PQ-NEXT Core: Bringing PQ-NEXT into higher education – the case of AGH
What drives PQ-NEXT from within? This time, we sat down with our academic partners to discuss their role and contributions in the PQ-NEXT project.
Let’s meet and greet the AGH University of Krakow (AGH). We will discover the university, the background, the team and the journey that led them to PQ-NEXT.
AGH University of Krakow (AGH) is a public university in Poland, founded in 1913. The university is one of 10 Polish higher education institutions that have been granted the title of a research university. AGH is recognized as the best of Polish technical universities in many international rankings (including CWUR, CWTS Leiden Ranking or Shanghai Ranking). The university comprises 18 faculties, research centers, and other didactic centers and departments. The supercomputers from the TOP500 list of the fastest supercomputers in the world operate in the Academic Computer Centre Cyfronet AGH. AGH offers three levels of education, including doctoral schools. The university educates more than 20,000 students and employs approx. 2,000 academic staff.
The PQ-NEXT team at AGH University works on Institute of Telecommunications and Cybersecurity. The Institute has broad experience in teaching and research in the field of telecommunications, computer science, and cybersecurity. The development strategy includes quantum technology and post-quantum solutions (e.g., quantum and post-quantum cryptography, security architectures and protocols, intrusion detection and mitigation, etc.). The institute has participated in many 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, H2020 UE Framework Programs, EUREKA CELTIC, EDA, and COSTs projects.
The AGH University of Krakow (AGH) and its role within PQ-NEXT
AGH team—consisting of ten researchers, including two professors—is supporting PQ-NEXT project in research on quantum and post-quantum cryptography solutions, especially security analysis and performance evaluation. Also, integration of post-quantum cryptography algorithms with contemporary systems and networks is important research direction. Our contribution to the PQ-NEXT project is mainly focusing on post-quantum migration and quantum cryptanalysis.
How does your work in PQ-NEXT influence your teaching activities and curriculum development?
The influence is significant indeed. Universities are not only at the forefront of research in quantum computing and post-quantum cryptography, but they are also responsible for preparing the next generation of professionals. Therefore, we teach the future engineers, researchers, and security experts how and why post-quantum solutions work. For example, as part of the second-cycle Cybersecurity programme, AGH has introduced a compulsory master-level course dedicated specifically to post-quantum cryptography, positioned as a core subject directly linked to ongoing research projects, international collaboration and standardisation activities. This ensures that every graduate of the programme encounters quantum-related security challenges not as a niche curiosity, but as an integral element of their professional formation.
What skills should today’s students develop to be ready for the post-quantum era?
Firstly, students should introduce quantum-related concepts early in the educational journey. Introducing fundamental concepts of quantum computing and post-quantum cryptography at the undergraduate level allows students to gradually build awareness of upcoming technological shifts and better understand the context of more advanced topics. However, the education should be consistently continued and deepened at the master’s level, where a more advanced knowledge and specialized skills are developing, covering both theoretical foundations and practical applications. Practical experience—such as standard analysis, implementation of post-quantum algorithms, integration of them into network protocols and systems, and benchmarking their performance—allows students to move beyond theory and understand real-world constraints, even if these are group projects within existing courses. Such approaches not only strengthen technical competence but also better reflect the challenges graduates will face in practice. However, universities should also foster interdisciplinary collaboration across computer science (including quantum algorithmics), mathematics, physics, and telecommunications to provide students with a holistic understanding of quantum technologies.
How can students participate in quantum-safe cybersecurity research at your institution, and, in particular, in the PQ-NEXT project?
Interested AGH students are actively involved in collaborative research activities within PQ-NEXT project, where they contribute to the implementation and testing of post-quantum solutions. This provides valuable hands-on experience with cutting-edge technologies, and the most successful outcomes often lead to joint scientific publications. In addition, the explored research topics frequently inspire the selection of bachelor’s and master’s thesis topics, enabling students to further develop their expertise in post-quantum cryptography and related fields. Then, the most motivated students have a smooth path to their PhD studies devoted to the post-quantum cryptography topics.
How does collaboration with industry partners within PQ-NEXT enrich academic research?
Close collaboration between academia and industry is essential for bridging the gap between research and real-world applications. Such partnerships facilitate the transfer of scientific advances into practical solutions, enable researchers and students to address genuine industrial challenges, and ensure that research remains aligned with current technological and societal needs. They also foster innovation, accelerate the adoption of emerging technologies, and better prepare graduates for careers in both academia and industry.
What excites you most about the future impact of PQ-NEXT?
The most exciting aspect is the opportunity to actively participate in one of the hottest research topics today—the development of quantum technologies. It is a unique chance to witness firsthand the ongoing migration toward post-quantum cryptography and to contribute to this historic technological transition while collaborating within an outstanding European research consortium.