ZURICH: The National Cyber Security Agency (NCSA) has received the Excellence Award in Cybersecurity Education for its pioneering 'Educational cybersecurity curricula' project. The award was presented during the Global Cyber Conference 2024, organised by the Swiss Cyber Institute in partnership with the Spanish National Institute for Cyber Security (INCIBE).
This global recognition highlights innovative case studies and exemplary initiatives in cybersecurity, with this year's awards introducing new categories to honor achievements in cybersecurity education and research. The award underscores NCSA's significant efforts and impactful role in enhancing digital safety indicators across diverse societal sectors.
Commenting of the achievement, Director of National Cyber Enablement and Excellence Affairs at the NCSA, Khaled Al Hashimi said: "This recognition is a testament to Qatar's sustained and dedicated efforts to strengthen digital safety indicators through advanced systems and strategies in cybersecurity. It reaffirms Qatar's standing as a leading nation in the field and our unwavering commitment to creating a secure digital environment locally and globally, while fostering collaboration with key organizations to address evolving cyber threats."
For her part, Acting Director of the National Cyber Excellence Department, Dalal Al Aqeedi highlighted the rigorous evaluation process that led to this recognition. "Our curriculum project faced strong international competition, beginning with a review of 52 cybersecurity educational initiatives worldwide in December 2023. After rigorous assessments, 12 initiatives advanced to the final evaluation phase, with our project emerging as a leading example representing Qatar on the global stage."
The 'Educational Cyber Security Curricula' project has benefited over 140,000 students, spanning 214 public schools, 178 private schools, and 39 community schools, in addition to two schools for students with special needs.