A new partnership has been established between the University of Portsmouth’s Centre for Cybercrime and Economic Crime and the Almaty Police Academy, Kazakhstan with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
A new partnership has been established between the University of Portsmouth’s Centre for Cybercrime and Economic Crime and the Almaty Police Academy, Kazakhstan with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
The MoU serves as the launchpad for collaborations in the areas of cybercrime, cybersecurity, economic crime, and policing, not only between the University and the Academy, but also with other key organisations in Kazakhstan.
This strategic alliance is pivotal for both institutions. For the Almaty Police Academy, it signifies the first-ever collaboration with a UK academic institution into cybercrime and cybersecurity education and research. Meanwhile, for the University of Portsmouth, the MoU establishes a partnership in cybercrime policing and policy development, reinforcing its global reputation and the Centre for Cybercrime and Economic Crimes role in a region taking significant strides in combating cyber threats.
This agreement is a crucial step in our efforts to collaborate with key stakeholders in the Central Asia region, with Kazakhstan at the forefront. This partnership allows us to work more closely and regularly with our esteemed partners, contributing significantly to the region’s endeavours in policing and combating cybercrime more effectively.
Dr Vasileios Karagiannopoulos, Associate Professor in and Cybersecurity and Co-Director of the Centre for Cybercrime and Economic Crime, who visited Almaty for the signing of the MoU, said: “This agreement is a crucial step in our efforts to collaborate with key stakeholders in the Central Asia region, with Kazakhstan at the forefront. This partnership allows us to work more closely and regularly with our esteemed partners, contributing significantly to the region’s endeavours in policing and combating cybercrime more effectively.”
This agreement marks the initiation of a series of meetings with Academy and government officials scheduled for the Spring. The goal is to formulate a concrete action plan for the upcoming year, solidifying the commitment of both institutions to tackle cyber threats and advance the landscape of cybersecurity.
Cybercrime is a growing problem impacting on global economies, government stability and citizen well-being. It is essential that solutions are identified to tackle the different forms of cybercrimes and online harms.
The University of Portsmouth has a well-established reputation of expertise in cybercrime and cybersecurity. Research conducted by the Centre for Cybercrime and Economic Crime members has contributed to the UK government’s Economic Crime Survey and National Cyber Security Centre practices on SME cybercrime awareness. Recently, the Centre team has been working with South Korean academics and other relevant stakeholders to explore how best to tackle fraud and cybercrime against older adults in both countries and to prepare practitioners for upcoming threats in this field.
Other recent work has impacted upon the development of the Online Safety Act 2023, as well as the ongoing review of the Computer Misuse Act. Members of the Centre regularly advise government and law enforcement agencies on future technologies and developing cybercrime risks involving AI and Metaverse environments.