Independent report

Independent evaluations of Cyber Discovery and CyberFirst Programmes

These reports present Ecorys’ evaluations of DCMS’s Cyber Discovery Programme and NCSC’s CyberFirst Programme, focusing on its summer courses and development days.

Documents

CyberFirst Evaluation (PDF version)

Details

In January 2018, Ecorys (together with partners at the University of Kent) were commissioned by DCMS and SANS Institute to evaluate the Cyber Discovery programme that was launched in November 2017. Their report covers all four years of the programme and its outcomes.

Following further discussions with NCSC and DCMS, Ecorys were additionally commissioned in 2019 to evaluate the CyberFirst programme during the academic year of 2019-2020. This is a light touch evaluation, focusing on certain programme activities (summer courses and development days) where they provide value in assessing the overall programme against its Theory of Change.

Both programmes are part of DCMS and NCSC’s work in the National Cyber Security Strategy 2016-2021 to promote the development of cyber security skills in the UK.

These reports were published alongside RSM evaluations of cyber security skills pilots in 2018

Published 13 August 2021