Cyber Career Pathways Event, A Student‑Led Initiative Making Real Impact
Overview
In 2025, a group of 24 Level 5 students at Sheffield Hallam University came together to design and deliver the Cyber Career Pathways event, an initiative aimed at inspiring younger learners to explore opportunities in cybersecurity. The project was embedded within a Level 5 Project-Based Learning module, academically scaffolded and aligned to the university’s applied learning ethos.
What began as an ambitious idea quickly evolved into a substantial student-led initiative that not only broadened participants’ understanding of cyber careers, but also strengthened leadership, confidence, and community engagement within the university cohort.
This case study highlights the students’ experience contributing to the event, the challenges involved, and the long-term impact the initiative created for everyone involved.
Background
The Cyber Career Pathways event was developed as part of a curriculum-embedded project within Sheffield Hallam’s Level 5 Project-Based Learning module. Students, working with RTC North and CyberFirst, were challenged to design and deliver an authentic outreach experience that would bridge the gap between higher education and school learners exploring digital careers.
When the project was first proposed, it seemed almost unachievable. The scale, the coordination required, and the responsibility of designing workshops for younger students felt daunting. However, through structured academic guidance and collaborative teamwork, what initially seemed unachievable became one of the most meaningful applied learning experiences of the academic year.
Challenge
The primary challenge was transitioning from being learners to becoming leaders. For many students, this was their first experience stepping beyond the lecture hall and into roles as facilitators, mentors, and role models.
Key challenges included:
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Delivering workshops to younger students, many with little or no prior exposure to cyber.
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Overcoming nerves and building confidence when speaking in front of groups.
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Coordinating 24 students with different strengths, experiences, and working styles.
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Designing engaging content that made cybersecurity feel accessible, exciting, and achievable.
The event required students not only to apply technical knowledge but also to develop communication, planning, and leadership skills in a live environment.
Approach
Working collaboratively, the team designed a series of interactive workshops, talks, and hands-on activities. The emphasis was on relatability and authenticity to ensure younger learners could see realistic and attainable pathways into cyber careers.
The initiative was delivered by Sheffield Hallam students, working in partnership with RTC North, CyberFirst and other regional organisations, strengthening links between higher education, industry, and schools.
Key approaches included:
1. Workshop Design & Delivery
Students created practical cyber workshops encouraging curiosity, problem-solving, and creative thinking. Sessions were designed to demystify cybersecurity and provide a safe space for experimentation and questions.
2. Peer-Led Storytelling
Student talks became a central feature of the event. By sharing their own journeys into computing, including uncertainties, challenges, and turning points, they made cyber careers feel tangible and achievable.
3. Building a Supportive Community
As the day progressed, something significant emerged. Younger learners began engaging more openly, not only with the university team but also with peers from different schools. Conversations became more confident, questions more ambitious, and the atmosphere shifted from a formal event to a genuine learning community.
4. Collaborative Leadership
The initiative relied on collective effort. Delegating responsibilities, supporting one another, and drawing on diverse strengths became leadership lessons in themselves. The project demonstrated that meaningful outreach is built through shared ownership and coordinated teamwork.
Impact
For Younger Learners
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Many were introduced to cybersecurity as a potential career for the first time.
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Confidence increased visibly throughout the day.
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Students engaged enthusiastically with mentors and peers.
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The concept of a future in cyber became real and accessible.
For the Sheffield Hallam Student Team
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Delivered one of their most significant student-led initiatives to date.
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Developed leadership, communication, and organisational capability.
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Gained insight into the importance of outreach and widening participation.
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Recognised the impact of sharing lived experiences to inspire others.
The event illustrated the power of applied learning, where academic knowledge is extended into meaningful, real-world engagement.
Personal Impact
For one student contributor Morgan Bain, the experience was transformative:
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It reshaped their understanding of what it means to be a student, beyond academic learning and into personal growth.
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It highlighted the importance of giving opportunities to others that they themselves might never have had.
The work led to a nomination for the Next Gen STEM Award at the RTC North STEM Awards 2025, which they ultimately won, an achievement they credit to the entire team’s collective effort rather than individual success.
Conclusion
The Cyber Career Pathways event became far more than a single-day workshop series. It demonstrated the power of collaboration, storytelling, and student leadership in shaping the next generation of cyber talent.
By creating opportunities, sharing personal journeys, and building confidence in younger learners, the project delivered impact that continues to influence both participants and organisers. For the student contributors, it remains an experience that will shape their future professionally and personally.
