Today we were delighted to welcome Soraya Harding, Senior Lecturer in Cybersecurity Intelligence and Digital Forensics and Course Leader for Counter Terrorism, Intelligence and Cybercrime & Criminology and Cybersecurity from the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, University of Portsmouth.
Soraya delivered a fascinating, detailed and genuinely immersive lecture on the highly relevant topic of cybersecurity. What made the session particularly powerful was its authenticity. The lecture was delivered at Level 4/5 and was essentially the same session provided to university students and police officers. Our Level 3 criminology students were therefore given a rare and valuable opportunity to engage with current university-level teaching, real-world case material and contemporary professional perspectives.
The session explored the evolving nature of cybercrime, the intelligence challenges it presents, and the role of digital forensics in counter-terrorism and serious organised crime investigations. Students commented on how the lecture reshaped their understanding of what studying criminology and cybersecurity at university can look like.
By exposing Level 3 - year 1 students to university-level teaching at an early stage, we aim to build familiarity, confidence and aspiration. On the Island, progression rates to higher education are impacted by a complex range of geographical, financial and psychological barriers. Experiences like this are designed to help break down those barriers by making university learning feel accessible, relevant and achievable.
This visit marks what we hope will be the first of many collaborations with the University of Portsmouth School of Criminology and Criminal Justice and forms a key part of our wider commitment to widening participation, raising aspirations and supporting progression beyond Level 3.
Our thanks go to Soraya Harding for her time, expertise and engaging delivery - and to our students, who rose to the challenge of university-level learning with enthusiasm. We very much look forward to building on this partnership in the months and years ahead.
