Project No 101111732
Start: 01/07/2023 End: 30/06/2026
In response to the European Green Deal's call for a sustainable, digital Europe, CyberAgent steps in to fortify the backbone of the European economy—SMEs. With over 90% of businesses being SMEs, they are essential yet vulnerable to cyber threats. CyberAgent's mission is clear: empower these businesses by transforming their employees into 'SMEs’ Cybersecurity Change Agents'. By integrating technical, analytical, and soft skills, CyberAgent not only addresses the skills gap but also fosters a diverse, resilient digital workforce. In the face of rising cyber challenges, CyberAgent stands as a vital initiative, safeguarding SMEs and nurturing a future-ready European economy. The CyberAgent project, funded by Erasmus+, fosters cooperation between higher education institutions, vocational training providers and SMEs to share best practices in cybersecurity and enhance employability, cyber resilience and an organisation's cybersecurity culture. The Aim of the project The aim of the CyberAgent project is to create a platform for the target group to acquire sustainable cybersecurity and entrepreneurial knowledge and competences to inspire, empower, up-skill, re-skill and engage SME employees taking the role as Cyber Security Change Agents and involve more women in the IT sector. It will facilitate collaborations between HEIs, VETs, and SMEs, operating as a platform for sharing best practices in cybersecurity and the labor market. Additionally, it intends to improve the employability of the target groups, support SMEs in building their cyber resilience, preserve their reputation and competitiveness, and raise organizational cybersecurity maturity and culture. Training Modules The project will offer up-to-date curricula and content for 8 training modules, covering technical, analytical, risk management, and organizational skills. These resources will be available on an online platform and may be utilized for blended learning. MAIN BENEFICIARIES We inspire, empower, and upskill representatives of project target groups to become Cybersecurity Change Agents while promoting gender diversity in the IT sector. Cybersecurity SMEs – skills enhancement Consortium partners will design and deploy a curriculum and training programme focused on enhancing in-house cybersecurity competences for European SMEs. Successful completion of the training will result in employees earning micro-credentials and recognition through ECVET, EQF, EQAVET, and ESCO. HEI teachers and VET providers - Capacity Building for Educators The project aims to develop better teachers and trainers by expanding their academic teaching and training offerings, and by attracting new students and customers. HEI teachers will create more relevant lifelong learning programmes and curricula to address the specific cybersecurity requirements of future SME employees. VET providers will receive capacity-building support, train-the-trainer programmes, and new tools to upskill SME employees to effectively tackle cybersecurity challenges. Women – enhancing women's Involvement in Cybersecurity Leveraging partner networks, especially Women4Cyber, the project will empower women employees in SMEs to become cybersecurity change agents. This includes setting and tracking minimum targets for women's inclusion in training programs. Training providers and the general public - Knowledge Exchange Platform CyberAgent will create a pan-European digital platform to disseminate knowledge to other training providers, the general public, and to maximise the EU's added value. This platform will bolster the "European Digital Innovation Hub" (EDIH) by addressing the specific cybersecurity needs of SMEs and public sector organisations in Europe. Additionally, it will support the forthcoming "European Digital Education Hub" by acting as both a recipient of good practices and a contributor to building the Community of Practice (CoP) within the hub. The CyberAgent WPs is a mix between ongoing WP through the whole project of three years as WP 1 project management and WP 6 Dissemination & Exploitation. The other WPs is based on an order, where WP 2 (CyberAgent approach and structure design) and WP 3 (CyberAgent Learning resource development) is necessary to conduct before the final outputs in WP 4 CyberAgent Collaboration Digital Platform) and WP 5 (Boost CyberAgent Upskilling at local and regional level). CyberAgent Work Packages cover:
Kick-Off meeting on 03rd-04th October 2023 in Kaunas, Lithuania Workshop No1 on 27th May 2024 (online) Face-to-face meeting on 11th-12th June 2024 in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain Workshop No2 on 26th September 2024 (online) Workshop No3 on 11th February 2025 (online) Workshop No4 on 28th October 2025 (online) BoostCamp 23rd–25th September 2026 in Kaunas, Lithuania (onsite, online)
