A cybersecurity competition to support the autonomous, collaborative, and personalized learning in computer engineering

Cybersecurity is one of the most promising areas for future graduated students to develop their work life. However, the weight of cybersecurity is still low in most computer engineering programs, even though computer engineers are the most suitable professionals for cybersecurity activities. We claim the implementation of cybersecurity competitions, where students participate in teams between four and six people, improving the acquisition of cybersecurity competencies through the promotion of the autonomous, collaborative, and personalized learning. In order to validate the hypothesis, an experience was conducted during the second term of 2020/2021 course in Universidad Politécnica de Madrid. Experience was conducted in the computer engineering degree, in the context of the subject “Cybersecurity in Systems and Networks”. Two groups were defined: the control group following a traditional learning methodology, and a pilot group where learning was based on a cybersecurity competition, including short questionnaires, laboratory practices and puzzles. The results obtained validate the hypothesis and answer all research questions in a positive way. All learning indicators improve when students work on cybersecurity competencies through an educational competition.