A group working in front computers, woman pointing towards the screen in front of another person.
Ethan King works part time as a security analyst at InPhySec. His role will become full time after he graduates.

The first cohort of students to major in cybersecurity as part of Te Herenga Waka’s Bachelor of Engineering with Honours degree will graduate in November, and their timing couldn’t be better.

Demand for cybersecurity experts is skyrocketing worldwide. Research suggests millions of job vacancies, and ongoing ransomware attacks such as the one that forced Waikato District Health Board to cancel surgeries and send patients to other centres for treatment highlight how vital secure systems are.

Ian Welch, associate professor of Computer Science in Te Kura Mātai Pūkaha, Pūrorohiko—School of Engineering and Computer Science, says Te Herenga Waka is the first university in Aotearoa New Zealand to offer a four-year undergraduate degree in cybersecurity. The programme, developed with industry input, aligns with the Government’s national priorities to build a professional cybersecurity workforce.

“Employers tell us there is a huge demand and they are desperate for people. They literally come to us and ask, ‘How can we get more people interested in cybersecurity?’”

The degree offers a structured environment for learning, access to the industry, and hands-on experience. The first two years give students a taster to decide if they want to specialise. By their fourth year, they can choose from courses such as digital forensics, malware and reverse engineering, and offensive and defensive security.

“Because our course follows international standards, students know they are going to get a broad introduction to the field, so they can decide which direction they really want to go in, instead of leaving it to chance,” says Ian.

“I think, as we go on, the trend overseas is for cybersecurity to become more professionalised.”

“Cybersecurity affects everyone, not just massive companies but Mum and Dad at home and the old lady down the road who can’t log into her bank because she’s been hacked.”
– Ethan King

Graduating student Georgia Strongman wanted to be a doctor but changed her mind after entering the New Zealand Cyber Security Challenge in secondary school.

“I couldn’t do any of it, but I was in love with it. It was exactly what I wanted to do. It’s quite glamorous, as IT goes.”

Georgia is considering further study and would like to own her own company.

Of the eight students graduating, six already have jobs to go to.

Industry partner InPhySec provides two scholarships a year targeted at applicants from minority groups, in particular Māori and Pasifika students. It also offers work placements.

Chief executive Marc Barlow says the cybersecurity industry is evolving rapidly as organisations are becoming increasingly aware of the urgent need for protection of data and internet protocol.

“The industry needs to ensure that we are accelerating and supporting the training and upskilling of experts in the field.

“Te Herenga Waka is leading this with the Cybersecurity major, with highly proficient students who are able to walk straight into a highly operational role right out of university.”

Inphysec staff, from left: Bianca Van der Westhuizen (Director of Client Operations), Marc Barlow (CEO), Camila Lis, Ethan King, Emanuel Evans, and Luisa Kristen.
From left: Bianca Van der Westhuizen (Director of Client Operations), Marc Barlow (CEO), Camila Lis, Ethan King, Emanuel Evans, and Luisa Kristen.

Ethan King, who works part time as a security analyst at InPhySec, a job that will become full time after he graduates, says the area is about to “explode”.

“Cybersecurity affects everyone, not just massive companies but Mum and Dad at home and the old lady down the road who can’t log into her bank because she’s been hacked.”

Although there might be a stereotype that you need to excel at coding, cybersecurity is as much about people and process as about technology. Students learn about technical measures, but in the context of why and how they are going to be used to protect systems.

Janel Huang, who starts a job as a cloud consultant at Amazon next year, thrives on the psychological aspects as much as the technological side.

“When hackers hack into a system, they use a series of methods and that reveals their thinking process and how they solve problems. That, for me, is interesting.”

Ian is keen to see the programme grow. “I think, for me, I just want to produce graduates who are employable, get employed, and our employers have good experiences with them. I wouldn’t want more people on our courses if I didn’t think there were jobs for them, but I think there are.”

Inphysec office presentation
Inphysec office staff in a discussion in the office.

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