The University of South Wales (USW) has recently awarded a mobility grant to Cyber Security and Forensics lecturer Dr. Nisha Rawindaran, exclusively enabling her first official visit to Cebu Technological University (CTU) this August.
The funding approval makes a major mark in a series of conversations that began earlier this year towards USW’s academic interaction with a Philippine state university for the first time.
The prospect of a visit gained momentum in May when Dr. Rawindaran shared with CTU Internationalization and ASEAN Integration (IAI) Director Dr. Rhodora Magan that she had successfully secured mobility funding from her institution, enabling her to exclusively visit CTU for a comprehensive exploratory engagement.
The initiative could be traced back last February, when CTU’s long-time ally Dr. Michel Plaisent of the University of Quebec in Montreal introduced Dr. Rawindaran to Dr. Magan.
In April, discussions evolved with Rawindaran and USW Associate Dean for Research and Innovation Professor Sandra R. R. Esteves. Both, alongside the IAI director, identified mechanisms through which the partnership could be advanced, including the possibility of a formal Memorandum of Understanding and future collaborative initiatives.
Dr. Rawindaran holds Bachelor of Science (Honours), Master of Science, and Doctor of Philosophy degrees and is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA). Her academic interests encompass cyber resilience, digital investigations, cyber awareness, and emerging threats in an increasingly interconnected digital environment.
During her stay, she is expected to meet with academic staff, researchers, program leaders, laboratory personnel, and students from computing, information technology, cyber security, networking, digital forensics, and related disciplines.
She has also expressed interest in sharing USW’s expertise through an introductory presentation highlighting USW’s strengths in cyber security education, digital forensics, and applied research.
Further, discussions are expected to focus on emerging cyber security challenges and opportunities, including cyber resilience, digital forensics, secure systems, network security, etc.
The visit will likewise explore broader opportunities for cooperation through student and faculty mobility initiatives, guest lectureships, joint seminars, collaborative research projects, curriculum development activities, and pathways toward long-term institutional alliance.
(Photo credit: Dr. Nisha)
