Launched in March, CyberDrive sees college computing lecturers transporting high-end technology to West Lothian secondary schools to deliver hands-on workshops on cyber security, coding and virtual reality.

The initiative was started in partnership with tech industry body, ScotlandIS, who secured funding from the Scottish Government to enable the college to invest in leading edge technology for the workshops.

Andrea Moore, who is leading West Lothian College’s CyberDrive initiative, said:

“CyberDrive got off to a great start by delivered a Hack for Windows 7 to around a hundred second year pupils across two days. In the exciting practical exercise, students learned the ins and outs of Windows security and how to exploit its vulnerabilities.

With step-by-step guidance, they discovered how to use tools and techniques that hackers use to gain access to a Windows system and learned how to protect themselves and their own computers from malicious attacks. Cyberdrive is a great initiative that is already causing a ripple of excitement in West Lothian schools.”

The tech sector needs more skilled people to ensure that new technologies are designed and applied well. Yet, while there is an increasing number of well-paid jobs available, there is not a corresponding rise in the number of young people choosing to study and work in this industry.

West Lothian College Principal, Jackie Galbraith, commented:

“The use and impact of digital technologies continues to grow rapidly in all aspects of education, work and daily life. I am confident that these exciting CyberDrive workshops, delivered by our excellent lecturers, will stimulate interest amongst young people to choose qualifications that will lead them to an exciting career in tech.”

Young people taking part in CyberDrive workshops will be introduced to cutting-edge technology and the world of cyber security through workshops on Encryption Breaking, Cyber Security, Digital Forensics, Python Coding, Robotics, and Virtual Reality.

To book a workshop, you can visit https://www.eventbrite.com/o/west-lothian-college-64769866403