Approximately two hundred first-year students of the Krzysztof Kieślowski Fifth General Secondary School in Zielona Góra participated in the inaugural session of the Zielona Góra Security Academy. The first meeting, held on Wednesday, 11 February, was devoted to cybersecurity.
The session was divided into three 45-minute modules, each offering students the opportunity to engage directly with experts and expand their knowledge of cybersecurity. As two first-year students, Hania and Julia, observed, it is difficult for young people today to function without the Internet. For this reason, deepening one’s understanding of online safety and cyberbullying is both relevant and necessary. They emphasized that the presence of experienced professionals provided valuable guidance and practical insight.
The primary objective of the initiative is prevention and the strengthening of young people’s sense of security. The series of meetings also serves to promote innovative study programmes at the University of Zielona Góra, including postgraduate studies in cybersecurity. According to Professor Anna Pławiak-Mowna from the Institute of Control and Computer Engineering, the project seeks to equip students with the knowledge and habits necessary to address contemporary threats. The modules are designed to provide practical workshops demonstrating how to avoid dangerous situations and how to respond appropriately when risks arise.
Experts underscored that the virtual and physical worlds constitute a single, interconnected reality. They stressed that awareness of cybersecurity principles should be regarded as fundamental knowledge, comparable to basic road safety rules. As cybersecurity expert Grzegorz Boruszewski noted, society is not fully prepared for the pace at which modern technologies are developing, despite their widespread daily use. He emphasized the importance of intellectual humility—recognizing the limits of one’s knowledge—and the need to seek additional education in order to use technology responsibly. Such knowledge, he added, can be acquired through specialized educational programmes, including those prepared by uniformed services.
The Krzysztof Kieślowski Fifth General Secondary School is one of several educational institutions selected for the pilot edition of the Zielona Góra Security Academy. The school’s principal, Kamilla Jur, expressed satisfaction with the opportunity to participate in the programme, highlighting the value of students learning directly from practitioners who confront real-world threats and possess first-hand experience in prevention and response.
Students from the Eugeniusz Horbaczewski Fourth General Secondary School in Zielona Góra have also completed their first session within the framework of the Academy. On Thursday, 12 February, experts visited Educational Complex No. 5 in the Ochla district of Zielona Góra. Further meetings are scheduled for March (law and public order), April (dangerous situations and terrorist threats), and June (rescue services and fire safety). A concluding session summarizing the entire project is also planned for June.
It should be recalled that the Zielona Góra Security Academy was established under an agreement between the University of Zielona Góra, the City of Zielona Góra, and the Zielona Góra Branch of the Central Military Recruitment Centre. The initiative also involves cooperation with the Municipal Police Headquarters in Zielona Góra, the Nadodrzański Border Guard Unit, the Municipal Headquarters of the State Fire Service in Zielona Góra, and the Tax Administration Chamber in Zielona Góra.
