November Minister Lawless launches cybersecurity education programme

University of Galway and EY unveil new executive training 

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science James Lawless T.D. has today launched a new cybersecurity executive education programme at University of Galway. 

 Cybersecurity for Managers is a new cyber awareness initiative developed and delivered by the University’s J.E. Cairnes School of Business & Economics in collaboration with EY, with the first intake in early 2026.  

 The programme is designed for people in leadership roles with no specific background in cyber or IT security and is focused on managers, team leaders, project managers and members of staff with managerial responsibility. 

 Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science James Lawless T.D. said: “Cyber threats are becoming more complex all the time, and it’s crucial that our leaders have the tools they need to stay ahead of the risks. This new programme is a strong example of how industry and education can work together to build the expertise required to strengthen our systems and support the people who rely on them. I’m really pleased to see this kind of practical, forward-thinking collaboration between the University of Galway and EY, and I look forward to the impact it will have across the healthcare sector and beyond.”

 Professor Becky Whay, Deputy President & Registrar of University of Galway, said: “Our University is deeply committed to driving collaboration with industry leaders such as EY which enable our academics to build impactful education. The cybersecurity education programme is a great symbol of this, and through it we are equipping managers with the tools they need to support their organisations in an increasingly digital world, and the opportunities and challenges that go with that.”

 Professor Alma McCarthy, Dean of the College of Business, Public Policy and Law at University of Galway, said: "In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, cyber security is more critical than ever. It is essential that management teams across all sectors are equipped with the knowledge and skills to address cyber challenges. University of Galway’s co-development of the cyber executive education programme with EY reflects our commitment to empowering leaders with practical, cutting-edge expertise for the future." 

 The cybersecurity programme will initially focus on the healthcare sector before being expanded to other sectors. It examines core concepts of cyber awareness including risk; understanding relevant threats, attack strategies and vulnerabilities; identity and access management; governance, policy, legislation and standards; human behaviours in cyber; metrics; cyber incident response and resilience. 

 The course marks the first stage in a new strategy led by the J.E. Cairnes School of Business and Economics at University of Galway to develop a broader suite of Executive Education programmes. The second strand will be on Artificial Intelligence for SMEs, which is also due to come on stream in 2026.  

 The initiative builds upon the experiences of the academics and researchers associated with the MSc Cybersecurity Risk Management postgraduate degree and the MBA programme at the J.E. Cairnes School of Business & Economics. 

 The development of the University’s executive education programme in cyberawareness was also supported in the Oireachtas by Senator Gerard Craughwell. 

 Ends