Another edition of the IPICS Cybersecurity Summer School concluded this past July 27th in Serbia.
Held in partnership with the University of Novi Sad and under the CyberSecPro project, the event was co-organized by PDMFC. Its purpose was to bring together students and trainers to shape the future of cybersecurity in Europe, guided by the best ethical and technological practices.
The scale and impact of this initiative were highlighted by Luís Miguel Campos, Head of Research and Development at PDMFC and Mobilization of Trainers and Trainees coordinator:
“The second edition of the CyberSecPro Summer School, which took place between July 14th and 27th in the city of Novi Sad (Serbia), featured 45 students and 13 trainers, all specialists in various fields of cybersecurity. PDMFC was present with three students and two trainers. During the summer school, two cybersecurity Hackathons were held (on two consecutive Saturdays), putting the theoretical and practical knowledge acquired during the week’s sessions to the test. Monetary prizes were awarded to the top three finishers.”
An Unforgettable Learning Experience
While encouraging, the numbers only tell part of the story. Over these two weeks, the atmosphere was one of contagious intensity, filled with mutual knowledge sharing and learning. From deciphering cryptographic puzzles to analyzing the psychology behind phishing attacks, participants delved into world-class training sessions. The verdict was clear, with students praising the trainers’ ability to captivate the audience and highlighting the innovation and originality of the teaching methods, such as a risk analysis inspired by an episode of the series Black Mirror and practical Capture The Flag (CTF) challenges.
Building Bridges Beyond the Classroom
Although classes are crucial, social interaction also plays a vital role. The weekly social dinners and free-time activities provided the perfect stage to unwind, strengthen friendships, and build a solid network in a collaborative, multicultural environment.
Summing up the successful event, Luís Miguel Campos reinforced its strategic importance for the future of the sector:
“This edition of the CyberSecPro Summer School was a success. With students from eight different nationalities and world-renowned cybersecurity specialists as trainers, we managed to create a European-scale event that addresses the urgent need to train the next generation of cybersecurity specialists.”
PDMFC is proud to be part of such an impactful initiative, one that not only raises the bar for cybersecurity training but also builds the bridges to a more secure digital future.
