Riyadh Gov. Prince Faisal bin Bandar

:: A new Saudi Telecom Co. (STC) Academy opened by Riyadh Gov. Prince Faisal bin Bandar on Sunday will turn out hundreds of specialists in digital industries and e-services.

Prince Faisal inaugurated the STC Academy for digital learning and training, one of the company’s initiatives as part of Vision 2030 and the drive to build digital skills and encourage e-services in the Kingdom.

Minister of Communications and Information Technology Abdullah Al-Sawaha attended the opening, while STC Group CEO Khaled Biyari, delivered the welcome address.

Biyari said the new academy reflects STC’s strategy for digitization. “Our vision is to make the academy a unique hub for digital leaders and specialists in the Kingdom,” he said.

The STC chief said that the academy will train hundreds of digital leaders this year and will increase the number significantly in 2019.

The academy will help meet growing demand in areas such as cybersecurity, data analysis, modern digital technology and leadership skills. Training will be carried out in collaboration with leading academic institutions from the US and Britain, such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Imperial College London, and the Michigan School of Business.

“Our mission is to enhance the role of information and communication, especially in providing digital services, innovative solutions, gaining customers’ trust and enriching society,” Biyari said.

He said that the governor’s presence at the opening event highlighted the important role the academy would play in the Kingdom’s plans for digital transformation.

In a statement to media, the governor said: “The new center has taken a significant step in developing people’s skills in line with the Vision of the Kingdom.”