Lancaster University MBA programme delivers Cyber Security leadership

A trailblazing Lancaster University MBA programme delivering Cyber Security leadership education to Business Executives is the first of its kind to receive backing from the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), a part of GCHQ and the UK’s national authority for Cyber Security guidance and support.

A unique proposition for business leaders, and created to help address a critical gap in Cyber knowledge among UK executives, the Cyber Executive Masters in Business Administration (CEMBA) at Lancaster University, was developed alongside industry-leading Cyber Security consultants, Templar Executives, to help foster the next generation of Cyber leaders.

According to the Cyber Security Skills in the UK Labour Market 2022 report, more than half of UK businesses have a Cyber Security skills gap, and UK Cyber leaders lack the confidence to carry out basic Cyber Essentials tasks. This report also highlights the critical need for leaders to have Cyber Security literacy.

A part-time postgraduate MBA degree offering a blend of practical expertise and academic excellence, the CEMBA combines business and technical knowledge and is designed to empower participants with the expertise, skills, and confidence to effectively manage growing Cyber Security risks facing organisations.

Chris Ensor, NCSC Deputy Director for Cyber Growth, said: “The certification of Lancaster University’s Cyber Security MBA degree by the NCSC demonstrates our shared commitment to responsibly developing the cyber security talent pipeline.

“Offering a NCSC-certified degree helps prospective students make better informed choices about the quality of courses available and employers can rest assured that graduates will be well-taught and have valued industry skills.”

Andrew Fitzmaurice, CEO of Templar Executives, said: “It is testament to the strategic partnership between Lancaster University and Templar Executives that this innovative world-leading MBA has been certified by our National Cyber Security Centre.”

“This ground-breaking postgraduate qualification from Lancaster University and our experts from Templar Executives, has been developed specifically with industry needs in mind. At a time when Cyber is one of the highest risks acknowledged by organisations and Board level executives, the CEMBA is providing a vital pipeline of senior leaders to address the Cyber challenges and opportunities in a practical business context.”

The CEMBA focuses on critical behaviours that make good cyber leaders via a practice-based, challenge-led curriculum. Specifically exploring how leaders collaborate with technologists and others to ensure their organisations remain secure, resilient and able to capitalise on new growth opportunities.

Lancaster University partnered with Templar Executives leveraging the company’s global experience working across all levels of government and the private sector. Templar’s global, specialist knowledge of board-level and leadership education compliments the University’s leading academic research in the practicalities of delivering cyber security in large, complex organisations.

Now, the CEMBA programme’s excellence has been recognised by the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), as being the first cyber security MBA in the country to achieve NCSC provisional certification.

Daniel Prince, Professor of Cyber Security at Lancaster University, said: “We have developed our Cyber Executive MBA programme to deliver the next generation of Cyber leaders, ensuring that increasingly vital Cyber Security knowledge and skills are firmly embedded in the top decision-making tiers of UK businesses.

“CEMBA is a natural addition to the wide-ranging suite of Cyber Security activities that Lancaster University is engaged with across different educational tiers, but also across research, engagement with business, and other critical partnerships. And as such it is fantastic to have the CEMBA certified by the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre.”

Dr Robyn Remke from Lancaster University Management School is co-Director of the Cyber Security Executive MBA. She said: “We were excited to launch the CEMBA earlier this year, which joined the suite of quadruple-accredited MBA programmes offered by the Lancaster University Management School (LUMS). The formal certification from the NCSC further affirms the excellence and relevance of the CEMBA programme. Aligned with LUMS’ commitment to practice-based learning, the CEMBA programme is an exemplar for education designed for post-experience students.”

The NCSC, which brings together expertise from GCHQ – the UK’s Intelligence, Security and Cyber agency; the Centre for Cyber Assessment, CERT-UK, and the Centre for Protection of National Infrastructure, helps students and employers assess the quality of education provision by setting standards for Cyber Security higher education in the UK.

NCSC certification provides quality assurance to students and helps UK universities attract talented students from around the world. For full certification, a programme must have been running in both the previous and current academic year, and at least one cohort of students must have completed the course, however provisional certification status can be awarded to new programmes.

Lancaster University’s strong track-record across teaching, research and engagement places it among world-leaders in Cyber Security. It is one of only a handful of universities whose education, research and training is recognised by the NCSC. This year, Lancaster complemented its NCSC-certified MSc Cyber Security with a new BSc Hons Cyber Security, and the launch of the CEMBA, further enhancing its wide-ranging activities in the Cyber sphere.

Lancaster University recently announced a £19m investment into Security and Protection Science – an initiative that will see it recruit 33 new cross-disciplinary academics, 15 Professor in Practice roles and 10 support staff. This investment builds on the University’s recognised position as a centre for Cyber Security expertise, research and training, to support the organisation’s key role in the North West Cyber Corridor, enabling the UK deliver on its mission to become a major, responsible Cyber power.