The Department of Law of Frederick University and the Office of the Commissioner of Communications – Digital Security Authority (DSA) are co-organising the 1st Student Forum entitled “Technology and Human Rights”, an initiative addressed to upper secondary school students.

The Forum aims to provide a platform for learning, dialogue and creative participation, giving students the opportunity to explore how technology affects human rights and their everyday lives. Through their participation, students will be encouraged to develop their critical thinking skills, gain a deeper understanding of contemporary challenges in the digital environment, and formulate well-informed opinions and proposals on these issues.

The Forum will address topics of particular importance to the younger generation, including personal data protection and internet use, Artificial Intelligence and human rights, online shopping, freedom of expression, and social media.

The collaboration between Frederick University and the Office of the Commissioner of Communications – Digital Security Authority highlights the importance of connecting academic knowledge with expertise in digital security, lending particular institutional credibility to the Forum. At the same time, it enables participants to explore technological issues from different perspectives and acquire knowledge and skills that they can apply both in their school environment and in their wider digital lives.

“Our aim is to give young people not only knowledge, but also the space to reflect, express themselves and contribute to the dialogue on a safe, responsible and human-centred digital future,” says Dr Konstantinos Kouroupis, Vice-President of the Department of Law at Frederick University, who coordinates the Student Forum on Technology and Human Rights.

“Technology is an integral part of young people's everyday lives, creating significant opportunities while also presenting new challenges in terms of protecting their rights. Fostering knowledge, critical thinking and responsible digital behaviour is essential to shaping informed and active digital citizens. Through the Student Forum on Technology and Human Rights, we are giving students the opportunity to reflect, exchange views and put forward their own proposals on issues that directly affect them. Our collaboration with Frederick University creates a meaningful space for dialogue, where academic knowledge meets expertise in digital security, contributing to the development of a safe, responsible and human-centred digital future,” says Mr Marios Pieris, Commissioner of Communications.

Through initiatives such as this, both organisations reaffirm their broader educational and social role, contributing to the development of digital literacy and preparing young people for a society in which technology is used safely and responsibly, in ways that benefit education, justice and society as a whole.

As part of the Forum, students will work in teams and, under the guidance of their teachers, investigate a contemporary issue of their choice, develop their own project and have the opportunity to present their ideas before a scientific committee. The process will also strengthen their teamwork, research, argumentation and public presentation skills.

The three top-ranking teams will receive cash prizes of up to €1,000, while scholarships will also be awarded for the undergraduate Law programme at Frederick University. In addition, the teachers responsible for mentoring each of the winning teams will receive a scholarship to pursue studies in a postgraduate programme of their choice at Frederick University.

Interested schools can register for the Forum via this link by 13 November 2026. The final event, during which the teams will present their projects and the awards will be presented, will take place on 26 February 2027.

For further information, including the rules and timelines, please follow this link.