His Excellency the President of Umm Al-Qura University (UQU), Prof. Abdullah Bafail, in his office today, launched the Student Cybersecurity Club in the university main campus and its branches to activate the Cyber Hub initiative under the Ministry of Education and the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming, and Drones. This took place in the presence of the Dean of the College of Computer and Information Systems, Dr. Majid Al-Qathami, the Vice Dean of Student Affairs for Activities, Dr. Yaser Al-Hazmi, the contact officer for the Cyber Hub initiative, Dr. Sultan Al-Mutiri, and the club president, the student Saleh Al-Zahrani, as well as his deputies in the Jamoum and Al-Leith branches, Abdullah Al-Harbi and Hammoud Al-Helmani.

Dr. Sultan Al-Mutairi explained that the club’s vision was to enhance awareness of cybersecurity as well as the dangers of the Internet among male and female students of UQU and its branches, and to work in building national cadres in the field of cybersecurity through training and coaching according to international standards. Dr. Sultan noted that the club’s launching contributes to the initiative of the Ministry of Education and the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming, and Drones to spread awareness among male and female students at Umm Al-Qura University. The club will provide training courses in the areas of cybersecurity to meet the needs of the labor market for such skills. Workshops will be also held for all colleges and institutes in the field of cybersecurity. Moreover, the club will participate in the organization of conferences and seminars provided by the Ministry of Education, in cooperation with the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming, and Drones.

Dr. Al-Mutairi added that one of the goals of the club is to support male and female students in participating in local and international competitions. This is by training and qualifying students for these competitions by holding competitions inside the university to raise the level of their readiness, invest their time by doing projects that benefit the labor market, and promote the spirit of volunteerism between the male and female members.

On his part, the Dean of the College of Computer and Information Systems, Dr. Majid Al-Qathami, stated that the launch of this club comes as a starting point to enhance the role of the university and the college in activating these important community initiatives which contribute to raising awareness of the importance of the use of technology and information systems.

It is worth noting that the Cyber Hub initiative was launched by the Ministry of Education in partnership with the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming, and Drones to support and develop the student clubs interested in cybersecurity in different universities.