ProCyD - A Modular Higher Education System in Data Protection and Cybersecurity for Supporting the DigitalTransformation in Mozambique and South Africa

The envisioned goal of the project is the introduction or strengthening of data protection and cybersecurity into higher education to support the digital transformation in Mozambique and South Africa. Digital transformation is a challenge that all countries around the world must face. Developing countries such as Mozambique as well as emerging countries such as South Africa can particularly benefit from the upcoming changes: Digitalisation can be a successful accelerator to escape the poverty trap and reduce the gap between rich and poor. But it can also have the opposite effect and increase poverty and inequality. Above all, however, the handling of data protection and data security issues is not clarified here in many places. Digitalisation needs IT security and people who, based on knowledge in both data security and data protection, can realistically assess the benefits and risks that accompany this transformation.With the project ProCyD, we want to support the people, the economy, civil society, academia, and political decision-makers of our partner countries in taking advantage of the opportunities of digital transformation and mastering competent risks.With a modular system of courses for students and lecturers of the partner HEIs, the project wants to make a significant contribution here. The plan is to design and implement courses at different levels: A course for general basic qualification as well as new study programmes at the bachelor’s and the master’s level. The development of an online masters’ programme at the South African HEIs that will be made available to the partner HEIs and beyond will increase the impact of the project. To address the challenge that the partner HEIs lack qualified teaching staff in the targeted subject areas, we plan a pilot master’s programme with semesters abroad within the project runtime. This will create an initial pool of specialists as well as lecturers, which will ensure the sustainability of the project results.