cndcgs Challenges to national defence in contemporary geopolitical situation 2538-8959 2669-2023 LKA 136_FABSICHROMADAVOJVODAZAJAC 10.47459/cndcgs.2026.136 Article From Theoretical Cryptology to Cybersecurity: Education and Research FABŠIČ Tomáš Institute of Computer Science and Mathematics, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, Slovakia HROMADA Viliam Institute of Computer Science and Mathematics, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, Slovakia VOJVODA Milan milan.vojvoda@stuba.sk ∗∗∗ Institute of Computer Science and Mathematics, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, Slovakia ZAJAC Pavol Institute of Computer Science and Mathematics, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, Slovakia Corresponding author. 2026 1 1177 1183 14 07 2026 Creative Commons Attribution International License (CC BY)

This paper traces cryptology and cybersecurity education and research at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, from the late-1980s CRYPTO seminar to the 2024/25 launch of a Cybersecurity master's specialization. We outline the bachelor's and master's curricula, research supported by three NATO Science for Peace and Security projects on post-quantum cryptography, and student engagement through theses, the Locked Shields exercise, and the new Cybersecurity Competence Centre. Enrolment in security specializations grew from 15% in 2022 to 43% in 2026, suggesting the 2024 restructuring was well-timed.

 cybersecurity education cryptology education cybersecurity research cryptology research