Project Details


WSIS Prizes Contest 2025 Winner

Cyber Security Education Curriculum - 2025


Description

Design & Objectives:
 Integrates cybersecurity topics into the official school curriculum, ranging from basic digital hygiene to more advanced topics like encryption fundamentals.
 Emphasizes responsible, moral, and safe use of the internet and ICT.
 Introducing the concept of digital citizenship to children and teenagers, emphasizing responsible, ethical, and secure usage of technology.
 Creating a generation that is capable of effectively handling digital technology, laying the groundwork for future cyber security specialists.

The achieved results demonstrate a comprehensive mastery of digital literacy skills, encompassing critical exploration, responsible management, and creative utilization of information through digital tools. Individuals proficiently navigate various digital platforms, employing them effectively for communication, production, analysis, and sharing of information.

Implementation:
 National Strategy: The project team collaborated closely with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education in Qatar to navigate regulatory requirements. This collaboration included legal, educational and expert consultations and regular updates on legislative changes affecting educational programs.
 Educational Videos & Guides: Age-appropriate resources focusing on personal data protection, device security, privacy ethics, and more.
 Teacher & Parent Resources: Detailed lesson plans, follow-up activities, and guidelines to reinforce concepts.
 Activities & Evaluation: Interactive exercises, quizzes, and progress tracking to gauge student understanding.
 Additional Languages: Ensures inclusivity for Qatar’s multilingual environment, benefiting expatriate communities.
 Challenged Individuals: Content has been allocated for mentally and physically challenged people, proportionate to their cognitive abilities, to qualify them and enable them to safely use the Internet and modern electronic devices.

Project website

https://awareness.ncsa.gov.qa/en/Cybersecuritycurriculaeducation/


Action lines related to this project
  • AL C3. Access to information and knowledge
  • AL C4. Capacity building
  • AL C5. Building confidence and security in use of ICTs
  • AL C7. E-learning
  • AL C8. Cultural diversity and identity, linguistic diversity and local content
  • AL C10. Ethical dimensions of the Information Society 2025
  • AL C11. International and regional cooperation
Sustainable development goals related to this project
  • Goal 4: Quality education
  • Goal 5: Gender equality
  • Goal 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure
  • Goal 11: Sustainable cities and communities
  • Goal 16: Peace, justice and strong institutions

Coverage
  • Asia and Pacific

Status

Ongoing

Start date

March 2023

End date

Not set


Target beneficiary group(s)
  • Youth
  • People with disabilities
  • Students, specifically children and adolescents.

Replicability

This project aims to introduce the concept of digital citizenship to children and teenagers, emphasizing responsible, ethical, and secure usage of technology. Additionally, the project aims to impart general knowledge on cybersecurity and digital safety with the overarching goal of nurturing a proficient and professional young Qatari generation capable of effectively handling digital technology, laying the groundwork for future cybersecurity specialists.

To replicate this project elsewhere, one can follow these steps:
1. Identify Target Audience: Determine the age group and demographics of the children and teenagers who will benefit from the program. Understand their current level of digital literacy and the specific challenges they face regarding online safety and cybersecurity.
2. Develop Curriculum: Create a comprehensive curriculum that covers various aspects of digital citizenship, internet safety, cybersecurity, and responsible technology usage. The curriculum should be age-appropriate, engaging, and interactive.
3. Training of Educators: Train educators or facilitators who will deliver the curriculum. They should be knowledgeable about digital literacy, online safety, and cybersecurity principles.
4. Implementation in Schools or Community Centers: Collaborate with schools, community centers, or other relevant institutions to implement the program.
5. Engage Parents and Guardians: Involve parents and guardians in the initiative by providing them with resources and workshops on how to support their children in becoming responsible digital citizens.
6. Monitor and Evaluate: Continuously monitor the progress of the program and gather feedback from participants, educators, parents, and other stakeholders.

By following these steps and adapting the project to suit the specific needs and context of different communities or regions, it is possible to replicate the success achieved in Qatar and empower future generations with the necessary digital literacy and cybersecurity skills.


Sustainability

This project demonstrates sustainability in several ways:
1. Long-term Impact: By educating children and teenagers about digital citizenship and cybersecurity, the project aims to instill lasting knowledge and skills that will benefit them throughout their lives. This foundational understanding of responsible and secure technology usage can be carried into adulthood, contributing to a more digitally literate and secure society.
2. Addressing Future Needs: By focusing on the younger generation, the project recognizes the importance of preparing individuals to meet the evolving challenges of the digital world. As technology continues to advance, the skills and awareness imparted by the project will become increasingly relevant, ensuring that future generations are equipped to navigate digital landscapes safely and ethically.
3. National Security and Economic Development: By nurturing a proficient and professional young Qatari generation in digital technology, the project supports national security and economic development. Cybersecurity is a critical aspect of national security, and having a skilled workforce capable of addressing cyber threats is essential for safeguarding businesses and government agencies.
4. Preservation of Cultural Values: The project aims to integrate digital skills into the lives of young Qataris while preserving their national identity's core values and principles. This approach ensures that technological proficiency is achieved without sacrificing cultural heritage or social and familial values, fostering a balanced integration of digital skills into the fabric of society.
5. Comprehensive Mastery of Digital Literacy: The project's focus on critical exploration, responsible management, and creative utilization of information through digital tools fosters a holistic approach to digital literacy. Individuals who have undergone this education are not only proficient in using digital platforms but also aware of cybersecurity risks and equipped with strategies to mitigate them.


WSIS values promotion

This project aligns with the values outlined by the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in several ways: Peace: The project cultivates a peaceful digital environment by educating young people on responsible and ethical technology use, thereby reducing instances of cyberbullying, harassment, and other disruptions to online tranquility. 1. Freedom: It equips individuals with the knowledge and skills to explore digital platforms freely, ensuring their safety and security while online, empowering them to exercise their digital freedoms without fear. 2. Equality: By offering digital literacy education to children and teenagers regardless of their backgrounds or economic circumstances, the project promotes equal access to information and opportunities in the digital era, ensuring everyone has a fair chance to acquire essential digital skills and safeguard themselves online. 3. Solidarity: The project encourages a collective responsibility for digital safety and security, fostering solidarity among digital technology users. By providing individuals with tools to protect themselves and others online, it promotes collaborative efforts to create a safer digital space for all. 4. Tolerance: Through promoting responsible digital citizenship, the project fosters tolerance and respect for diverse perspectives and identities online, teaching individuals to engage with others online in a respectful and ethical manner, thus contributing to a more inclusive online community. 5. Shared Responsibility: By stressing the significance of cybersecurity and digital safety for individuals, businesses, and government entities, the project emphasizes the shared responsibility of all stakeholders in securing the digital infrastructure, encouraging cooperation to effectively address cyber threats.


Entity name

National Cyber Security Agency (NCSA)

Entity country—type

Qatar Government

Entity website

https://ncsa.gov.qa/

Partners

Ministry of Education and Higher Education, Qatar