The National Electronic Security Authority, NESA, has officially announced details of the United Arab Emirates' first ever annual U.A.E. Cyber Quest programme.

Seventy-nine students, nine teachers and six Abu Dhabi and Al Ain based schools have been involved with the two phase educational programme to date which culminates in a two-day elimination competition held at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Centre, ADNEC, on May 27th - 28th.

Themed 'Learn Today, Defend Tomorrow', the 2014 edition of the programme saw participation of three Abu Dhabi based schools (Al Hosn School, Al Samha School and Hamdan bin Mohammed School) in addition to three schools based in Al Ain (Al Dahma School, Al Maqam School and Zayed Al Awaal School). Programme organisers plan to engage with schools right across the Emirates for future editions of U.A.E. Cyber Quest.
 
"U.A.E. Cyber Quest is the first national competition of its kind in the Emirates and everyone involved from the students themselves to the programme coordinators and teachers are looking forward to the final event with great promise," said Zayed Al-Otaiba, Executive Director of Talent Development at NESA.
 
"Ensuring the safety of the U.A.E.'s critical digital infrastructure is a matter of national security - so too is fostering the development of the next generation of Emiratis who will protect it. Ultimately, it is our hope that this annual programme will accelerate education development and supply a welcome boost to the U.A.E.'s ambitious plans to implement a fully-fledged digital economy," he added.

The 2014 competition represents the second phase of the U.A.E. Cyber Quest programme. Ten teams have been shortlisted to compete in 'Day One' of the competition. Only four teams will progress through to 'Day Two' on May 28th before one team is crowned 'U.A.E. Cyber Quest 2014 Winners'.
 
"Incorporating elements of information security into the national curriculum is critical in order to aid younger generations when navigating their way through an increasingly digital world and crucially, how to do so safely," said Dr. Najla Al Raway Al Naqbi, e-Learning Manager at ADEC.
 
The first phase of U.A.E. Cyber Quest is complete and saw teachers from participating schools attend a three day workshop once a month for a period of three months. The nine teachers involved were briefed on the programme and were provided all the necessary training 
 

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