With twelve faculties, seven institutes, and an array of academic units, including a historic library founded in 1570, Vilnius University maintains a diverse academic landscape. It hosts 21,000 students, including approximately 900 international students from over 70 countries. The university offers a wide spectrum of bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programmes, with over 70 bachelor's and 100 master's options, including programmes in biomedicine, physical sciences, humanities, and social and technological sciences, offered in both Lithuanian and English. The teaching staff consists of distinguished lecturers with extensive research expertise, internationally recognised in their respective fields. Vilnius University actively participates in national and international projects and collaborates with universities worldwide, holding over 130 bilateral cooperation agreements. It is a member of prestigious international university networks and maintains strong ties with major research centres globally. With state-of-the-art laboratories and the Baltic States' largest scientific library, Vilnius University is well-equipped to support high-quality research and studies across various academic domains, solidifying its commitment to knowledge dissemination and nurturing responsible leaders and citizens. Kaunas Faculty, the academic subunit of Vilnius University located in a different city, is interdisciplinary, it encompasses study programmes from three different fields of science: Humanities, Social and Physical Sciences (Informatics). VU KNF provides original study programmes “Information Systems and Cyber Security”, “Financial Technology”, that corresponds market needs and supplies both bachelor and master degrees. Also, these programmes are especially important for ensuring cyber security and responsible digital media usage. Moreover, faculty has cybersecurity working group, which contributes to the proactive actions by preparing Research and Science Popularization Publications. Cybersecurity group perform cyberattack simulations for organisations, therefore scientists have close relationship not only with youth (students), but with various types of organisations and get continuous feedback about cybersecurity problems and how people recognise fake information. Among the most important projects carried out in our school are the Erasmus+ projects through which the students carry out their three weeks practical training in a European country, the transnational collaboration E-twinning projects and the ROSE project which included remedial classes and hot meals for students from disadvantaged backgrounds, but also significant acquisitions and renovations for our school. Additionally, our proven track record includes successful collaborations with public administrations and companies across diverse sectors, including tourism, industry, and logistics, where we have devised corporate innovation programmes to drive growth and transformation. In 2024, Ecosistemas Virtuales Y Modulares SL officially changed its name to EVM GROUP SL. The centre is open to all who wish to develop their talents, refresh their knowledge, improve their business, needs new or better digital tools or have ideas in need for support to be fulfilled. The main sectors and activities are: Our mission is to train entrepreneurial students with interdisciplinary competence, who are committed to their local values, who can follow global developments, who are software and hardware manufacturers for the purpose of providing information security, who understand the importance of the knowledge called “new oil”, with the national education universal teaching approach. Our vision is to make our school a pioneer and an example in information security education, operating at international standards in the field of information technologies within the framework of vocational and technical education, training qualified specialists for relevant institutions and organisations, especially the defence industry of our country, and adding strength to the existence of our country in cyberspace, the borders of which are as wide as our imagination. The company’s expertise and network will be pivotal in achieving the CyberAgent project goals, fostering innovation in cybersecurity, and building a stronger network of cybersecurity professionals across Europe. Their contributions are expected to significantly enhance the consortium’s mission. Our aim is to be an independent and research-based non-profit entity that contributes to the structural transformation in education for the development of the people and society by creating a common mind from qualified data, constructive dialogue and different opinions. The main focus of our work is the definition of educational needs, with activities focussed on data collection, structured research, and constructive dialogue. Inspired by the Finnish educational model, we prioritise social-emotional learning alongside cutting-edge educational technologies by providing a solid education in science, mathematics, and technology and developing the transversal skills to work collaboratively and creatively with others.
