RIYADH: The first-ever information technology program for 5.5 million students in the Kingdom in the field of education was launched on Monday at the headquarters of King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST).
KACST President Ibrahim Al-Suwaiyel, Prince Turki bin Saud, vice president for Research Institutes at KACST, Andrew A. Chien, Intel’s vice president for Intel Labs and director of future technologies research, Abdulaziz Al-Nogaither, a general manager at Intel, and Emad Aldoghaither, president of Semanoor E-learning and Trading Company, were present during the launch.
During the event, Prince Turki and Chien also signed an agreement for the setting up of the Middle East Energy Efficiency Research Center, the third joint initiative between Intel and KACST.
Prince Turki described the education and curriculum project as a step forward to keep abreast of global technological developments.
“Students, teachers and concerned people can access daily lessons taught in classrooms at the touch of a button on www.nooor.com,” Prince Turki said, adding that the new project would play a major role in the region’s efforts to promote more efficient use of energy by conducting and sharing research with leading universities across the region.
“It is the third project with Intel following landmark projects focusing on wireless mobile services and nano-manufacturing applications,” he added. “Our aim is to ensure that we leverage off the work of global leaders such as Intel for the benefit of Saudi Arabia. The center is particularly poignant as we look to develop hardware and software solutions that consume less energy and promote energy efficiency. We at KACST are aware of Saudi Arabia’s environmental obligations and we’re delighted to be working with Intel on such an important goal.”
Aldoghaither explained that visitors can access to some 4,000 books in the school syllabus through this website.
“The site is updated with 50,000 pages of 4,000 classroom lessons ranging from first to 12th grade,” he said. “In the long run, the project will also provide employment opportunities for more than 50,000 youths in the Kingdom.”
Aldoghaither said his company in cooperation with the Ministry of Education initiated the project four years ago. He noted that the project is being carried out in cooperation with Intel Corporation.
“KACST has played a significant role in promoting technology research not just in Saudi Arabia but across the wider Middle East region,” said Al-Nogaither.
