New partnership to provide further professional opportunities for the cyber security industry

Teesside University has forged an exciting new partnership with a leading cybersecurity and networking company which will provide additional career opportunities for students and graduates.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between the University and VirtualArmour – a leading international company which provides bespoke cybersecurity and networking solutions to clients all over the world.

The two organisations already have an established working relationship, with dozens of Teesside University graduates already employed at VirtualArmour’s Middlesbrough office.

The formal MoU will offer even more opportunities for collaboration and provide mutually beneficial ways of working together, including:

• Guest lectures and student projects • Joint research and professional development • Collaborative expertise and course input • Internships, work experience and graduate opportunities

Founded in 2001, VirtualArmour has offices in Denver, Colorado, and in Middlesbrough. It has an experienced global team of network engineers, systems experts and software engineers who provide cybersecurity and networking solutions to a range of clients in the energy, healthcare, retail and financial sectors.

Teesside University offers a BSc (Hons) Cybersecurity and Networks degree within its School of Computing, Engineering & Digital Technologies. This degree has been accredited by the British Computer Society and The Chartered Institute for IT.

Students from this course have progressed on to a wide range of careers, working in industries including power, avionics and pharmaceuticals, and for national and international companies, including Cisco, HMRC, Accenture and Durham Police.

Professor Chrisina Jayne, Dean of the University’s School of Computing, Engineering & Digital Technologies, said she was delighted to be signing a formal partnership with a global company such as VirtualArmour.

She added: 'It is fantastic to work so closely with a company of this stature and I am really excited about the additional opportunities this will provide for our students and graduates.

'Cyber security, particularly in these current circumstances, is a very prominent issue and to be able to share our research, business and academic expertise with VirtualArmour will have huge benefits for both parties.'

Andrew Douthwaite, Chief Technical Officer at VirtualArmour, said: 'This is a fantastic partnership and we are delighted that our name will be synonymous with Teesside University, which has an outstanding reputation in this subject area.

'The Memorandum of Understanding will allow us to have direct input into the course content and also provide a pipeline of successful and talented graduates. I am certainly looking forward to what the future has to offer.'

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• Partnership
• Cyber Security