General Education Schools Complex – Technical School in Sejny (Poland) - Zespół Szkół Ogólnokształcących, Technikum w Sejnach
About the European Digital Skills Awards 2025 The European Digital Skills Awards 2025, organised by the EU-funded Digital Skills and Jobs Platform, aim to highlight and reward exceptional projects and organisations dedicated to enhancing digital skills across Europe. These awards focus on initiatives that foster digital literacy, inclusion, and innovation, contributing to a digitally competent society. Award Categories The 2025 edition features five categories: Digital Upskilling @ Work (digital upskilling initiatives in various professional sectors, facilitation of job placement of ICT professionals of all levels, upskilling and reskilling of SMEs). Applications for the European Digital Skills Awards 2025 closed on 15 July 2025, and finalists are set to be announced during a special online event in October 2025. We eagerly await the results and are proud to be part of this initiative that recognises and promotes excellence in digital skills development across Europe. In response to the growing cybersecurity challenges faced by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), a cutting-edge professional training programme has been developed under the CyberAgent project. This comprehensive training aims to equip SME employees and students with the critical competencies needed to become cybersecurity change agents in their organisations. This initiative is not just another online course—it's the result of extensive research, collaboration, and design involving over 8 partners across Europe and shaped by real-world SME needs. A Modular and Flexible Training Framework The training is structured into eight modules, each contributing between 1 to 3 ECTS credits. The modules are: 1. Security Program Management These modules cover a wide spectrum of knowledge, including project and resource management, incident response, legal and regulatory compliance, data analytics, and strategic planning tailored specifically for SMEs. Additionally, the program also offers a module on Empowering Careers in Cybersecurity, developed by Women4Cyber Foundation. Tailored Learning for Diverse Backgrounds The training accommodates learners from varying educational and professional experiences: VET and SME staff: Focus on foundational and applied cybersecurity skills. HEI and VET students can take individual modules, while SME staff can study at their own pace—blended, or fully remote. Built by Experts, Powered by Collaboration The training is a result of years of collaboration between Universities, VET providers, Cybersecurity Experts, NGOs and SMEs across Europe. The CyberAgent consortium brought together expertise from diverse domains to ensure the programme meets both academic standards and industry realities. We developed the training material for the CyberAgent modules by aligning it with the European Qualifications Framework (EQF) and ESCO occupations. Our process included gathering feedback through surveys with universities, vocational schools, and businesses, and incorporating best practices from other projects. Modules incorporate challenge-based learning, real-world simulations, and mentoring to ensure both engagement and applicability in the workplace. Why You Should Join? Whether you're a student planning your future, a professional upskilling for tomorrow, or a tech enthusiast exploring new challenges, this programme offers: Job-relevant skills: Mapped to actual ESCO job roles like ethical hacker, ICT resilience manager, and digital forensics expert. UAB IT Akademija joined the CyberAgent project as a new partner on 16 July 2025, replacing HackerU. Operating since 2014, UAB IT Akademija is IT training and consulting company dedicated to strengthening digital competencies for individuals and organizations. With expertise in cybersecurity, programming, digital literacy, and more, the company brings extensive experience from both private and public sector projects, strong international partnerships, and active membership in key business and technology associations. UAB IT Akademija takes over HackerU's obligations in the CyberAgent project and joins the project implementation activities. The company’s expertise and network will be pivotal in achieving the CyberAgent project goals, fostering innovation in cybersecurity, and building a stronger network of cybersecurity professionals across Europe. Their contributions are expected to significantly enhance the consortium’s mission." We’re thrilled to announce the first edition of our Workshop series, CyberAgent Workshop 1 “SMEs and Cybersecurity”, taking place on Monday, 27th May 2024 at 10.00 am CET. This workshop is a collaborative effort co-organised by the CyberAgent Consortium partners Olemisen, HackerU, Liceul Tehnologic Grigore C. Moisil Buzău, and Women4Cyber. This workshop will feature insightful presentations from experts in the field, focusing on addressing the skills needs of European SMEs. We aim to map the training needs of SMEs and gather insightful input to form a comprehensive report. Workshop Agenda · 10:00-10:05: Introduction · 10:05-10:15: CyberAgent Project · 10:15-10:30: “Cybersecurity challenges in the EU” by Danut MAFTEI, PhD, National Directorate of Cybersecurity in Romania · 10:30-10:45: “How to protect SMEs from current threats? Tips and tricks” by Maciej Ciesla, HackerU · 10:45-11:00: “Company data: Risks and mitigation measures” by Jani Tuomilehto, Olemisen · 11:00-11:10: Wrap-up Each session is designed to provide attendees with valuable insights into the current state of cybersecurity and practical tips. Event registration link: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/2631d3fb-4da6-4edb-863b-adf0b0b299f7@55fe9905-17dd-40a0-a7e9-df3db7859db4 About CyberAgent Our mission is to inspire, empower, and upskill individuals to become Cybersecurity Change Agents, while fostering more gender diversity in the IT sector. Join Us WP1: Project management WP2: CyberAgent approach and structure design WP3: CyberAgent Learning resource development WP4: CyberAgent Collaboration Digital Platform WP5: Boost CyberAgent Upskilling at local and regional level WP6: Dissemination & Exploitation We talked about our objectives, shared our vision, and laid the groundwork for the amazing journey to come. We'll be sharing more updates and keeping you informed on the progress. Stay tuned for exciting developments in the weeks and months to come! During the project we will conduct a study, on the basis of which educational materials will be created for students of vocational educational institutions and universities. Employees of small and medium-sized organizations will be able to improve their qualifications in order to increase the resilience of organizations to cyberattacks. Great attention will be paid to the involvement of women in the project activities. The CyberAgent project is supported by the Erasmus+ programme (ERASMUS-EDU-2022-PI-ALL-INNO). The project consortium consists of the following organizations representing the sectors of higher education, vocational training institutions, non-profit organizations and business enterprises: Project coordinator Assoc. prof. dr. Renata Danielienė
