In spring, the NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences proudly hosted the RUN-EU European Project Alliance (EPA) Mission on ‘Cybersafety, Cybersecurity, and the Internet of Things’.

This international mission brought together students and staff from across the RUN-EU alliance to co-create innovative learning opportunities and explore future-focused topics in digital safety.

The week kicked off with an engaging team-building session designed to foster collaboration among participants. A highlight was a serious LEGO-based game focused on bridge-building, which emphasised the crucial role of communication and teamwork in successful project outcomes.

A key part of the programme was a stakeholder session led by Melle Popma from the MKB Cyber Campus, focusing on the growing importance of cybersecurity for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Together, participants explored essential competencies, identified potential learning outcomes, and discussed the impact of these efforts on students, staff, and the regions served by the RUN-EU universities.

Throughout three and a half intensive days, the mission was marked by dynamic collaboration, knowledge exchange, flexibility, and plenty of creative energy. Five central themes emerged as focal points for future development:

1. Cybersecurity for Organisations
2. Cybersecurity and the Human Factor
3. Skills Gaps and Labour Market Challenges
4. Policy and Implementation Strategies
5. SME Vulnerability to Cybersecurity Threats

This EPA mission reaffirmed the importance of interdisciplinary, cross-border collaboration in addressing the challenges and opportunities of the digital age, while equipping students and educators with the skills needed to lead in an increasingly connected world, and culminated in five proposals for short learning opportunities in the open call in April.