SHE@CYBER

The SHE@CYBER project empowers small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and micro-enterprises (MEs) across Europe with practical, accessible cybersecurity tools while promoting gender equality by supporting women and underrepresented groups from non-technical backgrounds to enter and thrive in the digital and cybersecurity workforce, fostering a diverse and skilled digital future.

Discover SHE@CYBER

As technological innovation accelerates (projected to outpace the advancements of the past century within just the next decade) the need to fully engage with digital transformation and ensure appropriate cybersecurity capabilities becomes significant. The European Union faces a growing shortage of cybersecurity professionals, coupled with significant underrepresentation of women and individuals from non-technical backgrounds in this crucial field. SHE@CYBER responds to this dual challenge through a strategic, inclusive approach to vocational education and training (VET). 

Funded by the Erasmus+ KA2 programme and implemented across five European countries, SHE@CYBER sets out to provide concrete, sustainable solutions to build a diverse, skilled cybersecurity workforce. The project’s objectives are focused on both capacity-building and societal inclusion: 

• Workforce Strategy and Roadmap: Analyse existing workforce trends to develop a tailored roadmap for cybersecurity VET training aimed at individuals from non-technical backgrounds, with a strong emphasis on female participation.
• Open-Access Training Programme: Design and deliver an open-access professional training curriculum covering the fundamentals of cybersecurity.
• Female Engagement and Skills Development: Specifically attract and support female learners in acquiring essential cybersecurity knowledge, thus strengthening Europe’s future cybersecurity workforce.
• Cross-Border VET Delivery: Implement innovative, industry-aligned VET training in five countries, blending online and experiential learning formats to maximise accessibility and practical relevance.
• Upskilling Non-Technical Backgrounds: Equip women from non-technical domains with the competencies required to understand and respond to emerging digital threats.
• Career Transition Support: Facilitate pathways for women and underrepresented groups to transition into new professional roles within the cybersecurity sector.
• Cybersecurity Awareness and Culture: Foster a pan-European culture of cybersecurity awareness, resilience, and shared responsibility. 

The SHE@CYBER consortium brings together a transnational partnership of expert organisations selected for their complementary strengths and commitment to inclusive digital education. Through collaborative innovation and knowledge exchange, the project seeks to shape a European model for inclusive cybersecurity training that supports both economic resilience and social equity.

Why is this a good practice?

Since its launch, SHE@CYBER has completed the workforce skills analysis and developed the cybersecurity training roadmap. The open-access training platform has been launched, with over 150 participants enrolled, 100% of whom are women from non-technical backgrounds. Early feedback indicates increased awareness and skills, and several SMEs have begun adopting the project’s cybersecurity tools, demonstrating positive progress toward building a diverse and skilled cybersecurity workforce.

SHE@CYBER has been designed to be inclusive and accessible. The digital platforms and training materials are developed following accessibility best practices, ensuring compatibility with screen readers, subtitles for videos, clear and simple language, and easy navigation to accommodate users with visual, hearing, learning, or mobility impairments. This ensures all users can fully engage. Beyond the project timeline, SHE@CYBER plans to expand by developing partnerships with industry and VET providers to sustain training programmes, which is successfully led by Vernian (CY). The project’s open-access platform ensures ongoing accessibility.

Ultimately, SHE@CYBER directly addresses two critical challenges facing Europe’s digital future: the growing cybersecurity skills gap and the significant underrepresentation of women in the sector. The project has already benefited numerous women and individuals from non-technical backgrounds by providing accessible, practical training tailored to their needs. By equipping SMEs and MEs with essential cybersecurity tools and fostering diversity in a traditionally male-dominated field, SHE@CYBER promotes inclusion and empowerment. Its innovative use of AI-driven personalised learning and immersive simulations ensures effective skills development. Moreover, SHE@CYBER’s strong transnational consortium, commitment to sustainability, and alignment with EU strategic goals demonstrate its capacity to create lasting impact. This initiative is a vital step towards a more resilient, inclusive, and digitally secure Europe.