The Impact of Twenty-first Century Skills and Computing Cognition Cyber Skills on Graduates’ Work Readiness in Cyber Security

Abstract

This study aims to explore the impact that 21st century skills and cyber security skills have on graduates’ perceived work readiness. By surveying 3rd year undergraduate cyber security student’s, it will explore the connection between the technical skills and ‘soft skills’, and how they individually and jointly, impact on how students’ perceive their work readiness. The survey was developed using previously established survey tools for 21st century skills, concentrating on teamwork, critical thinking and problem solving. The cyber security skills were adapted from the NIST NICE cyber security framework and organized using Bloom’s adapted taxonomy. Using SEM statistics to develop a model that can be used to identify the significant impact the skill development has on students’ perceived work readiness.