The cyber training initiative, which was developed by the JE Cairnes School of Business and Economics, will welcome its first cohort in 2026.
The University of Galway, in partnership with EY, has launched a new cybersecurity executive education programme, aimed at giving leaders the skills they need to support and protect their organisations.
The programme, which was developed and will be delivered by the University of Galway’s JE Cairnes School of Business and Economics, will begin taking in 2026 and was designed primarily for people in leadership roles.
Specific IT or cyber qualifications are not needed, but there will be a focus on managers, team leaders, project managers and members of staff with managerial responsibilities.
The cybersecurity programme will initially focus on the healthcare sector before being expanded to other sectors, where it will examine the core concepts of cyber awareness, risk, relevant threats, attack strategies and vulnerabilities. It will also include identity and access management, governance, policy, legislation and standards, human behaviours in cyber, metrics, cyber incident response and resilience.
This is the first step of a broader suite of executive education programmes planned by the university, which will include a course on artificial intelligence (AI) for SMEs, also to be launched in 2026.
Commenting on the news, Prof Alma McCarthy, the dean of the College of Business, Public Policy and Law at University of Galway, said, “In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, cybersecurity 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.”
Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science James Lawless, TD, added, “Cyberthreats 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.”
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