25 years of IT security: RUB celebrates with a big summer festival!

25 years of IT security: RUB celebrates with a big summer festival!

Bochum, Deutschland - On June 11, 2025, the IT security course at the Ruhr University Bochum (RUB) celebrated its 25th anniversary. Over 200 guests were present as part of the celebrations that took place at the Cybersec Day of the Horst-Görtz Institute for IT Security (HGI). This included researchers, students, alumni and friends of the institute. One of the main goals of the event was the scientific exchange, which was promoted by Lightning Talks, Speed ​​Dating and discussion groups.

In the afternoon, greetings were spoken, which made it possible to look back on 25 years of IT security. Afterwards there was a summer party with various activities, including outdoor games, a table tennis tournament and musical performances. HGI spokesman Prof. Dr. Ghassan Karame emphasized the leading role of the institute in Europe and emphasized the great importance of training in this area.

an important training program

The IT security course was created in 2000 by donating the entrepreneur Horst Görtz, which encouraged the integration of IT security into the curricula. The number of students has increased steadily since then: the degree in around 30 students started, there are currently over 800 registrations. This means that the course is one of the largest in Europe that deal with cyber security.

An essential part of the study program is the combination of basic subjects such as computer science, mathematics and electrical engineering with contemporary topics of cyber security, including human aspects and artificial intelligence. This interdisciplinary and research-related training is supported by a top-class scientific environment that includes internationally respected professors who have received numerous awards, including the Gottfried-Wilhelm Leibniz Prize and ERC Grants.

The demand for specialists

The training at the RUB is described as unique in Europe. Alumni often find attractive job offers quickly or found their own companies. The increasing cybercrime, which in Germany causes around 82,600 cases and around 55 billion euros per year in Germany leads to an increasing demand for experts in the field of IT security. Students who complete a dual degree in IT security acquire both theoretical and practice-oriented knowledge in areas such as security technology, application programming and forensics.

• cryptography: Science of information encryption
• Network administration
• Forensik: Investigation of criminal acts

The graduates of the dual study of IT security are able to work in various industries, and their possible activities include data analysis, threat search and the development of IT security solutions. In view of the increasing risks in the IT area and the high demand for IT security experts, the perspective for graduates is extremely positive.

The Horst Görtz Institute is also viewed by G DATA Software AG as a competent partner for IT and data security. Research at the HGI is considered a world class, which is due to the choice of numerous prominent alumni like Dr.-Ing. Timo Kasper, who co -founded Kasper & Oswald GmbH, is underlined.

The student community plays an active role in training, offers such as game evenings, hackathons and the CTF team "Fluxfingers". The comprehensive training in the field of IT security on the RUB not only offers academic knowledge, but also a community and perspectives for the future.

Overall, the course of the past 25 years shows how important and future-oriented the IT security course is on the RUB and what options arise for the students.

Further information can be found at news.rub.de, hgi.rub.de and Training.de .