Cybersecurity programme launched at PDA College of Engineering

The Department of Computer Science and Engineering at PDA College of Engineering (an autonomous institution affiliated to Visvesvaraya Technological University, Belagavi), in association with CySecK (Cyber Security Centre of Excellence, Karnataka) and K-Tech, inaugurated the CySecK Cybersecurity Finishing School Program – Cohort 2 in Kalaburagi on Monday.

The inaugural ceremony began with an invocation by Surabhi Joshi, followed by an introductory address by Girish Badiger, Program Manager, IISc, and CySecK, Bengaluru.

He outlined the objectives of the finishing school and introduced the resource persons, highlighting the State government’s efforts to strengthen cybersecurity awareness and bridge the gap between academia and industry through CySecK’s initiatives.

The programme was formally inaugurated with a symbolic watering of a plant, signifying growth and new beginnings.

Delivering the keynote address, founder-CEO of Agamya Cyber Tech, Dharwad, Mahesh Vastrad described cybersecurity as one of the fastest growing domains in the technology sector, offering immense career opportunities.

He noted that while demand for cybersecurity professionals continues to rise, students often lack hands-on industry exposure – a gap the CySecK Finishing School seeks to fill through practical, skill-based training.

In his presidential address, Principal of PDA College of Engineering S.R. Patil commended CySecK for its continuous support to academic institutions and underlined the importance of such programmes in creating industry-ready graduates.

He added that the Kalyana Karnataka region, which previously had limited access to such specialised programmes, will greatly benefit from the initiative.

As per the introduction presented in the event, the CySecK Cybersecurity Finishing School is a four-week intensive programme offering participants practical exposure to foundational cybersecurity concepts.

Conducted by industry experts, it provides real-world insights into enterprise-level cybersecurity roles.

While such professional training typically costs between ₹50,000 and ₹80,000 in the private sector, CySecK offers it as a government-supported initiative to empower aspiring cybersecurity professionals and promote a secure digital ecosystem in the State.