The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, through its Future Skills initiative, and Microsoft have announced a new Center of Excellence to empower professionals across Saudi Arabia with the advanced skills needed to thrive in the new digital era and enhance the employability of the Kingdom’s present and future workforce.
The announcement was made on the sidelines of LEAP 2024, bringing together the world’s leading innovators, IT experts, and industry leaders to highlight the latest advancements in technology.
The new Center of Excellence is part of joint efforts between the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and Microsoft to enhance the digital capabilities of Saudi professionals and build the local talent pool, aligning with the goals of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 for a diversified and thriving economy.
This announcement reaffirms Microsoft’s commitment to empowering Saudi Arabia’s workforce to effectively leverage the latest cloud and AI technologies, as part of the company’s investment in a new cloud datacenter region in the Kingdom. Microsoft’s datacenter is poised to serve as a catalyst for digital innovation and economic growth, empowering local Saudi talent with relevant digital skills for cloud computing and AI.
Microsoft's dedication to talent development in Saudi Arabia is further exemplified by programs like the Global Skills initiative, benefitting over 108,000 professionals. Additionally, collaborations with the Ministry of Education have trained over 250,000 teachers and reached 5.6 million students through the Madrasti Codes program, with MS-Learn impacting more than 70,000 students.
Deputy Minister for Future Jobs and Capabilities Ibrahim Al-Nasser said the Center of Excellence marks a significant milestone in accelerating digital transformation and Saudi Arabia’s digital economy growth, contributing to the nation’s vision of a highly innovative and knowledge-based economy.
The Center of Excellence aims to develop the technical skills of students and the Kingdom’s workforce, featuring a Cloud Academy with Tuwaiq Academy, offering globally recognized, industry-endorsed skilling tracks in cloud computing, AI, IoT, and Generative AI.
President of Microsoft Arabia Turki Badhris highlighted the importance of a highly skilled workforce in driving innovation and economic growth. The Center of Excellence is designed to enhance the digital skills of various demographics, offering training programs and acting as a strategic knowledge partner for initiatives like the AI Community Skilling program with Noon Academy.
