The expert course “Cybersecurity and International Law,” organised by the Lodz Cyber Hub Research Centre in cooperation with the European Security and Defence College, is an annual training programme delivered since 2023. The intensive three-day residential sessions take place at the headquarters of the European Commission in Brussels and represent one of Europe’s most recognised forums for specialised reflection on the application of international law in cyberspace.
The course is open in nature while remaining an integral component of the European Security and Defence College training system. It brings together representatives of public administration, European Union institutions, Member States and partner countries, while also being accessible to individual internet users seeking advanced, expert-level knowledge. The programme offers a uniquely high level of specialisation, combining academic rigour with the practical experience of professionals engaged in the development and application of international legal norms in cyberspace.
The course is delivered in alignment with the European Cybersecurity Skills Framework, which defines professional role profiles and the knowledge, skills and competences required in the cybersecurity sector. The framework supports the structuring and enhancement of education and professional training standards across Europe, increases transparency of qualifications, and fosters the development of highly qualified professionals capable of addressing complex challenges in cyberspace. For its consistent implementation of these standards, the course has been recognised as a good practice by the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity, confirming its distinctive character at the European level.
Participants include civilian and military experts involved in the creation, interpretation and application of international legal norms relating to cyberspace. The substantive scope of the programme covers, in particular, the principles of sovereignty, jurisdiction, non-intervention and state responsibility, as well as the legal parameters of cyber operations, personal data protection, critical infrastructure protection, cyber diplomacy and Internet governance.
Cooperation with leading international institutions, including the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence, the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity, the European Cybercrime Centre, and the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, ensures participants’ access to up-to-date expert knowledge as well as regulatory and operational practice at the international level.
The course constitutes an important element of the University of Łódź’s internationalisation strategy and strengthens its position within the European and global community of experts in international law and cybersecurity. The programme not only develops advanced competences among participants but also contributes to shaping standards and public policies in the field of digital security.
Course editions:
[link to 2023 edition]
[link to 2024 edition]
[link to 2025 edition]
