On Wednesday 3rd December 2025, iCSS (Institute of Cyber Security for Society) and KMCS3 (Kent & Medway Cyber Security Student Society) had a joint stand as part of the 2025 Aspiration Digital Kent event, on the Canterbury campus of the University of Kent. This one-day event was organised by Aspirational Digital, a one-day digital skills conference designed to educate six-form students (16-18-year-olds) on the different roles in the digital sector and various career paths such as in cyber security, AI, computing, ICT, marketing, design, arts, and engineering.
The iCSS-KMCS3 stand at the event was manned by the following volunteers:
- Dr Matthew Boakes, Technical Architect at the UK government’s Home Office, former UG/PhD student/postdoc and current Assistant Lecturer at the University of Kent
- Temesgen Kitaw Damenu, current PhD student at iCSS and School of Computing, University of Kent
- Dr Virginia Franqueira, iCSS Deputy Director (Education), who is also Director of the University of Kent ACE-CSE (Academic Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security Education) recognised by the UK government
- Zehra Kuru, former MSc student at the University of Kent’s School of Computing, who was also the former Vice President for PGT students of KMCS3
- Professor Shujun Li, iCSS Director and School Outreach Lead, who also leads the University of Kent ACE-CSR (Academic Centre of Excellence in Cyber Security Research) recognised by the UK government
- Mihai Moraru, current UG student at the University of Kent’s School of Computing, who was also the former President and is the current Vice President for Strategy and Development of KMCS3
- Dr Yichao Wang, former PhD student and current postdoctoral at iCSS and School of Computing, University of Kent
At the stand, many cyber security educational materials and activities were showcased. These include some art works from the 2024 “Creative Cyber” Exhibition, the 2024 iCSS-KMCC-KMCSN-KMCS3 Cyber Security Awareness Month, the 2023-24 iCSS-KMCC-KMCS3 CyberAnything Competition, two animated videos iCSS produced for cyber security awareness (“How to be a cyber superhero” and “Why does cyber security matter for everyone?”), some cyber security awareness comic booklets produced by Xcapism Learning Ltd for iCSS, an online safety book Ready, Get Set, Connect! produced by Cyberlite Books Pte. Ltd. for iCSS, an article “How to Beat the Cybercriminals and Stay Safe Online” iCSS did for Futurum Careers (a free online resource and magazine for introducing 14-19-year-olds worldwide to different scientific disciplines), certificates of the University of Kent as an ACE-CSE with Gold award status and an ACE-CSR, the award plaque of the University of Kent as the “Cyber University of the Year” of the 2023 Real Cyber Awards, and flyers of KMCS3 and KMCSN (Kent & Medway CyberSchools Network).
At the event, the iCSS and KMCS3 volunteers talked with many six-formers who visited the stand and distributed free copies of some cyber security awareness materials.
The event helped connect iCSS and KMCS3 with six-formers who are interested in digital careers and school/college teachers who are teaching and supporting six-formers’ learning experience in digital skills and their aspirations in pursuing a digital career pathway. We look forward to future events like this!