The designation makes UCEN Manchester the latest UK institution to join Check Point’s global network of academic partners, providing students with direct access to an industry-leading cybersecurity curriculum, professional certification pathways, and hands-on experience with enterprise-grade security technologies used to prevent cyber attacks before they impact organisations.

The partnership arrives at a pivotal moment for the UK’s cybersecurity skills pipeline.

With demand for qualified security professionals continuing to outpace supply, initiatives that bridge the gap between academic study and industry-ready expertise are increasingly critical as organisations face increasingly sophisticated, AI‑driven cyber threats.

Graeme Stewart, head of public sector at Check Point, said: “The UK faces a very real and growing cybersecurity skills shortage, and closing that gap requires sustained, meaningful collaboration between industry and education.

“Partnerships like this one with UCEN Manchester are exactly how we do that, by embedding world class, vendor-validated curriculum directly into the programmes that future security professionals are studying today, reflecting how cyber attacks are prevented in real-world environments.”

He added: “What makes UCEN Manchester a compelling partner is its clear commitment to equipping students not just with theoretical knowledge, but with the practical, multi-vendor fluency that public and private sector employers are actively looking for, as they seek professionals who can operate across complex, hybrid security environments.”

Michael Walsh, deputy principal and dean, UCEN Manchester, said: “Securing a partnership with Check Point is a significant achievement for our School of Computing and Cybersecurity, reflecting the pace at which we are growing our connections with leading employers and industry partners.

“It further builds on UCEN Manchester’s existing relationships with leading global technology and cybersecurity education programmes, ensuring we remain at the forefront of multi-vendor technical education.”

He added: “By providing access to multiple industry leaders, we ensure our students possess the technical agility and professional confidence required by modern employers.”

The Check Point SecureAcademy programme was established as a core pillar of Check Point Services in response to the widening gap between the number of cybersecurity roles available globally and the pool of qualified candidates to fill them, extending the same security expertise and methodologies trusted by enterprises worldwide into academic and non-profit environments

The programme partners with higher education institutions and non-profit organisations worldwide, delivering a curriculum that spans multiple security domains and is underpinned by access to Check Point’s own technology, including the Check Point Infinity Platform, and content from partner providers, including EC-Council and Cybrary.

Students will also gain exposure to AI‑powered threat intelligence informed by Check Point’s global threat research, helping them understand how modern cyber attacks evolve and how defenders can proactively stop them.

SecureAcademy partners gain access to a grant initiative that provides up to $60,000 in annual content and services, removing financial barriers to delivering high quality cybersecurity training and enabling institutions to build or enhance programmes at scale.

Source link