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About GICAST:

There is a burgeoning demand for cyber security professionals in the industry due to the proliferation of new digital technologies in areas such as industrial automation, healthcare, smart cities, etc. Ironically, it is expected that these very technologies could displace a certain section of workers employed in sectors vulnerable to displacement such as manufacturing and retail.

Gamified Intelligent Cyber Aptitude and Skills Training (GICAST) was developed in response to the CareerTech Challenge Fund by Nesta and Nesta Challenges in partnership with the Department for Education. The fund was instated to enable innovative tech solutions that can build career adaptability skills and / or motivation to learn for people who are most vulnerable to workforce changes.

GICAST is aimed at the target beneficiaries who are aged between 24-65 years, living in England, who have no formal degree level qualification and who are employed in sectors vulnerable to displacement, as identified by nesta as National Retraining Scheme (NRS) cohorts. GICAST was also aimed at workforce that have been furloughed or made redundant due the pandemic by offering them a reskilling opportunity. The gamified approach was used to demystify concepts of cyber security often perceived as complex by such learners. The intervention, GICAST, is hosted on The Open University’s OpenLearn digital platform and
provides a free online self-study course, (3 hours / week x 8 weeks).

GICAST uses game-based learning methods and content adaptation offering the targeted learners, a personalised learning experience to primarily increase the course completion rates and enhanced learner engagement.

You can complete this free course by registering to OpenLearn here – https://www.open.edu/openlearn/science-maths-technology/gamified-intelligent-cyber-aptitude-and-skills-training-gicast/content-section-overview?active-tab=description-tab

More blogs: https://www.nesta.org.uk/project-updates/gicast-developing-gamified-intelligence-cyber-aptitude-and-skills-training-course-vulnerable-workforce/

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