Effat College has invited educators from all over the world to their upcoming Sixth Annual Learning and Technology Symposium, due to be held on April 26-27 at Jeddah Hilton Hotel. This year's theme, “Cyber Citizenship: Vistas and Visions,” will focus on increasing awareness and encouraging participation in the emerging global digital “nation,” said Dr. Haifa Jamal Al-Lail, Dean of Effat College at a press conference at the college on Wednesday. “The main objective of this symposium is to increase awareness about the global digital nation among local and regional communities,” she said. “The impact of computers and information technology has moved far beyond science and engineering,” she added. “It is changing how people interact with governments, with business and industry, with educational institutions, and with each other.” “In order to provide a forum for sharing expertise and ideas among educators, researchers and businesses in the area of educational technology, the symposium would be attended by more than 1,000 people,” said Jamal Al-Lail. Dr. Ghazi Faisal Binzagr, honorary member of Effat College's advisory board, said it would be an opportunity not only to learn about new technologies, but for the participants to engage with one another and share their own experiences on the role of the cyber-world. Getting acquainted with this “newly acquired citizenship” means not only learning how to use new technologies, but also consuming information by engaging, participating and interacting, he said. “We found out that digital and technical experience among students is more needed in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” said Ameer Silsilah, president of IT Arabia and CIO Arabia. “Today, employment, education, and population demographics are the primary steps need to be taken, and taken now, in order to avoid a crisis in the years ahead,” said Huriya Usghari, professor of information systems and computer science. “It will all be discussed in the symposium, and the Arab world in particular is adopting technology and participating in the cyber-world, which will be discussed as well.” For the first time, the symposium will have four panel discussions on the first day, leaving the second day for workshops and presentations. Registration for the symposium is now open, and group discounts are also available for a group of five people or more. Students are also eligible for a discount on registration fees upon presentation of a valid student ID. __
