Effective real-world project collaboration: Strategies from a cyber security degree program

The undergraduate degree of computer and cyber security has been offered at the School of Information Technology, Phetchaburi Rajabhat University, Thailand since 2005. Our program requires direct field experience when students are taking upper-level courses. This is not only to ensure that students are well prepared for their future jobs, but also to raise awareness of how important and mandatory specialized computer and cyber security personnel skills can be for their organizations. This paper documents an effective model incorporating real-world projects into 16-week lecture courses. Creating a strong bond between school and industry is one of the key factors in the success of the curriculum and our graduates, and is one of the quality assurance indicators for this degree and the School.