KUWAIT CITY, Dec 4: Under the patronage of the Governor of the Central Bank of Kuwait (CBK) and Chairman of the Kuwait Institute of Banking Studies, H. E. Basel A. Al-Haroon, KIBS honored on December 3, 2024, the graduates of the 4th cohort of the Cybersecurity Leaders Program and the graduates of 8th & 9th batches of Scholarship Program for Kuwaitis Pursuing a Master’s Degree.

These two programs are parts of Kafa’a, an initiative launched by CBK in cooperation with Kuwaiti banks and the Kuwait Institute of Banking Studies with the aim to create a pipeline of qualified nationals able to fill leadership positions.

The Cybersecurity Leaders Program was held from September 1 to December 5, 2024, as part of the strategic cooperation with SANS Cyber Institute, one of the leading training institutions that provides high quality training and professional certificates in cybersecurity, and the Bank for International Settlements (BIS), which the most well-established global financial institution actively engaged in developing the global financial market. This program is addressed to Kuwaitis interested in information security and information networks and aims to foster a generation of experts capable of developing the right programs to protect the information systems used in the Kuwaiti banking and financial sector and also in the other sectors at par with the latest technology and best practices adopted in the field. It is worth noting that the participants in this program work within various organizations in and out of the banking sector.

The participants are university graduates and young talents; with the active participation of Kuwaiti women representing approximately 31% of the total number of the 26 participants. This achieves CBK’s strategy to qualify national talents specialized in cybersecurity and empowering women, which is a strategy that is not merely limited to the consolidation of the banking sector, but also the consolidation of all other institutions and sectors in the State of Kuwait.

The Scholarship Program for Kuwaitis Pursuing a Master's Degree aims to send Kuwaiti graduates to pursue a master's degree at top-ranked universities worldwide, according to global rankings in this field. This enriches the participants' experience and prepares them to work with high efficiency and professionalism. The program seeks to create distinguished national talents and competencies capable of contributing to Kuwait's developmental journey and actively participating in building the nation.

The eighth and ninth cohorts of the program comprised ten graduates who successfully completed their studies. Their graduation was a significant milestone as they achieved this remarkable milestone through hard work and perseverance, graduating from some of the world's best universities in 2023 and 2024.

Ms. Rana A. Al-Nibari, Director General of the Kuwait Institute of Banking Studies (KIBS) has commended the honorees for passing these programs and called on them to pursue further education and qualification. Furthermore, the institute has stressed that CBK, in collaboration with banks, shall continue to support education, training and qualitative qualification to provide competencies and distinguished cadres needed for growth of the national economy, whether through the institute’s programs or Kafa’a initiative.

A number of participants spoke about their experience in the programs and the knowledge they acquired and expressed their gratitude and appreciation to the Central Bank of Kuwait and the Kuwait Institute of Banking Studies.

In conclusion, certificates were distributed to all participants.