This initiative will run over two years and aims to help 100 students build cybersecurity and AI capacity in a country where unemployment is high, particularly among the youth. Students will have the opportunity to learn more about cybersecurity and explore career pathways in the field.
SRC Deputy President, Malwande Mazingisa; MUAH Director, Dr Thobekani Lose; Software Engineering senior lecturer, Dr Bukelwa Ngoqo; Mbulelo Buwa (Eastern Cape Department of Social Development) - Acting District Director, Nelson Mandela Metro District;and DVC: People & Operations, Luthando Jack
The programme is being rolled out by the Mandela University Africa Hub for Youth Entrepreneurship and Social Innovation and is funded by Google.org. The University is collaborating with the Eastern Cape Department of Social Development, whereby local community organisations in Gqeberha have been identified for student placement.
Dr Thobekani Lose, Director of the Hub, said: “This Digital Ubuntu: Cybersecurity/AI Seminars programme focuses on addressing the national concern of unemployment, while simultaneously creating opportunities for our students/graduates to gain cybersecurity/AI skills and practical workplace experience. The programme encourages transdisciplinary integration of cybersecurity/AI awareness.”
Participating students were selected from faculties including Engineering, the Built Environment and Technology; Humanities; Law; Science and Business and Economic Sciences.
Over a two-year period, the Mandela University Africa Hub will run winter and summer seminars to train the selected students in specific cybersecurity/artificial intelligence courses. These students will then be placed as interns in targeted local community organiations.
“The focus of these placements will be on preventing cyberattacks in the partner organisations,” said Dr Lose.
He explained that while the Fourth Industrial Revolution has created vast opportunities for technological advancement, emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence bring new opportunities for developing innovative solutions for the improvement of society and local communities.
“As the rate of technology usage increases, so does our exposure to cybersecurity threats. The people who are using these technologies have become the new targets for cybercriminals. These are individuals or groups who use digital systems to commit crimes such as data theft, hacking and fraud.”
Dr Lose said, “this is why we found it important as a university to embrace the opportunity presented by Google.org to train our students with necessary cybersecurity skills. We are happy to have this programme, which contributes towards student and societal upliftment.”
Cyberattacks rose globally by 72% in 2025, with small and medium-sized enterprises hardest hit. Africa alone recorded more than 160 million cyber threats in 2023, with South Africa, Kenya and Nigeria among the most targeted. Yet, the continent faces a severe shortage of trained cybersecurity professionals, with such initiatives seeking to bridge.
Dr Lose said that hopefully this initiative will inspire some of the participating students to explore entrepreneurial opportunities to create digital products/solutions linked to the training they will receive or the experience they will gain when they are placed in local community organisations.
According to Mandela University Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Luthando Jack, “the Mandela University Africa Hub for Youth Entrepreneurship and Social Innovation is dedicated to addressing South Africa's persistent challenges of unemployment, inequality and poverty.
“This is in line with the University’s aspirations of not only achieving academic excellence but also creating positive societal impact,” he said.
He explained that a rapidly growing youth workforce in Africa, needs targeted interventions for high quality job growth and economic opportunities. “This programme focuses on creating economically resilient and dynamic job opportunities and training programmes for youth that will drive an innovative and a productive future for the continent.”
Google.org said Mandela University is one of two universities in Africa chosen for this programme, which is being implemented in countries across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
“Through this initiative universities are supported in building a diverse workforce needed to help the most vulnerable organisations in their regions to prevent potential cyber-attacks.