Cyber Citizens: A National Initiative for Digital Resilience & Cyber Literacy
Year Awarded
2025
Amount
€299,867
- Organisation:University College Dublin (UCD)
Project Summary
Cyber Citizens is a two-year national initiative led by the UCD Centre for Cyber Resilience Education (Cyberwise), in partnership with ADAPT and Webwise. It aims to strengthen Ireland’s digital resilience by empowering citizens—young and old—to navigate the emerging challenges at the intersection of generative AI and cybersecurity.
As AI-generated content becomes more widespread and convincing, new risks—such as disinformation, phishing, and social engineering—demand more than basic digital skills. Cyber Citizens responds to this need with a public engagement approach that supports Ireland’s obligations under the EU NIS2 Directive while engaging both the public and policymakers.
The project will produce a national Expert Report, grounded in the lived digital experiences of young people and public leaders, to inform future policy, digital strategy, and ethical AI governance.
Cyber Citizens is delivered through two interlinked strands:
Cyber Sense for Schools and Families: Youth-led workshops and family events in schools and libraries will promote cyber hygiene, privacy awareness, and critical thinking about AI-generated content, targeting 10–14 year olds.
Cyber Smart for Public Leadership: Regional academies and briefings will support elected representatives and public officials in building AI-aware cyber governance skills.
The initiative will engage more than 50,000 participants nationwide, with a strong focus on rural and disadvantaged communities. A co-creation process will ensure that learning materials are inclusive, age-appropriate, and ethically grounded. A national dissemination campaign, regional rollout, and open-access toolkits will maximise long-term impact, while evaluation will assess behavioural and policy-level change.