RIYADH: Huge training opportunities are opening up in Saudi Arabia in areas such as cyber and other IT related fields, said John Baggott of Raytheon Global, Training Solutions. Baggott was speaking at a recent media reception here by Raytheon International Middle East Ltd. Tom Culligan, CEO, Mark T. Little, President and a number of other Raytheon officials were present. Raytheon Company is a major American defense contractor and industrial corporation with core manufacturing concentrations in defense systems, defense, and commercial electronics. Baggott said simulation, digitalization and visualization are other areas that would open for training in Saudi Arabia. These are gaining technologies today, he added. “Cyber training is absolute is the next area for training in Saudi Arabia,” he said. Training in information technology is key to protect computers and the important data storage companies, he said. Cyber would be next major area that is going to affect the world in the future, he said. “If you train your people in how to protect your system, you are actually protecting your infrastructure and hence training in cyber is the next logical step. You have to develop a training package based on country's needs,” he said. He said Raytheon customize the training programs based upon the needs of the customers. Other emerging technologies that would open up huge training opportunities are in areas of simulation, digitalization and visualization, he said. “I can simulate and put you on 3-D environment. I can put you in the emergency room in the gaining technology. Surgery in the simulating room is the future for training,” he said. There is a great potential in Saudi Arabia for training in these areas, he said. The Saudis are growing to go ahead and looking for something new in technology, he said. “That makes some sense for people that are receptive and know more about the pros and cons of the technology,” he said. Baggott said Saudis are as easy to train as any other nationality. “Saudis are smart people and just as easy to train in many respects. Saudis have been exposed to so many different cultures and have an international outlook than guys elsewhere,” he said. One of Raytheon's training programs in Saudi Arabia is English language training to Royal Saudi Air Force personnel based in Taif, Jeddah and Dammam, he said. “We are conducting training programs with organizations. The unique thing in Saudi Arabia and other GCC countries is that they are developing so quickly and have such phenomenal technology as they grow. We are in Saudi Arabia since 1960s continuously and committed to offer training programs to Saudis in not only (defense) equipment training but also provide them with best possible guide we can,” he said.
