This International Teachers Day, we would like to highlight someone very exceptional – Cisco Networking Academy instructor Rebecca Harrop. Rebecca is a specialist in computer networking and security, and senior lecturer of cybersecurity at the University of Bedfordshire. She is also an associate lecturer in computer networking, cybersecurity micro credential consultant, and co-author with the Open University.
This year she celebrates her 20th year as a Cisco Networking Academy instructor. Rebecca was a long-standing manager of a Cisco Networking Academy and Cybersecurity lab at Barnet and Southgate College. She’s also a loving mom of two young children – and in her spare time continues to upskill, most recently obtaining CCNA Security and CyberOps certifications.
Throughout Rebecca’s career, she has successfully trained thousands of students in professional computing skills and inspired many from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds to pursue a career in IT. The diversity of the students she teaches is apparent – from a 59-year-old grandmother working to complete her bachelor of science degree to students with disabilities who learn to create LAN cables and configure networks independently. Always an advocate for teaching real-world skills that translate directly to the workplace, Rebecca was voted “Role Model of the Year” in the 2019 Women in IT Excellence Awards.
As a Cisco Networking Academy instructor, Rebecca teaches the following courses: CyberOps Associate, CCNA Security, Cybersecurity Essentials, IT Essentials, CCNA, and many more. She has taught in the classroom, online, and in a hybrid learning model, and is accredited for teaching with acknowledgements and awards by professional bodies for professional certifications.
“Even at its very worst, teaching is helping someone who is lost to take steps forward. At its best, it is running alongside them on a path of discovery, pointing out all the cool and useful stuff along the way.”
Rebecca is well-respected in the field and on occasion appears as a technical guest speaker at professional conferences to share her expertise at parliamentary groups for the national cyber strategy and CompTIA events. Prior to teaching, Rebecca completed a psychology degree at the University of St. Andrews, specializing in cognitive thinking and computing, cyber-psychology, neural networks, and artificial intelligence. She also gained a first class master’s degree, on an ESRC scholarship, in cognitive science at the University of Dundee.
Highly experienced in cybersecurity, Rebecca explains what makes it so relevant today:
“In today’s world, where every aspect of our lives involves the exchange of digital data, there is more than just a chronic lack of cybersecurity professionals – there is an absolute need for every person to be responsible for information security. Cybersecurity protects the most valuable asset we have – ourselves. If data is now the currency of our world, then everyone needs to keep a hand on their wallet, because cyber-pickpockets operate in all areas.”
Rebecca has been rated consistently as an excellent instructor in lesson observations and course feedback. Also, she has been granted an Instructor Excellence Award in recognition of her lasting contribution to the Cisco Networking Academy program. We can’t thank her enough for her passion, contribution and commitment to the field.
Great to see an excellent summary of the work and accomplishments of a great colleague, co-conspiritor in education etc …
Rebecca is a definite inspiration, someone to watch, learn from and work with – education needs more like her.
From a very early age Rebecca has always put 100% into everything she has been passionate about. Therefore it’s nice to see her recognized. The world needs more people that care.
Congratulations! You deserve the recognition for all your hard work.
Well-deserved recognition for a tremendously enthusiastic and popular teacher
Absolutely brilliant! Congrats!
Congratulations! I can tell you are passionate about what you teach and it makes it instantly more enjoyable for learners!
Great article and acknowledgement of all your hard work over the years. Congratulations!
Congratulations on a well deserved acknowledgement of your work and role in pushing cyber compliance forwards
Wow, what an amazing achievement! I look forward to finding out more. You are a great role model for females beginning their careers in this male dominated industry.
As both a former colleague and student of Rebecca I can with some authority claim she is the most skilled lecturer of practical subjects that I have met in my 28 years lecturing. She structures her lessons so well and delivers her sessions with infectious enthusiasm. She absolutely nailed IP Addressing for me a typically thorny topic. And, it’s all delivered with such good humour.
nice
Congratulations!!!
To be honest, i do enjoy her lessons which she goes into details and very helpful as well. Having her as my lecturer makes me feel relieved whenever she teaches.
Rebecca is excellent. Providing the knowledge which needed for real envoirnment. Easy to understand when she is teaching. I really Want to build Cybersec. Company with Rebecca. LOL 🙂
Thank you for your lecture, you’re very helpful! i enjoy every min of it. You’re very lovely and kind!
An absolute amazing teacher and really great at explaining each task.
Excellent teacher!!!! Very helpful and productive in our online classes… No complaints at all.
What a great celebration of a popular, successful educator. Also- always good to see women getting recognition in STEM. ??
The one of the best teachers to have!!!!
So inspiring! It’s so impressive when someone like this with so much knowledge is able to pass that on. ?
Rebecca is actually poggers
Rebecca has made a massive difference to the University she currently teaches at. She is passionate, caring and always wants the best for her students. She deserves more recognition for her work she has put in. Many thanks for the work you do for young people.
Rebecca is excellent. Engaging and knowledgable. Dedicated too.
Excellent insight to my tutor’s career. Very lucky to be one of Rebecca’s students.
Few teachers have inspired me to learn like Rebecca has, she’s been extremely supportive and has helped me make important decisions over the last year. Can’t think of a better teacher!
Rebecca can present even the most advanced terminologies and networking principles simpler. This shows she is extremely competent and enjoys her field of work extremely, which is portrayed in her teaching. Well done!
Engaging, extremely knowlegable and always willing to help if your stuck. Rebecca is an excellent instructer.
You have always been people person…keep having your personality in all the hearts and minds of students you have touched along your amazing career. I gracefully salutes you…???
Since I have interacted with Rebecca at Bedford University, I have found her to be engaging and helpful with all aspects of the class, and even thou early in the year I was not in her class I found that I could ask questions that other Tutors might have sidelined me.
With all her classes I have found that they are engaging and left you wanting more time to listen to the knowledge that Rebecca has gained to add to your own learning experience, bringing together real world experience into the classroom, and this is so very important.
I class myself as lucky to have Rebecca and one of my final year tutors.
Lee Garner
It is so hard to find just few words to describe the way Rebecca is, how much love and efforts she puts in all her work. I am so grateful for having Rebecca as a teacher. Explanation is amazing, knowledge is so strong and the message she transmits is very clear. I would give her ‘Role Model of University of Beds’ if I could !
Thank you for being you.
Absolutely great to see you getting a little credit for the excellent job you do! Well done Rebecca 🙂
Well Done Rebecca . A well deserved recognition for a very enthusiastic and popular teacher
Congratulations! Absolutely well deserved – proud to have you as a colleague!
Congratulations on the well deserved recognition for a very enthusiastic, most skilled, inspiring & caring lecturer/colleague. Well done Rebecca!