Cybersecurity Department at the College of Information Technology Honors CTF Participants and Announces the Launch of the Competition’s Second Edition

Duhaa Fadill Abbas
In a distinguished academic atmosphere where the spirit of challenge blended with pride and achievement, the Cybersecurity Department at the College of Information Technology, University of Babylon, honored the participants and winners of the CTF (Capture The Flag) competition in an event that reflected the remarkable success of the competition’s first edition and its significant impact on developing students’ technical competencies while fostering a competitive environment that encourages creativity and innovation. The event represented a qualitative milestone embodying the department’s vision of preparing a generation of cybersecurity specialists equipped with analytical thinking skills and the ability to address modern digital challenges with high efficiency. It also reinforced the culture of practice-oriented learning based on experimentation and real-world application. During the ceremony, the department officially announced the launch of the second edition of the competition, reaffirming its commitment to transforming this initiative into a sustainable scientific and technical platform that opens broader horizons for students to develop their expertise, refine their practical abilities, and prepare themselves for the rapidly evolving technological labor market.

The event commenced with an opening presentation featuring exciting highlights and moments from the competition, showcasing the technical challenges, student engagement, and the impressive skills demonstrated throughout the contest, in addition to reflecting the spirit of teamwork and determination that characterized the participants during all stages of the competition.
The Dean of the College of Information Technology, Professor Dr. Wesam Sameer Bhaya, delivered a speech expressing his deep pride in the advanced level demonstrated by the department’s students. He emphasized that the technical and analytical capabilities displayed by the participants reflect a promising future for a generation of programmers and specialists capable of safeguarding network and information security and effectively confronting cybersecurity threats. He further affirmed that the College places great importance on supporting talented students and continuously strives to provide an environment that nurtures their creativity and motivates them toward further excellence and innovation.

In turn, the Head of the Cybersecurity Department delivered an inspiring speech characterized by encouragement and support, expressing his great happiness with the participants and the passion and technical creativity they displayed. He emphasized that the competition was organized “by students and for students,” with the aim of strengthening their practical and technical skills and providing them with opportunities to discover and develop their capabilities within a competitive environment that closely simulates real-world cybersecurity practices.

The event also included a speech by a representative of the organizing committee, who reviewed the efforts exerted in preparing and coordinating the competition. He noted that the success achieved was the result of collective teamwork and a genuine belief in the importance of organizing specialized technical events that contribute to building a more aware and distinguished student community in the field of cybersecurity.
The ceremony was attended by distinguished guests and specialists in the technological field. Mr. Haider Naseer, a specialist in Security Operations Centers (SOC) and cybersecurity analysis working for one of the major electronic payment companies, delivered a speech praising the high level of both the students and the competition. He highlighted the importance of such initiatives in preparing technically qualified cadres equipped with the skills demanded by the labor market, particularly as he himself is a graduate of the Cybersecurity Department, which reflects the quality of the educational environment provided by the department.
Additionally, Ali Firas, a student from Al-Hillah Al-Ahliya University / Department of Cybersecurity Engineering Technologies, who is recognized for discovering numerous security vulnerabilities and working as a systems tester, expressed his admiration for the organizational and technical quality of the competition, praising the participants’ capabilities and enthusiasm in tackling cybersecurity challenges.

The event concluded with the honoring of the winners, participants, and organizing committee members through certificates of appreciation in recognition of their outstanding efforts and achievements, amid an atmosphere filled with pride and accomplishment. This initiative once again affirmed that the Cybersecurity Department is not limited to delivering academic knowledge alone, but is actively committed to creating an integrated environment that refines students’ skills and opens pathways toward excellence and professionalism in the field of cybersecurity.