An Estonian Connection to Cyber-Security. By The Henson News, Winter 2012 Edition.

Salisbury’s sister city in the Baltic region may soon bring SU students worldclass opportunities in the study of cyber-security.

SU professors and administrators are working with senior officials both at the University of Tartu in Tartu, Estonia – Salisbury’s Estonian sister city – and in the Estonian government on a program to give SU students opportunities for advanced studies in cyber-security. The plan would facilitate the admission of SU graduates in computer science, mathematics and information systems majors to the joint master’s program in cyber-security at the University of Tartu and Tallinn Technological University.

In recent years, Estonia has developed a reputation for global leadership in information technology and cyber-security. The country is the birthplace of Skype and home to the NATO’s Cooperative CyberDefense Center of Excellence.

“Partnerships with institutions in Estonia would give SU students access to some of the best programs in international CyberSecurity. This is an exciting opportunity,” said Henson Dean Dr. Karen Olmstead.

During fall 2011, Olmstead and other SU officials met in Washington, D.C., with Estonian Minister of Education and Research Dr. Jaak Aaviksoo to discuss prospects for collaboration, and they also held a meeting with senior staff from U.S. Rep. C.A. “Dutch” Ruppersberger’s office. Rep. Ruppersberger (D-MD) is a ranking member on the Intelligence Committee and chairs the Technical and Tactical Subcommittee. Olmstead and Dr. Brian Stiegler, director of SU’s Center for International Education, met via Skype to discuss program specifics with Dr. Peeter Laud, director of the cyber-security master’s programs at the University of Tartu.

SU’s goal is to first send SU graduates to Estonia to pursue the M.S. in cyber-security. Once that program is established, seniors in SU undergraduate programs in computer science, mathematics and information systems could do coursework in Estonia, earning credit to complete both their undergraduate degrees at SU and M.S. from the Estonian institutions.

Further contacts are planned in 2012 – including a March visit to SU by Estonian Ambassador to the United States Marina Kaljurand. SU plans to send the first SU students to begin their graduate program in Estonia in fall 2013.

Source: www.salisbury.edu/henson/Newsletters/HensonNewsWinter2012.pdf