Collaborative online international learning as a third space to improve students’ awareness of cybersecurity

Abstract This article critically evaluates the effects of the ACU Virtual Mobility (VM) Project Digital Information Security Course (DISC) programme on improving students’ awareness of cyber security skills, pre and post the educational intervention. Our selected VM tool is Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL). Building on a conceptual framework of COIL as a Third Space for teaching students from different countries, we show that COIL has a positive effect on glocalising cybersecurity. This enabled students to share their local experiences but work towards global solutions, since cybersecurity threats are global concerns. A cross-sectional survey design was used, with data collected using online questionnaires. The research was conducted at the Durban University of Technology (DUT), South Africa and at Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU), United Kingdom. Census sampling identified programme participants from DUT and LJMU, registered at the respective universities in 2024. Data were analysed statistically using descriptive statistics, Chi-square test of independence, One sample t-test and independent samples t-test. Results indicated that students reported cyber security as a high priority. This study confirms that students who are aware of cyber bullying have a greater ability to ensure their cyber security. An interesting finding was the difference between DUT and LJMU students on collaboration skills (M = 4.84, t=(48.301) 2.478, p = .017). The major contribution is the use of COIL as an educational intervention to increase students’ cyber security awareness and enrich their learning experiences. Educators should consider adopting COIL as a pedagogical tool to educate students on cybersecurity and AI. This project has policy impact on social mobility and educational policies of the UK. We provide evidence to the ongoing dialogue in South Africa regarding student mobility and a stronger emphasis on short-term virtual mobility exchanges. This study focused on students who participated in the ACU virtual mobility project, DISC; therefore, the results may not be generalised to other projects of a similar nature. This study does not consider the long-term effects of this intervention on increasing cyber security awareness because it was of a cross-sectional design.