Under the patronage and honor of the University Rector Dr. Khaled Bin Saad AL Migrin, the College of Computer and Information Sciences held a workshop entitled "Information Security as an Educational Choice". The workshop gathered a number of eminent speakers in the field such as Dr. Salah AL Mutiri, head of the National Center for Electronic Security in the Ministry of Interior, Dr. Hussam Ramadan, Yamama University Vice Dean for Academic Affairs, Dr. Ali AL Hamdan, head of Security Control at the national Information Center, Dr. Hani AL Zid, Advisor to the President and Supervisor of IT Department in the Saudi Shuraa Council. Dr. Ahmed Bin Ali AL Romih, Majmaah University Vice Rector for Academic Affairs opened the first session where he thanked the participants and highlighted the importance of the participation of professional stakeholders in the educational process and in specifying the learning outcomes. Dr. Hisham AL Saghir CCIS Dean took the floor first to deliver the first intervention in the workshop where he set the conceptual framework within which CCIS works explaining the academic, research and community service paths the college adopted. The dean talked about the orientation of the college to focus on information security as an educational choice, which makes the college programs of a different profile to put into action the plans for Saudi higher education that encourage universities to offer different and authentic programs. The participants discussed the main opportunities and challenges facing computer Science colleges in offering programs that specializes in information security. In this regard, Dr. Salah AL Mutiri, talked about the reality of and expectations from information security from the viewpoint of cognitive and skills requirements. Dr. Hani AL Zid highlighted the importance of the orientation CCIS took pointing to the need in the job market for professional certificates, which are themselves academic certificates if students have been well qualified for them in such a way as to be up to date with the trends in the job market. Dr. Ali AL Hamdan stressed the importance of the students' fundamentals of CS and IT before starting their specialty in information security; in programming, networks and maths. Dr. AL Hamdan talked about the main challenges to face the college in activating the professional academy and including it in study plans. In this regard he proposed many effective solutions such as adopting the methodologies of academic accreditation bodies like ABET which links learning outcomes with professional skills, activating the role of student professional guidance, extracurricular activities, summer trainings to get professional certificates in addition to the academic and professional certificate from the department.
The second session discussed the development of digital forensics and cyber-criminality tracks in the IT department. Dr. Iyad Haj Said introduced the second session entitled " Digital Forensics: Track Proposal". The session included sub axes such as overview of digital forensics, aims of the track, learning outcomes, proposed courses, job opportunities, job market needs, standards, professional certificates related to the track. Dr. Hani AL Zid suggested the addition of previous requirements of professional certificates related to digital forensics. Dr. Hussam Ramadan insisted on the need to prepare programs that qualify students to obtain professional certificates related to digital forensics in such a manner as to focus on particular skills that are not covered by theoretical courses. Dr. Salah suggested visiting the National Center to have an idea about the tools used in digital forensics not mentioned in the track proposal because the national center dealt with the majority of the cyber- crimes in the kingdom. At another level, Dr. Ali AL Hamdan stressed the importance of summer training to give students training skills that qualify them for the job market before graduation.
Dr. Mohamed AL Shehri introduced the third session of the workshop entitled" the skills and knowledge requirements for A CCIS graduate" and which included a number of sub topics such as , academic programs, learning outcomes, summer training, seminars, conferences and scientific research, Graduation projects, Talent and innovation support. The participants discussed the main points related to the sub topics . Dr. Hussam Ramadan dealt with the problem of summer training, which he said is a general case in KSA even in large cities. He said that the problem becomes worse in the case of female students especially in small cities like Majmaah because of the limited number of companies and organizations. Dr. Ali AL Hamdan treated with those obstacles like the policies preventing placements in sensitive centers like the National Center for Information Security in such departments as the Data Center and similar hyper sensitive departments. Dr. Hussam Ramadan insisted on the close link between scientific research and academic accreditation. In fact, scientific research is one of the main standards upon which academic accreditation relies. At the end of the workshop the dean of the college Dr. Hisham AL Saghir invited the guests to subscribe in IEEE Chapter, thanked them for attending the Inauguration Ceremony of the College and the workshop, and welcomed any initiative they propose.
