The Swiss-Africa Community concluded its 3rd General Meeting (GM) with even greater prospects for all partners

Held on the 16th of May 2025, the hybrid event brought together participants both online and in person at the Fachhochschule Nordwestschweiz – Brugg-Windisch Campus. As usual, the discussions focused on showcasing project milestones, upcoming activities, and encouraging open exchange. However, this time around, the event introduced some novel additions.

Referring to the project milestones, some already attained ones include the recent launch of the community’s website and the endorsement of the community guidelines by 90% of the members.

Upcoming activities include three (3) planned workshops by partners— Africa Blockchain Institute, the University of Bern, and the University of Buea—focusing on cyber resilience, cryptography, and the emergence of cyberattacks, respectively. Furthermore, a study has been initiated on the topic: “The Influence of University Program Choices on Students’ Level of Cybersecurity Awareness.” It is scheduled to run from May to September 2025.

Regarding the additions to the GM, first, Dr. Wirnkar Basil, representing the University of Buea (UB) showcased the university’s engineering department and laboratories, highlighting their interest in collaborations. Second, the community welcomed a new member, Biaka University Institute of Buea (BUIB). The university was represented by Prof. Dr. Fonkeng Epah George, the Academic Deputy Chancellor, accompanied by members of the research and engineering teams. Their attendance reflects the community’s openness to welcoming new partners to foster discussions and collaborations in cybersecurity.

The meeting concluded with partners expressing interest in establishing a sustainability plan aimed at ensuring the project’s continuity beyond its initial two-year timeframe.