Met 4,500 students in 40 seminars in Lazio schools
“At school connected: let’s surf safely” is the series of free meetings held by the National Center of Expertise at more than 30 secondary schools in the region
Rome, July 16, 2024 – From the protection of digital identity to the healthy use of social networks and gaming, from the protection of one’s own data to the development of a digitally aware citizenship: these are just some of the topics that involved and impassioned some 4,500 students in the series of free seminars “At school connected: let’s surf safely,” promoted by the Lazio Region as part of the activities of the Lazio Cybersecurity Academy, in collaboration with the Lazio Regional School Office, Ministry of Education and Merit and Cyber 4.0.
The National Center of Highly Specialized Expertise on Cybersecurity was responsible for delivering the cycle of meetings, aimed at training and raising awareness among students and school staff in secondary schools in the region on the issues of cybersecurity and cyberbullying. A total of 40 seminars were held in more than 30 institutions distributed in all provinces of Lazio between January and May 2024, but a new cycle is already planned for the next school year.
A true online safe surfing education course that enabled the young digital citizens of tomorrow to adopt virtuous behaviors and learn the basic concepts for a positive web experience.
Aim, to learn how to recognize and avoid cyber threats operated by malicious actors, suspicious links, fake news, but also to learn a proper sharing style, discern AI-fueled content, maintain a respectful and nonviolent netiquette, adopt good security practices recommended by experts (passwords, antivirus, firewalls, secure payment sites, etc…), to the possible health effects of excessive use of technological devices and the Internet.
Not only that. The meetings were a valuable refresher opportunity for more than 400 teachers and school staff, as adult figures of reference for children in institutions, but who themselves often lack the necessary support to deal with such sensitive issues in the daily reality of school.
“More than digital natives, it is precisely the students today who are teaching us how to use digital technologies and what the current trends are,” says Matteo Lucchetti, director of Cyber 4.0. And so we wanted to set up these meetings as a moment of peer-to-peer discussion, in which Cyber 4.0 experts brought to attention the possible critical issues in managing one’s data online, and students shared their experiences as true citizens of cyberspace. It was a growth experience for all, on issues that, now more than ever, require forming a united front, between school, students, teaching staff and parents. The Center of Competence has long been developing awareness programs for the younger generation, including in the form of contests, hackathons, gaming or targeted training, with the aim of incentivizing students of all ages to increase their skills in cybersecurity and stimulate them, why not, even to pursue a career in this world, where there is an increasing need for new skills and qualified professionals.”
“The Region has long invested in the training of young people, and the project adds to the various activities carried out in the Lazio Cybersecurity Academy,” said Giuseppe Schiboni, Councillor for Labor, University, School, Training, Research and Merit. “The project is in its first edition and will continue in the coming years. Digital tools represent an important opportunity for the new generations: it is appropriate to protect and train them so that they are truly aware of the potential and risks of the digital world and assume ethically correct behaviors both in the real world and in the online world.”