JMU students have opportunity to study abroad in Singapore

Students from JMU will have a new opportunity to study abroad this year. Dr. Edna Reid, Associate Professor in the Intelligence Analysis Program (IA) at JMU is leading a four-week program study-abroad program in Singapore. Terrorism, Cyber Intel, and Socio-Cultural Issues, is scheduled for May 16 through June 16, 2016 and will focus on the growing threat of international terrorism and the emerging field of cyber intelligence from an international perspective.

Reid was first inspired to host the study-abroad program after studying the emerging opportunities and challenges in international cyber intelligence in 2014. Singapore is ranked as one of the most wired and cyber-ready nations in the world and internationally ranked the highest in terms of average per capita loss per victim of cybercrime.

In May 2015, Reid traveled to Singapore to give seminars and a workshop on cyber intelligence. “While there, I received briefings about how the Singapore government is making cyber security one of its economic hubs for development.  They are inviting cyber security companies to set up their Asian headquarters in Singapore and the government has established the Cyber Security Agency (CSA), to help oversee industry development, strategy, education, and protect critical public sectors,” said Reid. She sees this growth as a teaching opportunity that aligns well with the IA program – to employ coursework and underlying research that addresses major local, national, and global challenges.

Students will have the opportunity to analyze and map cyber attack capabilities of terrorist groups in Southeast Asia onto social-cultural characteristics of the region. They will be able to expand their cultural awareness and knowledge by focusing on information security developments, cyber security policies, workforce training and a culture of cyber security. They will also engage in guest lectures, participate in round table discussions with local organizations, discover Singapore cyber smart-city developments through local tours, and spend time collaborating with local students at the Temasek-IBM Polytechnic Security Operations Centre (SOC).

The program is open to all majors, though they must be approaching their junior or senior year to apply. Graduate students can also apply. For more information about the program, visit the study-abroad website.