Bachelor of Cyber Security Evaluation Report Anonymized Dataset

The dataset corresponds to the evaluation of the University of Southern Queensland’s innovative competency-based Bachelor of Cyber Security pilot program (2023-2025), which is designed to facilitate veterans’ transition from Defence to the cyber security industry. Responding to three societal imperatives—veterans’ employment challenges, the Australian Government’s call for expanded cyber security personnel, and the Australian Qualifications Framework’s mandate to recognise prior learning—the Bachelor of Cyber Security co-designs curriculum with industry and embeds recognition of prior learning from military contexts. It integrates industry certifications and offers a paid 12-month internship, enabling veterans to consolidate on-the-job expertise while earning academic credit. Findings from qualitative interviews with veteran students and University of Southern Queensland staff, and a critical examination of program documentation indicate that competency-based learning can both alleviate critical skills shortages and provide higher education providers with a scalable model to recognise prior learning, support national security workforce strategies, and expand access for underrepresented cohorts.