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Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
The CISPA-UCT Summer School “AI, Security & Privacy” will bring together students and early-career researchers from computer science, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence in Cape Town in February 2026. Organized in collaboration with the University of Cape Town, the program offers scientific lectures, workshops, and interactive poster sessions. With this summer school, the two institutions further strengthen their partnership launched in 2025.
The CISPA Helmholtz Center for Information Security and the renowned South African University of Cape Town (UCT) invite students and early-career researchers in computer science, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence to attend the CISPA-UCT Summer School 2026. The international academic event will take place from February 16 to 18, 2026, at UCT in Cape Town, South Africa. It features a diverse program of lectures, workshops, and poster sessions. The summer school is part of a broader delegation visit by CISPA researchers and staff to South Africa.
Since 2018, the summer schools organized annually by the CISPA Cysec Lab have been a key pillar of early-career support at CISPA. The South Africa summer school will focus on current challenges and the latest developments at the intersection of cybersecurity and artificial intelligence. International experts from academia and industry, as well as senior CISPA researchers, will provide insights into relevant topics, including the security of AI systems, practical cryptography, and secure distributed systems. Participants will also have the opportunity to present their own research in interactive poster sessions and to exchange ideas with fellow early-career researchers.
Invited speakers include Prof. Dr.-Ing. Daniel Arp (TU Vienna), who will address pitfalls in the AI-for-Security context; Dr. Kathrin Grosse (IBM) on AI security and the reporting of AI security incidents; Dr. Sofía Celi (Brave), focusing on practical applications of modern cryptography; Godwin Mandinyenya (UCT) on AI-driven zero-trust models for healthcare systems; and Sandra Deepthy Siby (NYU Abu Dhabi). In addition, CISPA-Faculty Dr. Wouter Lueks, Dr. Lea Schönherr, and Dr. Mridula Singh will participate as speakers.
“With the CISPA-UCT Summer School, we are creating a unique platform where young researchers can come together in an international and academically challenging environment, learn from one another, and jointly discuss current challenges in cyber and AI security,” says Faith Blakemore, Head of International Affairs & Science Relations. Organizer Andrea Ruffing, Head of CISPA Cysec Lab, adds: “We are very pleased to be offering our successful summer school format outside Europe for the first time and, in doing so, to support CISPA’s cooperation initiatives.”
The summer school is primarily aimed at master’s students and doctoral candidates who already have a solid academic background and are eager to actively participate in discussion and exchange. Participation is free of charge; travel expenses must be covered by participants themselves. Applications are open until February 9, 2026.
https://cispa.de/summer-school-uct Further information on the program and registration
CISPA-UCT Summer School 2026
Copyright: CISPA
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CISPA-UCT Summer School 2026
Copyright: CISPA
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