In line with the Safer Internet Day Events

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - Wednesday, February 11th 2015 [ME NewsWire]

Colonel Expert Dr. Ibrahim Mohammed Al Dabal, General Coordinator of the Khalifa Student Empowerment Program said that the third edition of the “Cyber C3” competition, launched by the Ministry of Education as a part of the UAE’s celebration of “Safer Internet Day” aims at promoting students’ awareness about internet safety, and supports the programs and initiatives designed to protect the youth from the dangers of the internet.

He said: “The ‘Cyber C3’ complement the variety of events held nationwide under the theme ‘Let's Create a Better Internet Together’. The activities, which witness the participation of more than 35 ministries and federal, local and private entities, will be supervised by the Khalifa Student Empowerment Program (Aqdar).” He stressed the importance of working in partnership with the various sectors of society to raise awareness and instill the concept and guidelines of the appropriate use of the internet.

Colonel Expert Dr. Al Dabal noted that the internet has radically changed today’s world and societies, and revolutionized the way we acquire news and information. He also mentioned the internet’s role in streamlining interaction between individuals, especially with the widespread use of smart phones, and the nature of being connected to the internet anywhere and anytime.

In the same context, Amal Al Kous, Assistant Undersecretary for the School Environment and Activities Sector at the Ministry of Education, said that the goals of the “Cyber C3” go hand in hand with the Khalifa Student Empowerment Program to produce digitally literate and responsible citizens   capable of good behavior when communicating in the cyber world in various fields, and to provide them with the tools of proper internet use.

Adding further, Ms. Al Kous emphasized that by launching the competition as a part of the Khalifa Student Empowerment Program brings added value and credibility to the competition, and would attract a wide-scale response with its different contests, as well as ensure its success in achieving its goals. She also praised the concept and goals of the competition, as well as the efforts of “Knowledge Point Educational Consultants” and all the partners and sponsors of this valuable competition.

She added that empowering students with the tools, languages and technologies of this age, especially the safe use of the internet, is the most prominent 21st century skill that the Ministry of Education is endeavoring to inculcate in students. This can be achieved using state-of-the-art methods, content-rich curricula and student activities, which focus on reconciling students’ progressive skills with their present and their future, and provide them with the necessary knowledge and competencies.

Ms. Al Kous, explained that the Ministry seeks to spread a spirit of competition in the schools community especially amongst students, and to encourage them to pursue self-development. It also aims at motivating students to participate in local competitions and events, which pave the way to Arab, regional and international competitions in a variety of fields, notably science, culture and sports. She said: “The ‘Cyber C3’ competition is advanced competitions, which directly serves the interests of students. It is closely related to the skills of safe use of the internet and technology, and the related challenges and issues.”

In the same context Dr. Hamed Al Neyadi, Head of Knowledge Solutions Management at Knowledge Point Education Consultants said that participation in the competition aims at highlighting the importance of internet safety; especially for students and teenagers, as well as the need to warn them against negative behavior that could compromise their safety and the safety of others on the internet.

He added: “There are many practices that may seem correct or harmless but they may comprise  serious social and legal implications. We need to be vigilant as to such practices, and to warn against them.” He also announced the important launch of the third edition of the “Cyber C3” competition, with participation from the Ministry of Education’s schools, Institutes of Applied Technology, and Secondary Technical Schools.

For his part, Mohamed Al Meskari, Director of Knowledge Solutions at Knowledge Point Education Consultants pointed that more than 200 teachers at the Ministry of Education are being trained on the goals and fundamentals of the competition, and acquainted with the risks and security gaps that would require attention. “The training is provided for teachers via awareness workshops organized at the countrywide level and conducted by certified training specialists from ’Knowledge Point’.”

Ali Awadallah, Director of the “Cyber C3” program, explained that the CYBER C3 Certification is the first of its kind in the world.  “Cyber C3 encourages the proper use of technology; it is especially developed and designed to produce digitally literate, smart and responsible internet users, who are able to derive the benefits of online participation while taking responsibility for self-protection by understanding the potential consequences of online behavior,” he said.  Adding further, he noted that the “Cyber C3” curriculum was reviewed in cooperation with Kahlifa University.

In conclusion, Awadallah said: “The training program focuses on raising awareness about the internet use etiquette, as well as the UAE’s federal laws on cybercrimes and the fundamentals of information security and ways to use social media positively. It also tackles the implications of irresponsible behaviors in the cyber world, and cites some cases that occurred in the Emirati society to help others avail of these experiences. By the end of the program, the participants will be granted an accredited certificate.”

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The Arabic-language text of this announcement is the official, authoritative version. Translations are provided as an accommodation only, and should be cross-referenced with the Arabic-language text, which is the only version of the text intended to have legal effect.

Contacts

The UAE Minister of Interior's General Secretariat, Tactical Affairs and Security Media Department

Abu Dhabi Police GHQ - Security Media

Chris Cron +971-(0)-50-987-1317

E-mail: cron.media@hotmail.com

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