The "Digital Shield" educational program authors (in alphabetical order):
- Dr. Jacek Copik
- Dr. Rafał Głębocki
- Dr. Marta Kaczyńska
- Robert Nowakowski MA
- Dariusz Walczak MA
Jan Dlugosz University in Czestochowa, Faculty of Science and Technology.
No formal prerequisites are required. The course is designed for all members of academic communities, including researchers, students, and administrative staff, regardless of their technical background or prior knowledge of cybersecurity.
- Open access: Yes - granted to the entire COLOURS Alliance
- Deep-Tech fields: Cybersecurity & Data Protection
- Duration (hours): 60
- Certificate provided: Yes - Digital Badge
- EQF level: 4
- Skills addressed: Cybersecurity; Apply cybersecurity measures; Identify security threats; Implement ICT security policies
The “Digital Shield” educational program combines practical knowledge with real-world scenarios tailored to the academic context. The course is accessible, interactive, and available in multiple formats (text, audio, video) to suit your learning style.
Upon successful completion of the "Digital Shield" educational program, you will receive a digital badge as official recognition of your achievement.
The badge can be used to document your participation and newly acquired skills in your professional or academic portfolio.
See the example - https://bit.ly/digitalshield-badge
Digital Shield: Safeguarding Academia in the Digital Age
In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, academic environments are prime targets for cyber threats. “Digital Shield” is an innovative educational program designed specifically for universities and research institutions. The course empowers you, whether you are a lecturer, student, or administrative professional, to recognize and respond to cyber risks with confidence.
Through engaging modules, you will:
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Identify and avoid online scams and phishing attempts common in academic settings.
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Protect sensitive data, both personal and institutional.
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Implement best practices for digital security across platforms and devices.
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Respond effectively to incidents to minimize damage and recover quickly.
- Participate in the Digital Shield Community - an online forum.
Recent forum discussions:
- Building Cyber Resilience in Education: Lessons, Frameworks, and Strategies for the Age of AI-Driven Threats.
- Anthropic Report: AI Used as Both Consultant and Operator in Cyberattacks – What Does This Mean for AI Safety?
- AI in CyberOps: From Speed and Scale to New Skills and Governance Challenges
The "Digital Shield" educational program is classified as a level 4 in the European Qualifications Framework (EQF). It has received the Deep-Tech Talent Initiative Quality Check.
Contact person:
Dr Małgorzata (Gosia) Kurek holds a Ph.D. in Applied Linguistics. She is a researcher, teacher trainer and experienced VE practitioner. Her research interests include teacher education, task-supported language learning, CALL and multiliteracies. Her primary research interest focuses on various aspects of digital technologies in language learning and teaching. include teacher education, task-supported language learning, CALL and intercultural communication. Her primary research addresses various aspects of Virtual Exchange, particularly in the context of teacher education and language learning.
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7191-6273
Google Scholar: https://tinyurl.com/3b3fbr4w
The course is dedicated to academic teachers - partners in the COLOURS Alliance, who want to upskill in the area of Virtual Exchange/COIL courses. Participants are expected to have a good command of English (min. B2).
Participation in the course will be awarded with a Pedagogical Innovation Badge.
This is an abbreviated version of the EVOLVE training, published as an Open Educational Resource as part of the EVOLVE project: Evidence-Validated Online Learning Through Virtual Exchange.
The full cartridge is available at https://evolve-erasmus.eu/
The purpose of this course is to help academic teachers engage with class-to-class Virtual Exchange (VE) - an educational approach in which geographically distant groups of students work together online on a series of tasks, supported by their educators and/or facilitators.
Course participants will:
- Learn what Virtual Exchange (VE) is and how it can be implemented within your institutional context;
- Explore different types of VE formats and commonly used task types;
- Gain hands-on experience with digital tools and communication platforms typically applied in VE projects
- Design a scenario or task sequence for their own Virtual Exchange project
- Reflect on common challenges in implementing VE and explore potential solutions.
The coursework includes reading and viewing materials, participating in group and class discussions online, attending 4 weekly Zoom sessions, and contributing to discussion forums with individual reflections.
Anna Wojnarowicz-Głębocka (M.A.), teaching assistant at the Foreign Language Centre of Jan Długosz University in Częstochowa, Poland. A certified examiner for the international TOEIC exam.
B1 / B2 level of English
Max. number of participants - 25.
For enrolment please contact: a.wojnarowicz-glebocka@ujd.edu.pl
Each participant registers for the course individually. Once all available spots are filled, registration will be automatically closed.
Participants work on the course at any time and at their own pace – the course is available 24/7 and does not require the presence of an instructor. Participants can contact the instructor through the available communication channels on the platform, such as the forum.
The digital badge is awarded after completing at least 50% of the course, in accordance with the guidelines and description provided within the course.
Mariusz Szyma (M.A.), teacher assistant at the Foreign Language Centre of Jan Długosz University in Częstochowa, Poland. Specializes in German and Spanish.
The course was created as a result of collaboration between the teacher of German and the COLOURS team of teachers of English.
A2 level of German
B1 level of English
Max. number of participants - 25.
For enrolment please contact: m.szyma@ujd.edu.pl
Each participant registers for the course independently. Once all spots are filled, registration closes automatically.
Participants work on the course at any time and at their own pace – the course is available 24/7 and does not require the presence of an instructor. Participants can contact the instructor through the available communication channels on the platform, such as the forum.
The digital badge is awarded after completing at least 50% of the course, in accordance with the guidelines and description provided within the course.
Mariusz Szyma (M.A.), teacher assistant at the Foreign Language Centre of Jan Długosz University in Częstochowa, Poland. Specializes in German and Spanish.
The course was created as a result of collaboration between the teacher of Spanish and the COLOURS team of teachers of English.
B1 level of English
A1 level of Spanish
Max. number of participants - 25.
For enrolment please contact: m.szyma@ujd.edu.pl
Each participant registers for the course independently. Once all spots are filled, registration closes automatically.
Participants work on the course at any time and at their own pace – the course is available 24/7 and does not require the presence of an instructor. Participants can contact the instructor through the available communication channels on the platform, such as the forum.
The digital badge is awarded after completing at least 50% of the course, in accordance with the guidelines and description provided within the course.
Iwona Matyja-Chłąd (M.A.), teaching assistant at the Foreign Language Centre of Jan Długosz University in Częstochowa, Poland. A certified examiner for the international TOEIC exam.
A2 level of English
Max. number of participants - 25.
For enrolment please contact: i.matyja@ujd.edu.pl
Each participant registers for the course individually. Once all available spots are filled, registration will be automatically closed.
Participants work on the course at any time and at their own pace – the course is available 24/7 and does not require the presence of an instructor. Participants can contact the instructor through the available communication channels on the platform, such as the forum.
The digital badge is awarded after completing at least 50% of the course, in accordance with the guidelines and description provided within the course.
B1 / B2 level of English.
Max. number of participants - 25.
For enrolment please contact: a.marcinkowska@ujd.edu.pl
Each participant registers for the course individually. Once all available spots are filled, registration will be automatically closed.
Participants work on the course at any time and at their own pace – the course is available 24/7 and does not require the presence of an instructor. Participants can contact the instructor through the available communication channels on the platform, such as the forum.
The digital badge is awarded after completing at least 50% of the course, in accordance with the guidelines and description provided within the course.