & Cybersecurity Curriculum," and with the effective and distinguished contribution from the strategic partner "HDTC Training Center" we all cooperated to  introduce it in  the Kyoto forum sessions, aligns with these goals, promoting digital safety and responsible Internet use, this approach also achieves the Sustainable Development Goals (4,5,9,10,11,17).

This curriculum has a global mission, its primary objective is to enlighten students, parents, and educators about the significance and principles of cybersecurity, the curriculum's essence lies in providing a comprehensive grasp of cyber threats and vulnerabilities, along with the essential knowledge and skills to identify and counter cyber risks effectively.

The session revolved around a comprehensive presentation of the digital safety and cybersecurity curriculum initiative, which delved into intricate aspects such as the curriculum's specifics, the methods for its implementation, its objectives, and the intended audience, moreover, it shed light on the anticipated outcomes resulting from its successful implementation.

The website dedicated to the curriculum was also explained and how to use it for each target group, through the innovative utilization of instructional videos and interactive practical training via an online platform, enriched with quizzes and assignments to enhance the educational journey, the curriculum ensures a dynamic and engaging learning experience.

Distinguished Event Speakers:

  1. Dr. Ahmed Sarhan (Nick name Ahmed Nour): He holds the esteemed position of President at the Creators Union of Arab and the Arab Media Union. Dr. Nour is an accomplished Media and Intellectual Property expert and an esteemed researcher, He presented an overview of the initiative and expressed his wholehearted support for its adoption. He emphasized his strong commitment to spreading the curriculum, making it available to a broad spectrum of stakeholders, and conducting workshops to introduce it effectively.
  2. Dr. Nabih AbdelMajid: As a professor at the Colleges of Technological Sciences in the United Arab Emirates, Dr. AbdelMajid is the Intellectual Property owner of the curriculum, bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table, He provided an extensive elucidation of the curriculum, delineating the anticipated outcomes stemming from its implementation and highlighting the profound impact it can have on safeguarding our children. Additionally, he underscored the role of parents and teachers in promoting digital safety and fostering a secure technological environment for everyone.
  3. Dr. Hala Adly Husseien: A prominent figure in the field of block chain, she is a professor specializing in this area, and also she serves as the Secretary-General of Women's Affairs at the Creators Union of Arab and holds the position of Secretary-General of the Union of Arab Women Leaders, In her presentation, she examined the subject of cybersecurity through the unique lens of blockchain technology, delving into its pivotal role in realizing safe internet usage, she expounded on block chain’s capacity to securely and transparently trace all online activities, underlining its potential in ensuring a secure digital environment, the utilization of block chain technology for enhancing cybersecurity and its pivotal role in the realm of artificial intelligence is noteworthy. Cybersecurity is inherently integrated into block chain technology due to its decentralized nature, which is founded on principles of security, privacy, and trust. This integration not only brings transparency, cost-efficiency, and heightened security but also offers rapid implementation.

On-Site Moderator:

Dr. Nermin Selim: the Secretary-General of the Creators Union of Arab and also an Intellectual Property expert and researcher, further enriching the discourse with her expertise, She posed several inquiries regarding the curriculum's efficacy in educating parents and its potential to facilitate child monitoring while maintaining their self-confidence.

Following the comprehensive presentation of the curriculum, the esteemed speaker, Dr. Hala, raised questions about its adoption and suggested its inclusion in the forthcoming meeting of the specialized federations of the League of Arab States, and Dr. Nabih responded by confirming that it had received approval from the Knowledge Authority in Dubai.

Dr. Ahmed Nour further emphasized that efforts were underway to disseminate it across various educational organizations based on the recommendation of the IGF platform.

Moreover, during the session, a master's student from Nepal posed an inquiry concerning the prevention of privacy violations. Dr. Nabih addressed this concern by explaining that this curriculum equips students with the knowledge to detect privacy infringements and take control of their privacy. It is purposefully designed to prioritize user security.

Following the conclusion of the session, a UNESCO delegate reached out to the event organizers, expressing interest in arranging a meeting to delve deeper into the curriculum's intricacies and explore avenues for its implementation.

The primary topics addressed were:

  • The complexities and risks within the digital landscape.
  • The Details of "The Digital Safety & Cybersecurity Curriculum."
  • Raising awareness and proposing potential solutions to mitigate digital risks.
  • Examining the block chain's role in promoting safe internet use.
  • Emphasizing the incorporation of education into ensuring digital safety for our children, with active involvement from parents and teachers based on solid scientific principles.

At this launch event, our speakers emphasized the vital importance of creating a safe online space for children and providing parents with insights into their digital interactions.

Our goal is to see this curriculum adopted by numerous educational institutions, ensuring the protection of our children and establishing a secure internet framework. It's worth noting that the program is technically prepared for immediate use.

The Outcomes we aim to achieve

  • Empowering students, parents, and teachers to build a cyber-resilient community.
  • Raising a comprehensive understanding of cybersecurity principles and practices, the curriculum prepares participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to identify and mitigate cyber risks.
  • The emphasis on practical training, quizzes, and assignments ensures an interactive learning experience, educating a community that is well-prepared to navigate the evolving landscape of online threats.
  • Focuses on developing critical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and staying abreast of the latest cybersecurity trends.
  • Prepares teachers to integrate technology effectively into classrooms while emphasizing the importance of continuous learning.
  • Promote a secure and healthful environment for all members of the community.

Key Recommendations

  1. Advocate for SDSC Implementation
  • Take an active stance in promoting the integration of the Student Digital Safety Certification (SDSC) curriculum within educational institutions.
  • Engage with educational authorities, school boards, and stakeholders to emphasize the importance of digital safety education.
  • Highlight the curriculum's comprehensive approach and its potential to empower students, parents, and educators in navigating the digital realm.
  • Solicit support and accreditation from pertinent educational bodies for the incorporation of SDSC into school curricula.
  1. Seek Endorsement from International Organizations
  • Initiate efforts to secure endorsement for the SDSC curriculum from international organizations, underscoring its role in fostering a safer and more responsible digital environment, particularly in developing nations.
  • Advocate for a collaborative effort across diverse community sectors to bolster digital sustainability endeavors and promote online safety, especially in the context of the artificial intelligence revolution and the overarching objective of ensuring safe internet use for all aligned with "The Internet we want - Empowering all people".
  1. Recommend Curriculum Implementation
  • Your esteemed platform, the IGF, is encouraged to endorse the importance of this initiative and work towards its implementation through various educational institutions and relevant ministries. The ultimate goal is to establish a secure digital environment for our children.

 

Last but not least, the IGF stands as the paramount global platform for charting the world's technological landscape, we have seized this opportunity to make it our medium for conveying our message to all involved parties and to fulfill the overarching theme of the global IGF, "The Internet we want - Empowering all people.