CyberMACS 2025 – Cultural Orientation & Joint Integration Weeks in Istanbul

The CyberMACS Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s programme proudly announces the successful completion of its Cultural Orientation Week (COW) 2025 and Joint Integration Week (JIW) 2025, held consecutively in Istanbul between 01 and 12 September 2025, in close collaboration with all CyberMACS partner institutions.

These two complementary weeks marked the official start of the academic journey for the new CyberMACS cohort, combining orientation, integration, academic preparation, and cultural exchange to equip students for the challenges of a joint, mobility-based master’s programme in cybersecurity.

Cultural Orientation Week (01–04 September 2025)

COW 2025 focused on welcoming students and introducing them to the academic, cultural, and social dimensions of the CyberMACS programme. The week aimed to ensure a smooth transition into the joint master’s structure while fostering early community building.

Key objectives included familiarizing students with the programme structure, curriculum, and mobility pathways; clarifying academic requirements and student agreements; providing guidance on insurance, visas, accommodation, and intercultural adaptation; and encouraging intercultural dialogue through interactive sessions and social activities.

Programme highlights included:

  • A Welcome Ceremony and Programme Introduction with opening remarks by academic coordinators and presentations from partner institutions (KHAS, SRH, UKIM)
  • A cultural event and guided tour of Istanbul’s Old City, promoting cultural immersion and team bonding
  • Intercultural training sessions led by Kadir Has University and its International Office, focusing on cross-cultural communication and adaptability
  • Sessions on academic integrity, research methodologies, and scientific writing, followed by a closing event and city tour

COW 2025 successfully laid the foundation for students to begin their studies with confidence, while building strong social and cultural connections that will support them throughout the programme.

Joint Integration Week (08–12 September 2025)

Following the orientation week, Joint Integration Week 2025, hosted at Kadir Has University, deepened academic integration through advanced lectures, collaborative work, and interaction with faculty and industry representatives.

Highlights of JIW 2025 included:

  • An opening session with speeches by Prof. Dr. Hasan Dağ (KHAS), Prof. Reiner Creutzburg (SRH), and Prof. Vesna Dimitrova (UKIM), along with detailed presentations on the CyberMACS curriculum, mobility tracks, and internship opportunities
  • Keynote lectures on cutting-edge cybersecurity topics, including supply chain attacks, AI transparency, OSINT for disaster management, AI-based penetration testing, and malware analysis
  • Working Group sessions on pilot cases in cryptography, cybersecurity management, web security, and cybersecurity technologies, where students worked in interdisciplinary teams under academic supervision and presented their outcomes at the end of the week
  • Side meetings of the Executive Board, CyberMACS Master Management Committee (MMC), and Industrial Advisory Board (IAB)
  • Social and cultural activities, such as a family photo session and welcome party, further strengthening intercultural exchange and community spirit

From the organizers’ perspective, JIW 2025 successfully brought together students, faculty, and industry experts to foster collaboration, enhance academic integration, and promote innovation in cybersecurity.

Looking Ahead

Together, COW 2025 and JIW 2025 provided a comprehensive and well-structured start to the CyberMACS academic year, seamlessly blending orientation, academic rigor, cultural immersion, and professional development. These two weeks established a strong foundation for students’ joint learning experience and set the tone for a collaborative and internationally integrated academic journey ahead.

author avatar