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Amid the rapid wave of digital transformation, cyber threats have become one of the most critical challenges that organizations worldwide must confront. Particularly as artificial intelligence (AI) plays an increasingly significant role, attack patterns have grown more complex and severe, resulting in a continuously rising demand for professionals with expertise in cybersecurity.

Dr.Pakapan Limtrairut, Acting Dean of the School of Information Technology and Innovation, stated at the opening ceremony: "Recognizing the growing severity and complexity of cyber threats, the Faculty of Information Technology and Innovation has initiated the BU Cyber Fortress Challenge & Career Expo as a vital platform for developing Cybersecurity skills and elevating the potential of Thai youth, while building a bridge between educational institutions and the industry to produce quality personnel for the labor market."

Dr.Thirapon Wongsaardsakul, Assistant to the President for Academic Affairs, added: "In an era where digital technology has become an integral part of daily life, cybersecurity is no longer a distant concern — it is a critical foundation for economic development, social stability, and national confidence. Developing personnel with knowledge, skills, and cyber ethics is therefore an urgent mission that educational institutions and the industry must seriously collaborate on."

Three Key Highlights of the Event

          The BU Cyber Fortress Challenge & Career Expo was made possible through collaboration between both public and private sector partners, with activities divided into three main components to create a comprehensive learning experience:

Part 1: Knowledge Sharing

Activities began with knowledge enrichment from real experts through special lectures and workshops by leading speakers:

• K.Jirayus Preechadech, ICT Specialist Officer at the National Cyber Security Agency (NCSA), delivered a lecture on "Pathways to a Cybersecurity Career" to broaden perspectives and guide self-development toward becoming a professional.
• Dr.Thirawat Issariyakul, Manager of Platform Technology and Solution Standards at National Telecom Public Company Limited (NT), presented "Your Security Companion", sharing NT's role as a trusted partner providing comprehensive cybersecurity assurance.
• K.Attapon Phayak, Acting Managing Director and CTO of CyberGenics, and CISO of the G-Able Group, delivered a lecture on "Next-Gen Enterprise Security & AI", exploring modern enterprise security integrated with AI technology.
• K.Andrew Smith (Vice President & CTO, ICMS Cyber Solution) and Dr.h.c. Charles Singh (Regional Director, EC-Council) co-hosted a workshop on "The Art of Volatility – Memory Forensics", teaching in-depth techniques for extracting digital evidence from computer memory.

Part 2: Competition

The highlight was the BU Cyber Fortress Hackathon 2026 Grand Final, in which 9 student teams from various universities competed by brainstorming and applying Cybersecurity knowledge combined with AI technology to develop innovative ideas for addressing today's cyber threats, before presenting their work (Final Pitching) before a panel of distinguished judges.

Additionally, the BU Mini CTF Competition 2026 was held in a Capture The Flag format for Bangkok University students, to practice fundamental penetration testing and vulnerability discovery skills — the core competencies of this field.

Part 3: Career Expo

The event opened doors to the future with booths from over 11 leading partner companies directly recruiting employees and interns. This served as a golden opportunity for students to build professional networks and prepare for the real world of work. Participating companies included Fortinet Security Network (Thailand), Yip In Tsoi, i-Secure, and others.

Judges' Reflections: The Potential of New-Generation Talent and Thailand's Cyber Future

          The competition was honored by nationally recognized experts serving as judges, who shared a common view on the remarkable potential of Thai youth:

• Dr.Thirawat Issariyakul (NT) remarked: "Being a judge today was truly impressive. Witnessing the development of the new generation — whether through the Hackathon or the projects on display — clearly reflects rapidly growing capabilities. I want to leave an important thought: the more digital technology brings us convenience, the more opportunities it creates for those with malicious intent. Therefore, however far digital advances, the world will need Cybersecurity to advance just as far."
• Captain (Navy) Sirinat RakWong, Special Expert at NCSA, praised the project: "This platform is extremely valuable — not only does it allow students to creatively apply their classroom knowledge, but it also makes them realize that what they have learned can be used to protect themselves, those around them, and society in real life."
• K.Attapon Phayak (G-Able) concluded: "I am impressed that students were able to build upon their knowledge and create such creative projects, with many having genuine potential for commercial development. Overall, Thailand's Cybersecurity industry still faces a significant talent shortage, making this career path always wide open. The first thing I want to emphasize is Passion — because cyber threats grow more complex every day, those who will thrive in this field must love continuous learning and have a strong IT foundation."

Also serving as a judge was Dr.Tantikorn Pichpibul, lecturer at the Faculty of Engineering, Bangkok University.

Competition Results

BU Cyber Fortress Hackathon 2026

• 🥇 1^st Place: Team Encracked — 10,000 THB + certificate and souvenirs
• 🥈 1^st Runner-up: Team Roblox.txt — 7,000 THB + certificate and souvenirs
• 🥉 2^nd Runner-up: Team Bad66 — 5,000 THB + certificate and souvenirs
• 🏅 Honorable Mention: Teams System Error, BBQ Make Friends, and Ah.. Here We Go Again — 3,000 THB each + certificate and souvenirs

BU Mini CTF Competition 2026

• 🥇 1^st Place: Team sudo apt-get flag — 2,000 THB + certificate and souvenirs
• 🥈 1^st Runner-up: Team ลิงเล่งลีบ (Ling Leng Lib) — 1,500 THB + certificate and souvenirs
• 🥉 2^nd Runner-up: Team HondaLahMong — 1,000 THB + certificate and souvenirs

The BU Cyber Fortress Challenge & Career Expo represents a milestone that goes beyond competition — it is a platform for learning, experience exchange, and hands-on practice, with the ultimate goal of "shaping new-generation cyber warriors" who are ready to face the ever-evolving challenges of the digital world.