An Arden undergraduate computing student has achieved gold at the WorldSkills UK finals, which took place in Manchester in November.
Gabriel-Constantin Cazacu secured gold in the cybersecurity category and will now have the opportunity to compete for a place in the WorldSkills International finals in Shanghai in 2026.
WorldSkills UK has established itself as a prestigious platform for nurturing technical skills and providing competitors with a platform from which they can excel in their fields. It aims to raise standards, drive investment, and unlock economic growth across the UK.
In September 2024, France hosted the last WorldSkills international global competition, where 1,333 young skilled individuals from 66 countries and regions showcased their exceptional talents over four intensive days.
Gabriel, a keen kick-boxer with dreams of becoming a cybersecurity analyst, said: “It’s taken.a huge amount of hard work and late nights to get here. I’ve dreamt of a career in cybersecurity for years, and have been juggling my studies alongside a job in construction.
“I’m excited – I never dreamt of getting this far in the competition, and it’s giving me real-world experience I can transfer into my future career.”
Suresh Sureshkumar, Gabriel’s lecturer at Arden University, said, “Gabriel has dedicated himself to mastering his craft over the last 6 months, despite numerous challenges and barriers along the way.
"His focus and dedication have paid off, and he deserves recognition as one of the top cybersecurity talents in the UK."
Find out more about WorldSkills UK here: https://www.worldskillsuk.org/about-us/.
