https://arab.news/ct2xv
Huawei is now running the 4th edition of its flagship annual ICT competition in Saudi Arabia to support the next generation of leaders for an intelligent world, in line with government national plans and strategies.
The Huawei ICT Competition underpins technology utilization and aims to support socioeconomic development by bolstering the overall ICT ecosystem through local talent. Such individuals can in turn help the Kingdom achieve its national development plans and ambitious visions for more sustainable knowledge-based economies. This year’s competition is being held in partnership with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT).
From October to December, thousands of undergraduate students are expected to participate in the competition, which is being held virtually for the first time due to physical distancing measures. All university students in the Kingdom can take part in this competition.
Ibrahim bin Nasser Al-Nasser, general director of the Digital Innovation Center at MCIT, said: “The ICT sector is a significant national industry promoting Saudi Arabia’s global competitiveness and economic strength. Private sector programs like the Huawei ICT Competition are highly valued in supporting these ambitions, developing indigenous innovation overall while nurturing a supportive environment for the ICT sector in particular.”
Faisal bin Ayyad Al-Otaibi, director general of HR at Huawei Tech Investment Saudi Arabia, said: “Empowering the Kingdom’s youth with global knowledge and new skills plays a key role in the future of socioeconomic growth. Huawei is committed to expanding the ICT value chain in Saudi Arabia through local talent and building open ecosystems ... Moreover, by offering participants access to online exchanges and learning, we can create more equal opportunities for quality education, enabling more people to benefit from the digital economy.”
Zhao Liuqing, minister counselor for economic and commercial affairs at the Chinese Embassy in Saudi Arabia, added: “Saudi Arabia has long been our partner in many endeavors, and we value this relationship immensely. By working together on initiatives such as talent development and the evolution of the ICT sector, we can create new value for both of our societies.”
The training and competition tracks for this year — held under the theme “Connection, Glory, Future” — focus on advanced technologies such as 5G, AI, cloud computing, and data storage, facilitating connections between international talent.
This year will also see the introduction of the Huawei Innovation Competition, held in parallel to the ICT competition. It focuses on supporting undergraduate students and teachers in using innovative technologies such as AI, cloud computing, and big data to create valuable and meaningful applications for society.
Winners of the regional competitions will receive a certification, future learning opportunities, a $20,000 cash prize, and more.
In the past years, over 7,100 students from across the Kingdom applied for the Middle East ICT Competition from leading colleges and universities. The competition was supported by ministries, various ambassadors, and academic chancellors from some of Saudi Arabia’s top-ranking universities.
Three teams participated in the ICT competition, and traveled to China to compete at Huawei’s headquarters in Shenzhen, China, where they came in third place in the competition.