More than 10,000 young people came together to discover more about the county’s fast-growing cyber ecosystem, with venues like Edge Hill showcasing the valuable cyber skills required for industries including aerospace, manufacturing and engineering.

Visitors to the Ormskirk campus met with the University’s staff and students from the Department of Computer Science to explore routes to academic study and heard from professionals in cyber-related roles.

And Edge Hill students took part in a ‘Capture the Flag’ competition against other university and HE students and apprentices, completing a number of real-world tasks across a variety of technologies.

Professor Amr Ahmed, Head of Department for Computer Science, said: “We were delighted to welcome so many bright young minds from across the county to discuss the wonderful opportunities available in the world of cyber.”

The event showcased the expertise of participating students and the practical application of their skills across computer and engineering sciences.

Dr Muhammad Usman, programme leader for BSc (Hons) Cyber Security, said: “We are proud that our students secured first and third place in the Capture the Flag event, a testament to the hard work of both our staff and students.

“It is also encouraging to see a significant rise in participation from local sixth forms and colleges, reflecting a growing enthusiasm for using cyber security skills to serve and protect our digital community.”

Lancashire Cyber Partnership’s vision for the county, and the wider North West Cyber Corridor, is to be one of the world’s leading destinations for cyber businesses, support agencies, careers, training and research, with Lancashire now the proud home of the National Cyber Force Headquarters.

A spokesperson for the Partnership said: “Education Week plays an important role in the Lancashire Cyber Partnership’s long-term goal of creating a talent pipeline for the many cyber-focussed roles UK businesses will require in the future.

“We are proud that many schools, colleges and universities in the county actively took part in the week. Unlocking the next generation’s ability to take advantage of cyber and tech-based jobs in Lancashire is imperative.”

Find out more about courses available in the Department of Computer Science at Edge Hill University.

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Going Global: Edge Hill student represents the UK in MOS World Championship

We’re proud to see our students achieving success both in and beyond the classroom. BSc (Hons) Computer Science student Thomas Humphreys represented the UK at the Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) World Championship Final in Orlando, Florida. He achieved the highest score in the quickest time nationwide during the qualifying round of his MOS Certification Exam in Microsoft Word, securing his place as the UK champion.

The MOS World Championship brings together students from across the globe to test their skills in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Thomas flew over to represent the UK in the Microsoft Word stream. Testing ran across two days, followed by an awards ceremony where the MOS World Championship winners were crowned. Students also got tickets to go to Universal Studios as a social activity to wind down once the challenge was finished.

Thomas placed ninth in the Certiport Microsoft Word 365 World Championship, out of hundreds of thousands of contestants from around the world. He says, “It was an amazing experience competing against the world’s top students, and I am so proud to have represented both Edge Hill and the UK!”

“If you are considering taking computer science or any course related to the subject, I highly recommend giving it a go! Whether you know what you aspire to be once you leave university or not, Edge Hill provides you with the opportunities to master your skillset and set you apart from other applicants in a highly competitive job market.  Not to mention the fact that you can arrange to swap courses during or after your first year if you decide that you want to specialise in another area of the subject.”

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Software Locations

Specialist Workstations

Free Software

The software below is free for students to download and use on their own devices.

Software from Edge Hill University

The software applications shown below are provided by Edge Hill University and made available for Staff and Students to use on personal computers

Open Source software

You may have heard about Open Source software (which usually means it’s free), or assistive technology – tools you can add to your computer or the software you use, which makes them more adaptable and easier to use. The software shown below are Open Source applications available to download for free.

Further help and support

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