IR2201 Keeping the Lights On: Introduction to Critical Infrastructure Protection

Academic year

2025 to 2026 Semester 2

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

5

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 8

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Availability restrictions

This module is not open to students matriculated on a University degree programme.

Planned timetable

N/A

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Dr F P Lehr

Dr F P Lehr
This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module Staff

Dr Peter Lehr

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

This short course introduces participants to the basics of critical infrastructure protection (CIP) against a range of threats with a focus on human actors: while acts of ‘Mother Nature’ (such as floods, hurricanes, earthquakes) can be predicted and planned for at least to some extent, the ingenuity of human actors seemingly knows no bounds – 9/11 still is a cautionary tale in this regard. The short consists of six units on topics such as the history of CI and KR protection; risk assessment and risk management plans; CI interdependencies; and CI protection versus CI resilience. From a UK perspective, Martyn’s Law will also be discussed, as this aims at enhancing the protection of public venues. It concludes with a look at threats of the foreseeable future, in particular concerning ‘cyberspace’ and ‘artificial intelligence’.

Assessment pattern

Coursework = 100%

Re-assessment

Coursework = 100%

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

N/A

Scheduled learning hours

0

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

51

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.

Intended learning outcomes

  • Explain what is critical infrastructure and why it needs to be protected
  • Assess the main threats to critical infrastructure, the main actors posing this threat, whether that is non-state, state actors, or ‘Mother Nature’
  • Demonstrate the strength and limits of an all hazards approach, and a human actor approach.
  • Describe the steps of a typical critical infrastructure risk assessment cycle
  • Critically reflect on whether is it better to focus on protection or on resilience
  • Explain what are critical infrastructure interdependencies, and why they pose a problem for critical infrastructure protection