Global Cybersecurity Talent Development Programme

The Global Cybersecurity Talent Development Programme is a specialist, bespoke six-month course delivered by Kellogg College as part of a Korea University leadership initiative, funded by the Institute of Information and Communications Technology Planning & Evaluation (IITP) in South Korea. The programme reflects IITP’s commitment to developing future leaders in the Korean cybersecurity sector.

The inaugural cohort studied at Kellogg College from August 2025 to February 2026, undertaking workshops and lectures delivered in two-week intensive teaching blocks. Academic study was complemented by a cultural enrichment programme that enabled participants to engage fully in Kellogg College life, alongside travel and exploration opportunities across the UK.

About the programme

The programme is designed to offer a distinctive Oxford learning experience that combines academic excellence with real-world relevance. Teaching is delivered through a blend of lectures by Oxford professors, interactive discussions, guided group work and a capstone project, led by world-class academics and researchers from the University of Oxford.

Overall academic leadership is provided by the Course Directors, Professor Nigel Mehdi of Kellogg College and Rory Young, from the Oxford Centre for Artificial Intelligence, who oversee the programme’s structure, coherence and delivery. All elements of the course are designed and taught by Oxford academics from the Department of Computer Science in consultation with the Programme partners to ensure both the content and standards meet the highest expectations.

They work closely with Professor Jiwon Yoon, a Visiting Fellow of Kellogg and Professor in the School of Cybersecurity and the Department of Cyber Defence at Korea University, to ensure a rigorous and collaborative educational experience that is aligned with Korean government’s global cybersecurity capacity-building goals.

Core curriculum

The core curriculum comprises three in-depth modules and a group capstone project, enabling participants to apply their learning to real-world cybersecurity challenges:

• Secure Systems Engineering and Design, led by Professor Andrew Martin and Professor Ivan Flechais, focuses on building resilient systems
• People and Security, led by Professor Reuben Binns, examines human-centred approaches to security
• Communication Security, delivered by Professor Kasper Rasmussen and Professor Ivan Martinovic, explores the protection of information and communications in complex environments

Participants

Participants are high-calibre professionals selected by Korea University through a competitive process and capable of engaging with an intensive programme of graduate-level study. Throughout the course, they explore contemporary cybersecurity challenges through case studies, scenario-based discussions and collaborative projects. Every student who successfully completes the course is presented with a Certificate of Achievement, issued by Kellogg College.

The Oxford experience

A dedicated social and cultural enrichment component is built into the programme, allowing participants to experience Oxford University life beyond the classroom. Activities include excursions and experiences, such as:

• a visit to Bletchley Park, the once top-secret home of the World War Two Codebreakers and now a vibrant heritage attraction
• an Oxford punting experience along the River Cherwell, with the requisite stop at a riverside pub for refreshments
• a Formal Hall at Kellogg College to experience the traditional dining culture
• a tour of the University’s historic library’s including the Duke Humfrey’s Reading Room and the Radcliffe Camera