On March 20th, Associate Professor Dr. Dinu Țurcanu, Vice-Rector for Digitalization and Strategic Partnership Director at CYBERCOR, attended the sixth Economic Forum hosted at Virginia State University (VSU). The invitation was extended by Ceslav Ciobanu, an esteemed professor and program coordinator in economics at VSU, USA, and Doctor Honoris Causa of the Technical University of Moldova.
The event, titled “Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity: Challenges and Opportunities for International Cooperation,” brought together experts in security, AI, and information technology from the United States, Romania, and the Republic of Moldova, with participants joining both physically and online. Discussions revolved around strategic issues and priorities aimed at enhancing collaboration in areas such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, education, and research. All attendees at the Economic Forum were greeted by Dr. Dawit Haile, the Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology and Vice Provost for Academic Affairs, alongside President Dr. Makola Abdulah and Vice President and Provost Dr. Tia Minnis. The proceedings were moderated by Professor Dr. Ceslav Ciobanu, former Ambassador of Moldova to the USA.
The exponential advancement of artificial intelligence technologies has marked a new era in security paradigms. Today, a potentially hostile nation could develop the capability to launch cyberattack powered by AI, stealthily infiltrating electric grids, financial systems, and communication networks simultaneously. Such incursions could lead to widespread blackout, economic disruption, and chaos. Both security experts and policymakers require specific skills and knowledge to effectively respond to the unprecedented challenges posed by AI within the national security framework. Proficiency in cybersecurity and readiness for emergencies can equip institutions with the expertise needed to make a significant impact in the evolving and dynamic field of security.
As a speaker, Mr. Țurcanu shared insights into UTM’s experience in preparing graduates in the field of Information Technology and Cybersecurity, as well as the role and objectives of the newly established entity at UTM—the “Cybercor” National Institute of Cybersecurity Innovations. During his discourse, Mr. Țurcanu underscored the opportunities for collaboration with VSU in the field of cybersecurity, particularly with the Academic Excellence in Cybersecurity and Digital Forensics (CSDF) and Commonwealth Cyber Initiative.
Additionally, Mr. Țurcanu mentioned Cybercor’s vital role in ensuring national cybersecurity, facilitating socio-economic transformations toward a more secure cyberspace.
Through the establishment of the “Cybercor” National Institute of Cybersecurity Innovations and the modernization of the curriculum in Cyber Security, the Technical University of Moldova aims to provide individuals with adequate training in this critical field. These initiatives represent substantial progress towards ensuring a safe digital environment and protecting critical infrastructure, as well as strengthening a Cyber Healthy Nation. The new cyber security center stands as an integral part of Moldova’s infrastructure development. Key partnerships involving the Government of Moldova, donors like USAID, Sweden, and the United Kingdom, and industry leaders such as Google have been instrumental in shaping the importance of “Cybercor” and mobilizing the necessary resources to turn this vision into reality, as highlighted by Mr. Țurcanu.
On September 13, 2023, the Moldovan Government made the decision of officially recognizing the Technical University of Moldova as a central institution for national cybersecurity. As a result, the university will be responsible for implementing training programs, organizing cybersecurity exercises, leading research and innovation in the cyber domain, and establishing partnerships with relevant organizations. “Cybercor” will thus become a national innovation hub, with notable impact on the development of cyber skills among students and professionals through digital education.
The Vice-Rector concluded with extending gratitude to the hosts for the invitation and expressing interest in fostering numerous joint projects within the UTM-VSU partnership.
Throughout the event, participants had the opportunity to attend several informative presentations delivered by representatives from VSU. Dr. Joseph Shelton, VSU’s Director of Cybersecurity Center and Assistant Professor, shared insights on “Fostering Strength Through Diversity in the Digital Defense Landscape.” Dr. Wei-Bang Chen, an Associate Professor at VSU, delved into “Unleashing the Power of Data: Machine Learning and Deep Learning Applications Across Diverse Domains.”
Professor Tudor Edu, Vice-Rector for Scientific Research, Innovation, and Internationalization at the Romanian-American University, delivered a comprehensive presentation covering the main topics of the Economic Forum. The event ended with the presentation of Veaceslav Pituscan, a Visiting Scholar from Georgia Tech & VSU, titled “Coworking with AI in Education—Challenges and Opportunities.”
It is noteworthy to mention the participation of Professor Larisa Bugaian, Head of the Erasmus+ Center at UTM, in the proceedings of the sixth Economic Forum organized by VSU.
We remind you that on May 5, 2023, the official collaboration between Virginia State University and the Technical University of Moldova commenced with the signing of the General Agreement of Academic Cooperation between VSU and UTM by Dr. Makola ABDULLAH, President of VSU, and Professor Viorel BOSTAN, Rector of UTM.
