Craig Barrett visits Saudi to support technology initiatives

zoom

Barrett visited an Intel-sponsored elearning project in Riyadh

Craig Barrett, chairman of Intel was in Saudi Arabia yesterday, as part of a tour as the Middle East for his role on the United Nations panel on technology and as part of the Intel World Ahead Initiative.

Barrett witnessed the signing of another WiMAX project for the region, which will build on Intel's existing MOU with the Knowledge Economic City (KEC). The new deal will see Saudi telecom incumbent STC provide a WiMAX network for the KEC project in Medina. Intel will provide technical support and expertise for the WiMAX network, which is due to be finished by 2011.

The Intel chairman also toured a pilot elearning project at the Bishr Ibn Elbaraa School in Riyadh. The pilot includes two classrooms equipped with Intel/Dell Classmate ultra low cost PCs (ULCPCs) with Intel's skoool learning resource installed. A number of other vendors have contributed to the project, with interactive white boards from KETAB, school and learning management solutions from Binary Works, e-content from Semanoor and Crocodile Clips virtual lab software from MGD.

All of the learning programs have been translated into Arabic and tailored for the local market, and the teachers who will be guiding the project have completed the Intel Teach program to optimize the use of ICT in teaching.

"Our joint commitment to technological innovation shows that much can be accomplished when private industry and government work in tandem to achieve a common vision. Investments in education are important to the future, in the Arab world and around the globe," said Barrett.

Print | Email | Discuss this article

| Share |

MORE FROM ARABIANBUSINESS.COM