More than cybersecurity: international teamwork at NEOLAiA BIP in Örebro

The SASA BIP course combines lectures, workshops and project work focused on so-called “security by design”, where security considerations are built into software architecture from the very beginning rather than added later. Students were introduced to concepts such as threat modelling, architectural design and emerging security technologies.

For Christian Carmine Esposito, Associate Professor at the University of Salerno, the technical content is only one part of the experience. One of the biggest strengths of the BIP format is that it encourages students to collaborate across national, cultural, and academic boundaries while developing essential teamwork skills.

“The first skill students need to acquire is learning how to work in a team. In this BIP course, they collaborate with people from different countries, educational backgrounds, and levels of experience, which is extremely valuable.”

According to Christian Esposito, the international setting mirrors the reality students are likely to encounter in their future careers within transnational organisations. By working in multicultural teams, students develop essential skills in communicating technical ideas, discussing solutions and collaborating across national and cultural boundaries.

New – and unexpected – cultural experiences

For many students, the international dimension became one of the most memorable aspects of the programme. Lorenzo, a student from the University of Salerno in Italy, found himself reflecting on differences in communication styles.

“Meeting and working with students from Greece and France here in Örebro helped me realise that sometimes you need to adapt and give other people more space to speak. That's been a valuable lesson for me.”

The course also brought together students from very different academic and professional backgrounds. Daria and Kate from Kyiv-Mohyla Academy in Ukraine already work in cybersecurity while also pursuing advanced studies. Even so, they found new perspectives through the programme.

“We learned new things about software architecture and had the opportunity to work closely with people we had never met before. Our group work was especially valuable because we had to combine different skills and experiences,” says Daria.

Kate agrees, “We gained new knowledge and learned new things, which was really valuable for us.”

The international project teams quickly became an important part of the learning experience. Students had to identify one another's strengths, divide responsibilities and prepare joint presentations, often while overcoming language barriers and different ways of approaching problems.

Learning – not only in a classroom

What does secure software architecture have to do with bowling, cultural differences, and learning to speak up in an international team? Quite a lot, as it turns out.

When asked what made the strongest impression during the week, Lorenzo did not immediately mention a lecture or workshop. Instead, he remembers bowling most.

“Since I’ve never bowled before, it was a fantastic experience!” he says with a big smile on his face.

The answer highlights another goal of the BIP format: creating opportunities for students from different countries to get to know one another beyond academic collaboration.

When asked to describe the programme in just a few words, the students spontaneously came up with friendship, fun, new knowledge and multiculturalism.

Today’s speaker, Christian Esposito, emphasises that a combination of technical learning and personal growth is what makes initiatives like this important for students’ enrichment.

“We want students to be curious and explore ideas beyond the traditional study subjects. New technologies and new challenges help them grow, not only as future professionals but also as individuals.”

Through secure software design, international teamwork and shared experiences both inside and outside the classroom, the SASA BIP course offered participants a glimpse of what an increasingly interconnected digital future may look like.