Meta launches Metaverse Academy to train top regional talent
Meta has launched the first Metaverse Academy in MENA region to develop skills and to support the development of the metaverse environment.
Meta, the company previously known as Facebook, has announced the launch of the first MENA Metaverse Academy dedicated to upskilling local talent in the skills needed to develop the metaverse. The Academy, based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, will be run in partnership with Tuwaiq Academy and will be powered by Simplon, a French provider of digital skills training.
The Academy, the launch of which was announced at LEAP, will support the development of the metaverse ecosystem in the region by offering extended reality training programs. Starting May 1st, the Academy will offer a series of capacity building programs to support awareness-raising, training, and the education of professionals with the skills to pursue careers related to the metaverse.
Kojo Boakye, VP Public Policy, Africa, Middle East and Turkey at Meta, said, “The Middle East and North Africa region has all the assets to become an essential player in the development of the metaverse and embrace the benefits it will bring to the economy. The business landscape is already in high demand for skills and we are committed to collaborate with educational institutions and policymakers across the region to accelerate the development of the ecosystem and train the future builders of the metaverse. We’re excited to be embarking on this journey through our partnership with Tuwaiq Academy to launch MENA’s first regional Metaverse Academy out of Riyadh, KSA as a stepping stone to help accelerate the development of the ecosystem.”
The Academy will focus on three tracks:
Discover: The Discover track will focus on raising awareness around the metaverse and immersive technologies. The Academy will offer interactive workshops and will work to ensure that participants understand the idea of the metaverse, discover practical uses for it and explore how immersive technologies allow for the building of the metaverse.
Skill-Up: This track comprises a short online training offering skill development around the creation of augmented reality effects using the Meta Spark platform. Participants will earn the Meta Spark Creator certification upon completion of the course.
Train: The final track, Train, contains a professional training program that will equip students with the skills needed to enter an entry-level role in immersive technologies. The program aims to meet the hiring needs of employers in the region who are looking to build in-house XR capacity to build and adopt immersive technologies and the metaverse. The training program will be accessible to jobseekers regardless of their educational background and target at least 30 percent women.
The Academy aims to enroll 1,000 students through a pilot period of 18 months and will begin operations in the first half of 2023.
Those interested can register for the program here: https://tuwaiq-meta.vercel.app/
