Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), the leading IT services and consulting company has partnered with the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) of the U.K. Government to create the Chevening-TCS Scholarship on Cyber Policy for professionals in diverse fields from India. This will be the world’s first cyber security and public policy education programme.
This programme builds on considerable bilateral interaction at various levels between India and the UK on the subject of cyber security and is intended to develop expertise and skills in the areas of cyber security, information assurance and online governance challenges. The programme will be taught by Cranfield University, an organisation with significant expertise in the areas of cyber security and global security, on its campus at the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom at Shrivenham.
The programme is targeted at outstanding mid-career professionals from India that have the potential to be leaders in their chosen fields. In the first year, six Indian nationals will be selected to undergo a 12 week programme in the UK. The programme will run for an initial period of three years, with the first course expected to start in February 2014.
The curriculum for the Chevening-TCS Scholarship on Cyber Policy has been conceptualized by TCS and the FCO. The detailed course will be developed by Cranfield University.
“I’m delighted to announce the new Chevening TCS Cyber Policy Scholarship. This is a pioneering course that not only covers the technical side of cyber security, but also brings together the related areas of public policy, such as internet governance, national security, crime prevention, and enabling online commerce and freedom of expression. This is an excellent example of UK-India partnership in cyber policy, and I’m grateful to TCS for making it possible with their sponsorship,” said Francis Maude, Minister for the Cabinet Office, U.K. Government.
“As an Indian headquartered business with a major UK presence, TCS has always worked hard to help strengthen the relationship between our two countries,” said Shankar Narayanan, Country Head, UK & Ireland, Tata Consultancy Services. “By drawing on TCS’ technical expertise and the FCO’s world-class policy knowledge, we have been able to create a scholarship programme that will help future leaders prepare for the increasingly complex world of cyber security and policy. We are proud to be supporting this initiative and co-designing the curriculum and look forward to working closely with the FCO and Cranfield University.”
“Many nation states have realized that the challenges faced in cyberspace cross geographical boundaries and multiple jurisdictions. Activities in cyberspace have direct and critical impact on social and economic prosperity and the security of a nation. This programme complements the range of postgraduate programmes and short courses that Cranfield offers on this subject. It especially provides an excellent balance between technology and the social dimension of cyberspace,” said Prof. Ian Wallace, Head of School, Cranfield Defence and Security.
