The Center for Innovations and Digital Education – Dig-Ed proudly hosted the Capstone Event of the SHIELD project (Simulation game-based Hands-on Instruction for Enhancing Cybersecurity Learning and Development) on 22 August 2025 at the INNOX Innovation Center in Skopje. The event marked the culmination of a year-long initiative, implemented within the Cyber Balkans project funded by the European Union, dedicated to strengthening cybersecurity awareness in schools across North Macedonia.
The day began with opening remarks and a warm welcome, followed by presentations highlighting the activities and outputs developed within the SHIELD project. Within the project, an innovative workshop-based training methodology that integrates digital storytelling, AI tools, game-based learning, and blended approach, was successfully developed and implemented. More than 40 teachers were trained, and with support from Dig-Ed, they designed and later implemented classroom-ready interactive games and gamified activities. The resources, more than 30 gamified lessons in total, were shared openly as part of Dig-Ed’s growing library of open educational resources (OERs) https://dig-ed.org/gamification-in-cybersecurity-education/
From February to May 2025, the SHIELD workshops were rolled out across schools, directly engaging over 1,000 students. The impact was immediate and visible: students who once saw cybersecurity as a dull or abstract topic suddenly found themselves deeply engaged in role-play scenarios, simulations of cyberbullying situations, and problem-solving games that mirrored real digital risks.
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The event showcased the most effective educational resources and game-based activities developed by teachers on cybersecurity, created in response to the call for designing and implementing interactive learning activities on this topic. Inspirational stories from the classroom were shared, including testimonials from students who described how gamified lessons helped them recognize and react to online threats in everyday life. Teachers also reflected on the professional growth they experienced, underscoring how accessible AI and gamification could become valuable tools in modern education. Participants engaged in lively discussions and networking, exchanging ideas, experiences, and insights with a community passionate about digital safety and innovative teaching methods.
The event celebrated the collaborative efforts of educators and students, emphasizing the impact of hands-on, engaging approaches to cybersecurity education. It reinforced the value of combining technology, creativity, and interactive learning to enhance students’ practical knowledge and critical thinking skills. The project may have reached its official end, but it sparked ongoing inspiration for making cybersecurity education more engaging, effective, and impactful for years to come.
