Cegeka and Thomas More train the next generation of cyber experts for mission-critical and high-security environments

Cegeka and Thomas More are expanding their longstanding collaboration within the IT Factory through a new partnership focused on Cyber Security for Law Enforcement & Defense. While both organizations have worked together for many years in the fields of IT and cybersecurity, their partnership now enters a new phase with the launch of this specialized track within the Professional Bachelor's program in Electronics-ICT at the Thomas More campus in Geel. The program prepares students for cybersecurity careers in mission-critical organizations where failure is not an option, including defense, law enforcement, intelligence services, and critical infrastructure. 

IT company Cegeka brings its expertise directly into the program through guest lectures, masterclasses, internships, and site visits. This allows students to work with secure systems during their studies and gain a practical understanding of the requirements associated with handling sensitive information. 

Demand for these profiles is growing faster than supply. “The need for cybersecurity experts is significant, but high-security environments require very specific skill sets,” says Brandon De Waele, Managing Director Defense, Intelligence & Space at Cegeka. “Technical expertise is essential. But professionals working in defense, intelligence, or critical infrastructure must also be able to handle sensitive information, obtain security clearance, and understand what responsibility and operational resilience mean in practice. By exposing students to these realities during their studies, we are preparing them to contribute to missions that society depends on every day.” 

“This program is unique in Flanders,” says Anke Coomans, Program Manager IT Factory at Thomas More. “Students receive a broad technical foundation, complemented by masterclasses delivered by experts from defense, law enforcement, intelligence services, and the technology sector. As a result, they gain insight not only into how the technology works, but also into the operational environments in which it is applied.” 

Cegeka and Thomas More have a long-standing partnership in IT and cybersecurity. Every year, students and lecturers gain first-hand insight into the operations of Cegeka’s advanced data center and Security Operations Centre (SOC). The effectiveness of this hands-on approach is reflected in the many graduates who joined Cegeka immediately after successfully completing their internships. “By working closely with industry, we ensure that our program remains aligned with the real-world needs of the sector,” concludes Anke Coomans. 

The partnership further reinforces Cegeka’s growing Defense, Intelligence & Space activities and helps develop the specialized expertise that mission-critical organizations rely on.