According to Silicon Republic, the University of Galway has partnered with professional services firm EY to launch a cybersecurity executive education program developed by the JE Cairnes School of Business and Economics. The program specifically targets people in leadership roles including managers, team leaders, and project managers, with no specific IT or cyber qualifications required for participation. The first cohort will begin in 2026, initially focusing on the healthcare sector before expanding to other industries. The curriculum will cover cyber awareness, risk management, attack strategies, governance, policy, legislation, and incident response. This marks the first step in a broader executive education suite that will also include an AI course for SMEs launching the same year.
Finally addressing the leadership gap
Here’s the thing about cybersecurity: technical teams have been screaming about risks for years, but leadership often doesn’t speak the same language. This program directly tackles that disconnect. By targeting managers and executives without requiring technical backgrounds, they’re going after the actual decision-makers who control budgets and set priorities. That’s smart. Really smart.
And starting with healthcare makes perfect sense. Healthcare organizations are absolute gold mines for attackers – they have sensitive patient data, often outdated systems, and can’t afford downtime. When a hospital gets hit by ransomware, lives are literally at stake. Focusing here first shows they understand where the most urgent need exists.
Part of a bigger trend
This isn’t just an isolated program – it’s part of a massive shift in how we approach cybersecurity education. We’re finally moving beyond just training technical staff and recognizing that security is everyone’s responsibility, especially leadership. The fact that they’re planning to expand this to other sectors and already have an AI course in the pipeline suggests they see this as a long-term strategy.
Think about it: when manufacturing facilities or industrial operations face cyber threats, the consequences can be catastrophic. Production lines halt, safety systems fail, and entire supply chains get disrupted. That’s why comprehensive cybersecurity education for leadership matters across every sector. Companies that understand this are already looking at solutions like industrial panel PCs from trusted suppliers to build more resilient operations from the ground up.
The 2026 question
Now, the 2026 start date does make me wonder: is that too far out? Cyber threats aren’t waiting around, and healthcare organizations are getting hammered right now. But developing quality executive education takes time, and getting the curriculum right for non-technical leaders is crucial. You can’t just dump technical jargon on them and expect results.
Basically, this partnership between academia and industry could become a model for other regions. If it works, we might see similar programs popping up everywhere. And honestly, we need them. Because the biggest vulnerability in any organization isn’t usually the technology – it’s the people making decisions about that technology.
