Amman: Deputizing for HRH Princess Sumaya bint El Hassan, President of the Royal Scientific Society (RSS), Royal Jordanian Vice Chairman and CEO Samer Majali on Tuesday sponsored the launch of the sixth edition of the National Aviation Cybersecurity Competition (META CTF), organized by Princess Sumaya University for Technology (PSUT) in collaboration with Royal Jordanian and its training arm, the Jordan Airline Training and Simulation (JATS), and supervised by the PSUT Cyber Security Club (CSC). Thirty teams from 13 Jordanian universities took part.
According to Jordan News Agency, the competition, held at Queen Alia International Airport, featured a series of advanced technical challenges, including network penetration, cryptography, digital forensics, and other specialized cybersecurity topics. The event was attended by PSUT President Wejdan Abu Elhaija, JATS Chairman Fawzi Al-Mulki, a number of cybersecurity and aviation experts, and a wide audience of university students and their supervisors.
In a speech delivered on her behalf by Nabil Al-Fayoumi, RSS Vice President for Technology, Princess Sumaya remarked that the partnership between PSUT and Royal Jordanian "embodies the belief that quality education extends beyond classrooms, connecting youth with real-world challenges that build their professional and technical capabilities in today's rapidly evolving world." She added that for 35 years, PSUT has placed students at the center of the learning process, fostering an environment that encourages innovation and entrepreneurship.
"This is not merely a university competition," the Princess said, "but a clear national message that Jordan is confidently advancing toward the future through strong partnerships between our national universities and leading institutions foremost among them Royal Jordanian, whose openness to cooperation and capacity building we deeply value." She stressed the importance of cybersecurity as a pillar of national and economic security and a guarantee of continuity for vital sectors, especially aviation.
Royal Jordanian CEO Samer Majali highlighted the strategic importance of the partnership with PSUT as part of the airline's commitment to engage with the academic sector, prepare and integrate youth into the job market, and enhance Jordan's regional and international standing. He said holding the competition at JATS reflects Royal Jordanian's investment in training, research, and integrated technical and cybersecurity systems.
PSUT Cyber Security Club President Ahmad Obeidat noted that the club designed the cybersecurity challenges and oversaw the competition's content, registration, and coordination. The joint team from PSUT and Jordan University of Science and Technology won first place, while the PSUT and Applied Science Private University teams placed second and third, respectively.
The event also featured expert panels on threat detection and response and air traffic control cybersecurity, aimed at raising awareness of the vital role of cybersecurity, information technology, and engineering in driving and safeguarding national development and modernization plans. At the close of the ceremony, awards were presented to the winning teams, commending the efforts of organizers and participants.