Middlesex University (MDX) Mauritius hosted the first edition of Hack the Campus on October 2, defined as an inter-university cybersecurity competition based on the Capture the Flag (CTF) format. For one day, the university’s Flic-en-Flac campus turned into a space for digital challenges and problem-solving themed, “Think. Discover. Exploit. Capture the Flag.”
The event saw more than 70 students from universities and higher education institutions, such as the University of Mauritius, the University of Technology Mauritius, VIT, Polytechnique and Middlesex University Mauritius, put to the fore their knowledge of ethical hacking and digital investigation while being given the opportunity to apply their learning in a controlled and time-limited setting. The competition saw students work in 25 teams, relying on logic, quick thinking and teamwork as they tackled a series of increasingly complex scenarios.
The challenges focused on identifying vulnerabilities, examining digital evidence, investigating network traffic, and decoding critical information. It also covered a wide range of offensive and defensive cybersecurity topics, including cryptography, network analysis, web security, reverse engineering and Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) where each successful challenge revealed a hidden digital “flag”, with teams collecting points throughout the day on a live leaderboard. Hack the Campus 2026 was about more than competition.
It also highlighted a growing need in Mauritius and internationally: developing a strong pool of cybersecurity talent. As businesses make greater use of cloud computing, artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things (IoT), digital systems are becoming more connected and cyber threats more complex. Having people with the right skills to understand and respond to these threats is becoming increasingly important.
Cybersecurity is also no longer an issue for the technology sector alone. The involvement of organisations from different sectors highlights the growing importance of digital security across the wider economy. It also saw the presence of stakeholders such as MCB, as Platinum Sponsor, and General Construction, as Gold Sponsor, joined by partners Quality Beverages, Arrowtech and Snack SSS Triolet. An involvement that reflects how businesses across financial services, construction, manufacturing, food and beverage, and other sectors increasingly rely on interconnected digital systems and need to strengthen their cyber resilience as their operations become more digital.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Provost and Director of Middlesex University Mauritius, Professor Mari Jansen Van Rensburg, stressed upon the value of giving students the opportunity to put their learning into practice: “Practice is at the heart of everything we do at Middlesex. We don’t just teach; we expect our students to also practise what they learn. Today is a wonderful learning opportunity, but it is also a chance to meet students from other institutions, build a network and connect with organisations that are looking for talent.”
While the CIO of MCB, Mr Philippe Enjalbal also highlighted the importance of developing practical cybersecurity skills, noting that the industry needs people with the curiosity, creativity and persistence to solve complex problems and think like attackers in order to build stronger defences. For Middlesex University Mauritius, Hack the Campus is also part of its wider focus on computing and cybersecurity education.
With a growing demand for skilled professionals, the university offers programmes designed to give students both a strong academic foundation and the practical skills needed in the workplace. The BSc Cyber Security & Digital Forensics gives students specialised knowledge in cybersecurity and digital forensics, helping them develop the technical skills required to pursue careers in the field. On the other hand, a programme such as the MSc Cybersecurity and Emerging Threats deepens the skills, combining intensive practical training with a strong theoretical understanding of the strategic challenges surrounding network and information security.
Cybersecurity is also directly linked to the financial services, where degree offerings such as the BSc Banking and Investment Finance prepare future finance professionals to work in an environment where risk management, secure transactions and digital systems are increasingly interconnected. At the end of the competition, Shihad Shibchurn and Inshiraah Munir from Middlesex University Mauritius won the first prize, followed by Oleg Narainen, Caellum Buys and Dhruv Bisht from MDX University Mauritius as runners-up.
Through Hack the Campus 2026, Middlesex University Mauritius is taking a practical approach to preparing the next generation of digital professionals. By bringing students, academics and industry together around real cybersecurity challenges, the university is giving students the opportunity to apply what they learn in the classroom and develop skills that will be increasingly relevant in the digital world.
