The extent of computer crime has risen sharply in recent years. In order to increase the pressure on cyber criminals and to prepare police officers in the best possible way for the increased demands, NRW Minister of the Interior Herbert Reul, Dr. Thomas Grünwald (President of the Hochschule Niederrhein - HSNR) and Professor Dr. Hartmut Ihne (President of the Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences - H-BRS) signed the cooperation agreement today, Wednesday, on cooperation in academic qualification measures for cyber criminals at the Cyber Campus North Rhine-Westphalia (CCNRW) in Mönchengladbach. Last year, the participating organizations had signed a memorandum of understanding, which is now being implemented through the cooperation agreement.
"Our lives are increasingly taking place in cyberspace. But the technology we use every day unfortunately also harbors dangers. Cyber criminals use the anonymity of the Internet to commit crimes. We must therefore ensure security in cyberspace just as we do on the street. This only works with well-trained cyber investigators who can identify criminals in the digital space. I am pleased that the NRW police have developed their very own Degree programme in cooperation with the Cyber Campus NRW. Ready police officers are being trained as cybercriminalists on a career-integrated basis. In this way, we are setting completely new standards and equipping ourselves "bit by bit" against future digital threats," says NRW Interior Minister Herbert Reul.
HSNR President Dr. Thomas Grünwald said on the occasion of the signing: "As a university of applied sciences, we are committed to the common good. With the qualification of officers in the police enforcement service for the fight against cybercrime, we are fulfilling this obligation in a particularly important field. This makes us proud. We thank the state for trusting us to take on this responsibility."
"The frequency of cyberattacks has increased sharply and is a global problem. In order to combat crime in the digital space, training police officers to become cyber specialists is an important component," said Professor Dr. Hartmut Ihne, President of Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences. "We are pleased to be able to work with the Hochschule Niederrhein to share our IT expertise, which we have pooled in the Cyber Campus NRW, and thus contribute to the fight against cybercrime. In our Degree programmes, the cybercriminologists of tomorrow will be comprehensively prepared for their challenging task."
The three cooperation partners have agreed to develop and implement an academic qualification program in the field of cybercrime. The aim is to develop and establish a programmes for police officers and prospective students who see their task in other (economic) areas in the fight against and prevention of crime in the digital space. They are to be prepared for the challenges of digital investigations and taught problem-solving skills for current and future digital threats.
The content of the qualification measure was designed with the inclusion of the IT expertise of the CCNRW and its existing programmes as well as the investigative expertise of the North Rhine-Westphalia Police. The qualification measure is to be completed as part-time studies in up to eight semesters. During the semester, courses are to be held a maximum of two days per week. The planned start date is the winter semester 2023/2024.
For quality assurance purposes, both sides have agreed on ongoing evaluation as well as monitoring by a cooperation advisory board consisting of representatives of all participating organizations.
The qualification measure is offered as part of the CCNRW's programmes. The CCNRW is an association of the Hochschule Niederrhein and the Hochschule Bonn-Rhein-Sieg. At the Mönchengladbach campus of the Hochschule Niederrhein, the Degree programmes Cyber Security Management (Bachelor and Master) and Digital Forensics (Bachelor) are offered. At the Sankt Augustin campus of Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences, the Degree programme Cyber Security & Privacy (Bachelor; Master with a set start in WS 23/24) is offered.
