The University of South Wales (USW) has become the first higher-education institution in Wales to be awarded Gold honours for a second time for its cyber security expertise.
Following the launch in 2020 of the Academic Centres of Excellence in Cyber Security Education (ACEs-CSE) programme by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), when USW was first received the Gold award, the university has again secured the top rating, which it will hold for the next three years.
The NCSC is part of GCHQ – the UK's intelligence, security and cyber agency – and helps businesses, the public sector, and individuals to protect online services and devices.
The recognition of USW's outstanding cyber education provision reflects a number of different strands of work the university undertakes, including its on-campus offering to cyber students and raising aspirations and breaking down stereotypes around cyber roles to promote a more inclusive sector, particularly around women in technology.
USW also leads on the development of future talent, with projects such as the NCSC-backed CyberFirst, which is designed to inspire interest in cyber among young people; the Ebbw Vale-based National Digital Exploitation Centre (NDEC), a research and development facility run in partnership with the Welsh Government and global technology company Thales and a number of other outreach projects and partnerships aimed at taking cyber employment options to young people.
Sharan Johnstone, who is Director of USW's Academic Centre of Excellence and Head of Subject for Cyber Security and Digital Forensics, said the NCSC accolade also recognised USW's distinctive education model in cyber education.
“Our cyber courses all have an industry-underpinned approach, and we work closely with partners to help design, review, and assess modules so they really relate to what the students will need to know when they graduate from USW and start their careers.
“We have regular engagement with employers and practitioners, and our focus is not just on technical skills but also giving the students experience of problem-solving, working on their communication, and giving them the confidence to work with both technical and non-technical audiences at all levels.
“This experiential learning extends to real-world environments available at USW, such as the Security Operations Centre (SOC), our Crime Scene House, a specialist criminal court facility, and our Hydra Suite – an immersive simulation and decision‑making facility used for teaching, professional training, and research.
“The challenge-based, industry-linked model is something we have honed over the years, and is always evolving to ensure we stay ahead of the curve in cyber. The lessons we have learned, and the experience we have gained, have refined and improved our delivery.”
She added that USW's international reputation and industry recognition have also been key to gaining the Gold award.
“We have an ongoing collaboration with Welsh Government and contribute to the Cyber Action Plan for Wales; and give input to a number of government advisory and focus groups.
“We have also recently appointed Chris Parker, a government cyber adviser, as Visiting Professor. He has more than 30 years' experience across the military and senior corporate roles, and is Director of Government Strategy at Fortinet UK, a global cyber security company.”
Between 2019 and 2023, USW was named Cyber University of the Year for four consecutive years, while Sharan was named STEM Woman of the Year in the 2022 Wales STEM Awards, and the Outstanding Woman in Technology at the UK-wide WISE (Women into Science and Engineering) Awards in 2025.
“While it's a personal honour to be recognised with these awards, they are just a reflection of the hard work that the whole team puts into delivering excellence in cyber education, and the Gold award from the NCSC recognises this commitment to our current and future students,” she said.
