Listeners to our CyberVersed podcast will know the name Rania Hindy; she took part in episode 18 to discuss her participation in the Cyber PATH programme. We are delighted to announce that Rania is continuing to develop her interest and share her knowledge in cyber. She has been invited to join the UK Cyber Council Youth Advisory Panel, where she is one of a select group of 18 young people.
The vision of the UK Cyber Security Council is that the United Kingdom should be one of the most secure places anywhere in the world to do business in cyberspace (as set out in the original National Cyber Security Strategy 2016-2021).
To help this vision become reality, the Council’s role is to be the umbrella body for existing professional organisations and to drive progress towards meeting the key challenges faced by the cybersecurity profession.
We caught up with Rania to find out about her exciting new role and to find out what she’s been doing since we recorded the podcast.
Q. Rania, can you introduce yourself and tell us what and where you are studying?
A. I’m Rania Hindy, and I’ve just completed my 2nd Year at Aberystwyth University, where I’m studying Space Science and Robotics. I’m now about to start a one-year work placement at Dstl (Defence Science and Technology Laboratory). Following that, I will return to university for my 3rd year.
Q. That’s an interesting and exciting opportunity; how did it come about?
A. Yes, I was surprised and excited that I was offered the placement. It was actually my Cyber PATH Supervisor, Abdullah Khan, who told me about the placement, so I decided to apply. After the interview process, I was fortunate to be chosen for the position.
Q. Going back to Cyber PATH, how long have you been involved, and what experiences have you had?
A. Amazingly, it’s now a year since I started in June 2023. It’s been a fantastic experience for me, which has kind of surprised me. I hadn’t considered working in cyber before I attended the Cyber PATH presentation at the university, but I thought, why not give it a go?
One year on, I have delivered many Security Awareness Training sessions; I’m not sure exactly how many, but certainly over ten. In fact, I’ve delivered every Cyber PATH service except for the policy-based ones.
Q. Have you found the experience useful, and do you think the experience helped to secure your work placement?
A. Yes, it’s been hugely beneficial to me. There is nothing quite as good as learning on-the-job and working on real-life projects. It’s the best way to learn, and it’s rewarding to see that what I do can make a difference. I love the mentoring side of things and the support I get from the Cyber PATH team; they help you a great deal, but they also encourage me to do the research and identify solutions myself. But you never feel unsupported or left on your own.
Q. What would you say to students thinking about joining the Cyber PATH programme?
A. Do it. It’s such a worthwhile programme; it has stimulated my interest in cyber, and I get paid for the Cyber PATH services I deliver!
Q. Going back to the UK Cyber Security Council Youth Panel, what do they hope to achieve, and what will your participation involve?
A. The Youth Advisory Panel is designed to provide a voice for young people around cyber.
The mission is to inspire and empower young people in the UK by championing cyber security awareness and making young people aware of routes into the industry they might have missed, such as apprenticeships, societies/fellowships, training, and conferences. We also want to demystify routes into cyber security by identifying clear pathways for everyone, from those in education to career changers. And we need to highlight that anyone can get into cyber and that it’s not just for ‘computer nerds’.
Q. Do you think that enough young people consider cyber as a career path?
A. No, not at the moment, but I do think it’s changing, and it is becoming a more popular consideration. It’s difficult because there are no entry-level qualifications like GCSEs in cyber. However, programmes like Cyber PATH and the Youth Advisory Panel are changing perceptions and generating interest.
Q. Finally, Rania, what are your career hopes for the future?
A. I’ve not fully decided, but I think it will involve some element of cyber security. I’m also interested in the space sector and robotics, as my degree involves a lot of that. So, perhaps something involving the cyber protection of satellites would be an excellent place to start!
We are confident that Rania will succeed in whatever she does. She may find the Cyber PATH useful to her, but we, too, benefit from having her on board. We wish her well as she begins her work placement on July 1, 2024.
