Partnerships are vital in building digital talent

Since the 1990s, when the internet became available to a limited number of students in their homes and schools, Saudi Arabia has used technology to further progress throughout the Kingdom.

The information and communications technology (ICT) sector today represents the foundation of a sustainable, prosperous future for Saudi Arabia, and the government’s focus on building capacity in this sector — particularly in terms of talent — will enable us to achieve the ambitious vision of the leadership for socioeconomic development.

When the internet was first introduced in Saudi Arabia, it was limited by several factors, including high subscription costs and low-quality connections.

However, being connected allowed Saudi communities to learn more about this new technology and use it as a tool for progress.

The government invested in educating students about technology and adopted advanced solutions throughout the private sector. We have come a long way since those early days; high-speed internet is available for everyone in the Kingdom at affordable prices, and the widespread use of technology has inspired the new generation to become more involved in the evolving ICT sector.

Partnerships between educators, government entities and private companies have enabled us to provide Saudi Arabia’s students with advanced technology learning opportunities. Huawei is one such company that has taken on the responsibility of building ICT talent by working with universities to create the right environment for teaching students about new technologies through hands-on experience, a well-designed curriculum and world-class lab materials.

Today’s students have grown up in a world that is increasingly connected — they are used to multimedia, portable devices, video gaming, cloud computing and high-speed internet, many of which play a part in their everyday lives.

With the help of industry-leading technology companies, we incorporate these elements into our learning material, providing students with familiar references and engaging lessons that draw them in. Students are attracted to courses, training and workshops that use videos, blogs, online material and gaming, infographics, animation, cloud sharing folders and more.

Beyond flashy learning materials, though, students are keen on well-organized courses that include hot tech topics such as routing and switching and artificial intelligence (AI), which will provide them with essential tools and techniques to use in their future jobs.

Building the technical capabilities of educators is key to ensuring that our curriculum stays up-to-date. Collaboration with private tech entities can enable Saudi universities to achieve this. For instance, King Abdulaziz University (KAU) works closely with Huawei to facilitate “train the trainer” programs for our faculty. This provides a number of courses to universities as well as access to professional certification exams. This technique increases the number of qualified trainers in Saudi Arabia, who can then teach a larger number of students while drawing on expertise and technologies from the private sector.

Educating students in advanced technologies will have a positive impact on the Kingdom’s digital transformation, creating a new generation of ICT leaders who can drive development that benefits society and the economy. By partnering with private ICT entities, KAU not only prepares students with the skills needed to accelerate digital innovation, but also encourages them to be inspired by one of the world’s most prolific ICT innovators so that they can contribute toward Saudi Arabia’s digital future in new and exciting ways.

• Dr. Ehab Abozinadah is assistant professor of Smart Cyber Security, vice dean of deanship of e-learning for development at King Abdulaziz University.