Vilnius University Kaunas Faculty Institute of Social Sciences and Applied Informatics Project website Social media Visit our partners’ social media profiles and websites to learn more about the project
ABOUT
RESULTS
EVENTS
PARTNERS
Vilnius University
Vilnius University, with over 430 years of academic heritage, is Lithuania's oldest and largest higher education institution, recognised among the top 400 universities globally by QS. The university's mission is to foster knowledge creation, accumulation, and dissemination while preserving an authentic university culture that harmonises old traditions with innovative ideas. Key values include freedom of thought, diversity of perspectives, openness to novel concepts, mutual respect, academic ethics, and tolerance.Liceul Tehnologic, “Grigore C. Moisil” Buzau
“Grigore C. Moisil” Technological High School is located in the town of Buzău, approximately 100 km from Bucharest, the capital of Romania. It was founded in 1974 under the name Electro-Technical High School. It is a secondary education institution, whose main objectives are initial vocational training and education for teenagers between 15 and 19 years old. The students of our school are trained by teachers specialised in technical fields and new qualifications according to the requirements of the local and European labour market: media field - technician operator text/image processing (intensive English) electrical field - technician in electrical installations and electrical technician electronics and automation field - computer operator technician and telematics operator technician (intensive English).Women4Cyber Mari Kert - Saint Aubyn Foundation
The Women4Cyber Foundation, established as a non-profit organisation in 2019, is committed to advancing women's participation in the cybersecurity field, reducing the skills gap, and improving their access to employment opportunities. Our mission revolves around building a strong cybersecurity community through networking, awareness, education, and training. We actively promote women's voices through social media and events, enhance their engagement in cybersecurity education, and champion female role models while providing access to training programmes to facilitate entry, up- skilling, or re-skilling in cybersecurity. Through these efforts, we aspire to break down barriers and create a more inclusive and equitable landscape, empowering women to thrive in this critical industry.EVM Group SL
EVM Group SL, headquartered in Santa Cruz of Tenerife in the Canary Islands, Spain, consists of a consortium of companies boasting 15 years of experience in project development for diverse clients on a national and international scale. Comprising a substantial workforce of over 70 professionals specializing in various fields, including engineering, data sciences, and social sciences, a significant number of our team members hold doctoral degrees, reflecting our dedication to fostering scientific talent. Furthermore, our extensive network encompasses strategic collaborators and partners globally. Within the context of our extensive European network, Quimera is dedicated to monitoring funding programmes, disruptive initiatives, and high-risk projects. This effort simplifies access for public and private organisations to various funding opportunities at the European, national, and regional levels.Prios Kompetanse AS
Prios Kompetanse AS (Prios) is a research-based corporation which aims to implement the idea of lifelong learning, support and conduct development projects.
Teknopark Istanbul Mesleki Ve Teknik Anadolu Lisesi (TeknoparkMTAL)
Within the scope of the Cooperation Protocol signed between our Istanbul Provincial Directorate of National Education and Technopark Istanbul on 30.04.2020, “Technopark Istanbul Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School” was officially established to provide education in the field of Information Technologies Network Management and Cyber Security in the Anatolian Technical Program, according to the Ministry's Approval dated 15.05.2020 of the Ministry of National Education, General Directorate of Vocational and Technical Education.UAB IT Akademija
UAB IT Akademija joined the CyberAgent project as a new partner on 16 July 2025, replacing HackerU. Operating since 2014, UAB IT Akademija is IT training and consulting company dedicated to strengthening digital competencies for individuals and organizations. With expertise in cybersecurity, programming, digital literacy, and more, the company brings extensive experience from both private and public sector projects, strong international partnerships, and active membership in key business and technology associations. UAB IT Akademija takes over HackerU's obligations in the CyberAgent project and joins the project implementation activities. ProxyLab ry (Olemisen Balanssia ry changed its name on 26/08/2025)
ProxyLab Balanssia ry is a tech-driven entity founded in year 2014 in Raisio, Southwest Finland conducting research and development studies in the fields of formal education, trainings, establishing national and international networks, combining theoretical and methodological studies with real-life field studies. ProxyLab contributes to educational intelligence and cybersecurity fundamentals through many projects.Hackeru Polska Spolka Z Ograniczona Odpowiedzialnoscia (the partner withdrew from the project on 15 July 2025)
HackerU, Poland, was founded in 1997 and works to train employees in cybersecurity and new technologies. Educational programs are based on the latest generation of cybersecurity specialists and adapt them to the current requirements of the labor market. In Poland, HackerU works closely with the university of Warsaw.
