As part of the cybersecurity training project titled “Cybershield Innovators: Pioneering the Future of Digital Security” , coordinated by Istanbul Gelisim University and supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a significant meeting project was held with the university’s project partner, Proficiency Institute, on July 17, 2025, in Düsseldorf, Germany.
The meeting, organized on the occasion of the project’s transition to the online training phase, was of great importance in terms of clarifying the implementation process and strengthening institutional collaboration.
Representing Istanbul Gelisim University at the meeting were:
-
Our Rector, Prof. Dr. Bahri Şahin
-
Our Vice Rector, Prof. Dr. Necmettin Maraşlı
-
Head of Software Engineering Department and Project Training Coordinator, Asst. Prof. Serkan Gönen
-
International Exchange and Cooperation Coordinator and Project Administrative Coordinator, Alisa Usubova
The meeting was hosted by Alper Ece and the Proficiency Institute, who are leading the project’s operations in Germany.
Project Application Process and International Interest
Despite a short application period, the Cybershield Innovators project received a total of 1,265 student applications, demonstrating the project’s broad outreach capacity and international appeal.
A total of 982 applicants were received from Turkey, representing more than 65 cities and over 151 universities.
Additionally, 223 applications came from other countries.
International applicants included young individuals from Poland, Germany, Romania, North Macedonia, Kosovo, the United Kingdom, Bulgaria, Montenegro, Georgia, Ukraine, Hungary, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Estonia, and Lithuania, among others.
This wide participation once again confirmed that the project aims not only to provide technical education but also to foster intercultural interaction and inclusive development in the digital domain.
Key Topics Addressed During the Meeting
Throughout the meeting, the following agenda items were discussed in detail:
-
The curriculum for the online training phase to be conducted between June – September 2025
-
Final structure of the instructor and mentor teams
-
Participant selection process and distribution among countries
-
Academic validity of the certification process and alignment with the European Qualifications Framework (EQF)
-
Career support services, employment guidance and long-term sustainability plans
It was also emphasized that the project not only aims to equip participants with technical competencies but also supports their development in terms of ethical values, Professional awareness, and cultural diversity.
A First in Turkey: The First EIT-Supported Cybersecurity Training Project
Cybershield Innovators is the first cybersecurity training project in Turkey to be supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT). In this regard, it represents a pioneering achievement for Istanbul Gelisim University on both national and international levels.
At the conclusion of the meeting, project partners expressed their satisfaction with the process and shared their mutual intentions to develop new collaborations in the future.
With its prioritization of female participants, hands-on training model, internationally recognized certification system, and employment-oriented approach, Cybershield Innovators is on its way to becoming a model educational program in the field of digital security across Europe.
