31 Aug Cisco to upskill 8,000 trainers in cybersecurity
Cisco is helping to upskill 8,000 trainers from the Saudi Federation for Cyber Security, Programming and Drones (SAFCSP) in a move that will help accelerate Saudi Arabia’s digitisation agenda.
Through the Cisco Networking Academy (NetAcad), the trainers’ digital skills will be developed in the fields of cybersecurity and programming, through a combination of online and on-site courses.
Cisco will be tasked with developing the competencies of SAFCSP’s trainers and ensuring they gain expertise in cybersecurity essentials and digitisation like Cisco DevNet and Python qualifications. The collaboration between SAFCSP and Cisco will upskill students at Tuwaiq Academy, Saudi Arabia’s first advanced technology academy, and CyberHub – a platform for students devoted to cybersecurity.
“With a tech-savvy population and the national agenda putting investments in infrastructure and talent development at the forefront, Saudi Arabia is ensuring that digital transformation and upskilling remains a vital contributor towards the growth and success of several industries,” commented Salman Abdulghani Faqeeh, Managing Director, Saudi Arabia, Cisco.
The 8,000 participants in the scheme will also include over 1,000 women. The Cisco NetAcad programme in Saudi Arabia currently boosts one of the highest female participation rates amongst students in the world, a fact that Cisco is keen to maintain and improve further.
The partnership follows on from Saudi Arabia’s recent plans to improve the digital skills of 100,000 Saudi students by 2030, through a series of technology initiatives worth more than $1.2bn.