COLLABORATION NETWORK
NEWS
21-10-2025 CyberAgent Project Applies for the European Digital Skills Awards 2025
We are excited to announce that the CyberAgent Project has applied for the European Digital Skills Awards 2025, a prestigious recognition celebrating outstanding initiatives that empower individuals with essential digital competencies.
Digital Skills for Education (projects specifically aimed at digital upskilling for teacher and/or students and VET).
Inclusion in the digital world (digital training and media literacy initiatives specifically aimed at groups of persons that experience a higher risk of poverty, social exclusion, discrimination and violence, including, but not limited to, ethnic minorities, migrants, people with disabilities, isolated elderly people and children, marginalised, hard to reach and high-risk groups, and initiatives to foster digital accessibility skills).
Women in ICT Careers (projects specifically aimed at increasing the number of women ICT professionals or for the digital upskilling of women in the workforce or younger women in ICT).
Cybersecurity Skills (projects designed to cultivate cybersecurity skills among citizens and SMEs, ensuring a robust defense against digital threats).
The CyberAgent Project has applied under the Cybersecurity Skills category, aligning with our mission to enhance cybersecurity awareness and capabilities among SMEs. While our main results are still ahead and we may not take the top spot this time, we’re proud to participate and fully support this inspiring initiative. We've created an organization profile in Digital Skills Jobs platform with a description of our project, highlighting our commitment. See Vilnius University Kaunas faculty profile.06-10-2025 Empowering SMEs with Cybersecurity: Join the Cyberagent Training Programme Built for Impact
2. Systems Administration
3. Analytical Tools
4. Security Operations
5. Security Governance & Policy
6. Cybersecurity Planning
7. Risk Management
8. Business Continuity
9. Empowering Careers
Every module blends practical knowledge, technical know-how, and strategic insight—key ingredients for any professional seeking to make a real impact in cybersecurity.
HEI students: Engage in more advanced topics, critical thinking, and leadership preparation.
Self-learners: Flexible micro-modules with self-paced content and optional assessments.
Learners will receive a course completion certificate, the latter awarded upon successfully passing a final knowledge test.
Practical learning: Through simulations, projects, gamified tasks, and hands-on labs.
Certified value: Earn micro-credentials and ECTS credits that are recognized across Europe.
Multilingual and accessible: Available in nine languages and flexible delivery formats.
Personalized pathways: Choose full modules or only the topics that match your needs.
To receive the latest updates about the training, subscribe to our newsletter here.11-09-2025 UAB IT Akademija Joins the Project as a New Partner”
27-05-2024 CyberAgent Workshop 1 “SMEs and Cybersecurity”
The workshop will feature presentations from experts in the field of cybersecurity. The agenda is as follows:
The workshop is part of the transformative CyberAgent project, funded by Erasmus+, which aims to equip individuals, particularly women, with sustainable cybersecurity and entrepreneurial expertise. The project facilitates collaboration among higher education institutions (HEIs), vocational training providers (VETs), and SMEs.
Get ready to enhance your cybersecurity skills, network with industry professionals, and learn useful tips on how to protect SMEs from current cyber threats.09-11-2023 Project Kick-off Meeting in Kaunas
The CyberAgent project began in July this year. On October 3–4, representatives of all project partners gathered at the Kaunas Faculty of Vilnius University, where the learning content creation activities, the implementation of the goals, the dissemination of the project, the challenges of cybersecurity problems and many other project activities were discussed. There were presented activities, outcomes and plans of all working packages of the project:01-07-2023 Launched Our CyberAgent Project!
Vilnius university Kaunas faculty together with seven foreign partners, will contribute to the improvement of the cyber situation through the implementation of the CyberAgent project by creating a training platform to address cybersecurity challenges.
• Vilnius University (Lithuania)
• Liceul Tehnologic, "Grigore C. Moisil" buzau (Romania)
• Women4Cyber Foundation (Belgium)
• EVM Ecosistemas Virtuales Y Modulares SL (Spain)
• Prios Kompetanse AS (Norway)
• Teknopark Istanbul Mesleki Ve Teknik Anadolu Lisesi (Turkey)
• HackerU Polska Spolka Z Ograniczona Odpowiedzialnoscia (Poland)
• Olemisen Balanssia ry (Finland)
CONTACT
Project specialist
Project administrator
Jorė Bendinskaitė
Donatas Misiūnas
www.cyberagents.eu
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.