On January 16, 2024, an event on "Cybersecurity education and cooperation" was organized by the Association of Cybersecurity Organizations of Azerbaijan (AKTA).

The main purpose of the event is to hold discussions in the format of a round table with the participation of representatives of higher educational institutions, companies and organizations that are part of ACOA, as well as representatives of relevant state institutions, about the activities of cyber clubs created in higher educational institutions, including education in the field of information security and cyber security, and also expansion of cooperation of universities with industry.

The chairman of the ACOA Board brought to the attention of the participants the relevant goals and objectives established in the "Strategy of the Republic of Azerbaijan on information security and cyber security for 2023-2027" (hereinafter - the Strategy), as well as the measures determined for education in the relevant field. The need to expand cooperation between educational institutions and the public and private sector on information security personnel training was noted. Also, the representative of the Special Communication and Information Security State Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan noted the need to take into account the goals, objectives and measures defined in the Strategy when determining the priorities of higher education institutions.

16 higher educational institutions participated in the event - Heydar Aliyev Academy of the State Security Service of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Police Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Academy of the State Customs Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan Technical University, Baku State University, Baku Higher Oil School, Azerbaijan State University of Economics, ADA University, Azerbaijan State Oil and Industry University, Azerbaijan Architecture and Construction University, Azerbaijan State Pedagogical University, Baku Engineering University, Sumgayit State University, Mingachevir State University, Azerbaijan University, Western Caspian University - were represented and information technologies, cyber security and information the achievements achieved in the security education process, as well as the steps to be taken in order to increase the quality and efficiency of education in the relevant field, needs, as well as issues related to the activity of the established cyber clubs were voiced by the representatives.

The lack of personnel in the relevant field was emphasized and the measures to be taken in the direction of increasing the personnel potential were discussed. The necessity of providing support to higher education institutions in the formation of modern laboratories for staff training in the field, as well as the involvement of specialists in the teaching process and the creation of conditions for students' internships was noted. In order to increase the efficiency of cyber clubs operating in higher educational institutions, the importance of creating "Union of Cyber Clubs" and ensuring cooperation with similar associations of partner foreign countries was emphasized.

ACOA member companies and organizations participating in round table discussions - "Defscope", "Cyberpoint", "A2Z technologies", "ESET Azerbaijan", "Cybernetics", "Code Academy", "WediaCorp Azerbaijan", "Karmasis Azerbaijan", " Gais Cyber Security", "Azerbaijan Cyber Security Platform", "Simbrella", "AzeRobot Education", "MilliSec", "MONT Azerbaijan", "INSECO", "Azerbaijan Robotics Engineering" - by their leaders and representatives to higher education institutions in the above-mentioned directions. In order to provide support and expand cooperation with them, a number of proposals were made and steps that could be taken together were discussed . Also, the chairman of ACOA informed the participants about the project "Preparation of scientific-methodical teaching materials for the specialty of information security" implemented by ACOA with the financial support of the Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and suggestions for expanding cooperation in this direction were brought to their attention.

Taking into account the urgency and the need for a more complex approach to the solution of the discussed issues, as well as the importance of organizing regular and continuous discussions with the participation of the relevant parties, increasing the number of such meetings in the future was considered appropriate by the participants.