Delivering on its International Strategy, CISPA is building promising partnerships with excellent research institutions across the world. The partnerships with UCT and WITS are part and parcel of this endeavor, as Faith Blakemore, Head of International Affairs and Science Relations, explains: “As a publicly funded research center, CISPA strives to deliver impactful research outcomes for society. Building dynamic partnerships on the African Continent is a necessary requirement if we want our research to achieve maximum international impact. Collaborating with UCT and WITS opens up new scientific trajectories in cybersecurity and trustworthy AI as well as mutually beneficial processes of knowledge acquisition and exchange.” Comprising senior researchers as well as members of the scientific support and outreach teams, the CISPA delegation engaged in a series of scientific talks and discussions as well as targeted outreach activities at WITS and UCT.
At the University of the Witwatersrand: Global Perspectives in Cybersecurity Research, University Teaching, and International Cooperation
During their visit to WITS, CISPA-Faculty gave a total of six guest lectures that facilitated animated discussions with students as well as university staff on a broad range of topics in cybersecurity and trustworthy AI. During these exchanges, areas of cooperation emerged where CISPA researchers might fruitfully contribute their expertise to generate impact in the South African cybersecurity community. Further discussions pivoted around the two new postgraduate degrees in cybersecurity at WITS that were developed in close collaboration with CISPA researchers. In a scientific speed dating session, CISPA researchers and WITS students had the opportunity to get to know each other and share their respective research interests.
A particular highlight of the delegation’s two-day stay at WITS was the visit from Holger Bodag, Head of Research and Education at the Germany Embassy in South Africa. In his presentation, Bodag specifically highlighted the activities taking place this year to mark the 30th anniversary of the science and technology agreement between Germany and South Africa. The two countries signed the agreement in 1996, aiming to promote joint research projects and innovation in STEM disciplines.
At the University of Cape Town: German and South African Research Perspectives on Cybersecurity and Trustworthy AI
With their colleagues at UCT, the CISPA delegation mainly discussed opportunities for strategic cooperation and joint research projects. In a series of talks, CISPA-Faculty presented their work to senior UCT researchers, which helped both sides to identify areas where research interests dovetailed or intersected. In their turn, the UCT hosts introduced the CISPA delegation to the exciting work of the departments for Information Systems and Computer Science, focusing in particular on their research groups for cybersecurity and artificial intelligence such as “C3SA – Cybersecurity Capacity Centre for Southern Africa” and the “African Hub for AI Safety, Peace and Security”. Importantly, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research and Internationalisation at UCT, Professor Thokozani Majozi, offered a commitment of support for the joint steps that are necessary to capacity-build academic offers in cybersecurity and safe AI.
Outreach in Focus: Experiences, Strategies, and Best Practices for Knowledge Transfer in Cybersecurity
At the same time, the delegation’s outreach activities kicked off at the Cape Town Science Centre, an educational facility seeking to complement the school curriculum in STEM areas. Representatives of the CISPA Cysec Lab had been invited to conduct a one-day train-the-trainer workshop and to present some of their interactive learning stations and best practices. In various discussion rounds with the Science Centre’s educators and staff, our colleagues exchanged strategies and methods for knowledge transfer, as well as ideas for future collaboration. Together, they also explored ways to integrate cybersecurity content into the Science Centre’s existing programs.
The outreach program culminated in a two-day Summer School on the UCT campus, which was jointly organized by UCT and CISPA. In presentations, workshops, and discussions, 40 Master’s and PhD students had the opportunity to engage with international experts in the fields of cybersecurity and trustworthy AI, from both CISPA and other eminent institutions. With its focus on collaborative learning and networking, the Summer School exemplified the spirit of cooperation, productivity, and goodwill that characterizes both of CISPA’s budding partnerships in South Africa.
