CYBER CITIZEN
Cyber Citizen initiative
Cyber Citizen brings cybersecurity into everyday life. Everyone can develop their cybersecurity skills through the project’s learning portal and mobile game. The project was named Finland’s Information Security Achievement of the Year 2024.
We are also a project researching everyday cybersecurity. For example, we have studied the current state of teaching cyber citizenship skills in EU countries. In addition, we are active in European collaboration networks.
Phases of the initiative
2022–2024 Cyber Citizen 1
The project created a common learning model for cybersecurity skills for EU member states, a cyber security learning portal, and a mobile game. These bring safety into people’s everyday lives and build their cybersecurity competence across the European Union.
- Funding: NextGenerationEU recovery instrument
- Commissioned by: Finnish Ministry of Transport and Communications
- Implemented by: Aalto University, Finland
Research
In the project, we investigated the current state of teaching cyber citizenship skills and related teaching content in EU member states. The research also examined national characteristics and requirements for cyber citizenship skills in EU countries, as well as the European Union’s official policies related to the topic. A key part of the project’s research report is the definition of cyber citizenship skills, since the concept of cybersecurity is defined in varying ways across EU countries.
Learning model
We published a learning model for cybersecurity skills that serves as the foundation for the teaching materials produced in the project. Based on this model, we built a digital learning portal that broadly leverages online learning tools and includes content tailored to different target groups.
Game and portal
Based on the cybersecurity skills learning model we built the digital SecPort learning portal, which broadly leverages online learning tools and includes content tailored to different target groups.
An essential part of the portal is the Cyber City Tycoon cybersecurity game, which conveys knowledge and understanding in an experiential way. Through educational elements it strengthens Europeans’ ability to act safely in the digital world. We also created a Europe-wide collaboration network for organizations interested in developing cyber citizenship skills.
2025–2026 Cyber Citizen 2
We are piloting the teaching materials created in the project and developing their adoption in collaboration with various stakeholders in Finland.
- Funding: Finnish Ministry of Transport and Communications
- Implemented by: Aalto University, Finland
Pilot project with the University of Jyväskylä’s Department of Teacher Education
Together with experts and students, we are developing a set of classroom materials and lesson plans for schools. We will also test the suitability of the Cyber Citizen materials for teaching in collaboration with the University of Jyväskylä’s Teacher Education Department.
Pilot project with Jyväskylä University of Applied Sciences (JAMK)
Together with JAMK, we are developing a training for upper secondary students who are about to begin their on-the-job learning periods. The material provides guidance on cybersecurity practices in working life. The material is also suitable for people without prior knowledge about workplace cybersecurity practices.
Pilot project with Finnish municipalities
We are creating a cybersecurity training package for employees, to be piloted with three municipalities. The package is flexible: its materials can be easily integrated into an already existing training, or they can be used to launch cybersecurity training if none yet exists.
The training package will first be tested with employees in the pilot municipalities, after which it will be further developed. It will then be offered for use by other municipalities. Finally, it will also be offered to the staff of municipal companies and to SMEs operating in municipalities through the municipalities’ economic development services.