RIYADH — The Ministry of Education signed an agreement with the National Cybersecurity Authority (NCA) to forge cooperation in the fields of education, scientific research, training, and awareness in the field of cybersecurity. The agreement, which was signed by Education Minister Dr. Hamad Al-Asheikh and NCA Governor Dr. Khaled bin Abdullah Al-Sabti, will contribute to the training of national cadres and their capacity building in the field of cybersecurity. The deal also seeks aims to boost the quality of programs offered in this field in Saudi Arabia. Speaking on the occasion, the education minister noted the interest of the Kingdom's leadership to invest in the human capital and provide the support for building a knowledge-based economy which is a key goal of Vision 2030. Al-Asheikh said the education sector seeks to produce a highly scientifically and technically educated generation by raising the quality of education, thus enabling it to acquire the skills of the 21 century and the fourth industrial revolution, which will help the Kingdom compete internationally in knowledge production, generation and investment. The minister underlined the importance of cybersecurity amid the growing reliance on information technology. He said organizations and individuals must be given necessary protection tools from cyberattacks, noting that securing these organizations through cybersecurity is extremely necessary to maintain the continuity of society's work in a safe and natural way. It is also important to confront cyberattacks directed against the nation's technology systems, so it is necessary for future generations to learn and master them in simplified and gradual ways in schools and universities, the minister added. Al-Asheikh also said that the ministry is making all efforts to prepare generations of talented and innovative people to keep pace with technological developments and the modern era, and to enrich the country with its human capital, educationally, intellectually, creatively and technically, adding that the agreement will boost cooperation in training programs, capacity building and encouraging scientific research in the field of cybersecurity. For his part, NCA Gov. Dr. Khaled Al-Sabti underlined the importance of investing in cybersecurity initiatives. He said the agreement with the Education Ministry is of huge importance for the realization of Vision 2030 goals. The Ministry of Education and the NCA have launched several joint initiatives in the past such as the "Cyber Scholarship Initiative" and the "Saudi Framework for Higher Education in Cybersecurity" and conducted training programs for graduates of Saudi universities.
