Khmelnytskyi National University is joining the international educational initiative ‘Pilot Programme for Enhancing Cybersecurity Skills Gaps in Ukraine’, which this year brings together six Ukrainian universities around a common goal — to strengthen the practical training of future cybersecurity specialists.
In 2026, the programme will be expanded: the number of participating universities will increase from three to six, and training will be provided in two practical specialisms — SOC Analyst and Cyber Threat Intelligence & Incident Response.
Students at Khmelnytskyi National University will be joining the Cyber Threat Intelligence & Incident Response programme.
For our university, taking part in the project is an opportunity to strengthen the practical aspect of our students’ training and give them access to the latest technologies and approaches used in the professional cybersecurity sector.
Why is this project important to us?
Modern cybersecurity requires not only fundamental knowledge, but also the ability to apply it in practice — to analyse events and incidents, identify threats, make decisions and respond to attacks.
That is precisely why it is important for Khmelnytskyi National University to provide students with opportunities, whilst they are still studying, to work on tasks that are as closely aligned as possible with their future professional careers.
Participation in the programme is important for Khmelnytskyi National University, as it enables the university to supplement students’ academic training with practical experience of dealing with modern cyber threats and incident response scenarios. The knowledge and practical materials gained during the Bootcamp can be integrated into the educational process and used in future to train the next generations of cybersecurity specialists.
‘For us, taking part in this programme is an opportunity to combine a solid university education with the practical experience required in today’s cybersecurity sector. It is particularly valuable that students have the chance to work with realistic scenarios, analyse cyber threats and practise incident response in an environment that closely resembles a professional one. We view this experience not only as an opportunity for individual participants, but also as a foundation for the further development of the practical component of cyber education at the university,” said Yurii KLOTS, Head of the Department of Cyber Security.
From theory to practical cyber scenarios
As part of the programme, students at Khmelnytskyi National University will take part in an intensive bootcamp in the field of Cyber Threat Intelligence & Incident Response.
Cyber Threat Intelligence & Incident Response — a programme focused on the detection and analysis of cyber threats, the study of attackers’ tactics and techniques, incident response, the containment of attacks and recovery following them.
The key feature of the programme is its practical focus. Participants will work on realistic cyber scenarios at the CybExer cyber training ground, applying the knowledge they have gained in a controlled environment that closely resembles the work of real-life cyber defence teams.
This format enables students not only to acquire new knowledge, but also to understand how it is applied when dealing with real-world cyber threats.
How did our students and lecturers respond to the programme?
Students particularly highlight the programme’s practical focus and the opportunity to work on tasks that closely mirror real-life situations in the field of cybersecurity. They were keen to develop their skills in analysing cyber threats, investigating the actions of attackers and responding to incidents, as well as to test their newly acquired knowledge during the CTF. Participants expect the Bootcamp to provide them with new practical skills, experience of working with modern tools, and a better understanding of the nature of the work carried out by Cyber Threat Intelligence and Incident Response specialists.
Lecturers at Khmelnytskyi National University highlight the programme’s practical format as an important complement to students’ theoretical training. The Cyber Threat Intelligence & Incident Response specialisation is highly relevant for future professionals, as it combines the analysis of cyber threats, incident investigation and practical drilling of response scenarios. Participation in the programme also provides opportunities for lecturers to familiarise themselves with modern approaches to professional training and to utilise the materials and experience gained in their future teaching.
The next stage – CTF
Upon completion of the Bootcamp, students will put the knowledge and skills they have acquired to the test during a qualification Capture The Flag (CTF) in their chosen field of study.
23 October – Cyber CTF Qualifier Threat Intelligence & Incident Response
During the competition, participants will tackle practical tasks in which not only technical knowledge but also the ability to analyse a situation, find the necessary solutions and act under time pressure will be crucial.
The top performers from the qualifying rounds will compete in the final in November 2026.
For our students, this is an opportunity to go the whole way – from studying and practical training to putting their skills to the test in a CTF competition.
From training participants to systemic changes at the university
A key component of the Pilot Programme for Enhancing Cybersecurity Skills Gaps in Ukraine is to produce an outcome that will remain effective well beyond the duration of a single academic cycle.
The programme is designed to train not only students but also lecturers from relevant departments at partner universities. Lecturers will undergo specialised training leading to international professional certification from the EC-Council under the Certified SOC Analyst (CSA) and Certified Incident Handler (ECIH) programmes.
Khmelnytskyi National University will involve 20 students in the practical training programme, who will work with the theoretical and practical materials developed as part of the project.
The main long-term outcome is the continued integration of the developed curricula into the educational process at partner universities. This will enable the materials produced to be used not only for participants in the current phase, but also for the training of future cohorts of students in the relevant degree programmes.
The project therefore operates on the following principle: train lecturers → teach students → integrate the programme into university education. This makes it possible to scale up the knowledge and practical experience gained and to ensure maximum long-term benefit from the materials developed.
Ukrainian-Estonian partnership for the development of cyber education
The ‘Pilot Programme for Enhancing Cybersecurity Skills Gaps in Ukraine’ is being implemented by Security Expert Group (SEG) – a Ukrainian company specialising in cybersecurity and professional training – and CybExer – an Estonian cybersecurity company with international expertise in cyber range technologies and practical training for specialists.
CybExer’s technologies enable the creation of realistic cyber environments, the simulation of attacks and the rehearsal of response scenarios under controlled conditions.
The project is being implemented with the support of The Estonian Centre for International Development (ESTDEV) – an Estonian state foundation which implements international development programmes and supports the transfer of Estonian expertise to partner countries, including Ukraine.
Participation in the programme gives Khmelnytskyi National University the opportunity to become part of an international initiative that combines Ukrainian and Estonian expertise, academic education, modern technologies and practical training for future cybersecurity specialists.
For us, this is another step towards ensuring that our students leave university not only with knowledge, but also with the practical experience required for their future careers in the field of cybersecurity.
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