Huawei just announced the finalists of its ICT Skill Competition at an event held in Capital Club, Bahrain Financial Harbor. The winners will be going to China at the end of December to compete with international finalists and gain some experience and knowledge from top executives at Huawei’s headquarters in Shenzhen.
Representatives from the Ministry of Transporation and Telecommunications, Economic Development Board (EDB), and Tamkeen, and four other universities were present during the announcement. The ICT competition is targeted towards universities and students with the aim of discovering, nurturing and enhance their ICT talent.
The ICT Skill Competition was made possible through strong partnerships under the patronage of HE Eng. Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed, the Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications with direct support of the EDB and the Tamkeen, as well as the support from the four participating universities: University of Bahrain, Bahrain Polytechnic, Ahlia University and AMA International University. The generation of students involved is expected to lead Bahrain’s ICT industry into the future by embracing the digital transformation. The ICT Skill Competition is specifically designed to prepare this generation for such a responsibility.
Out of all the students who signed up for the preliminary, top 10 in the national final were awarded prizes. Ultimately, top 3 students from the University of Bahrain were chosen for the international final. They are now in China to compete internationally.
Professor Riyad Hamzah, President of the University of Bahrain, said: “UOB is delighted that our students won the top 5 places in this prestigious national skills competition, it shows the quality of our technology students and why they are so highly regarded by employers. Huawei is global technology player with big ambitions and their Middle East headquarters is in Bahrain and human capital is a key reason for that. We at UOB are delighted to partner with Huawei and this is the start of much more collaboration with a focus on Artificial intelligence and Internet of Things”.
Huawei grants the winners an exclusive fully paid trip to the company’s international headquarters in Shenzhen and the chance to meet with the brand’s leadership. They will gain unrivaled exposure to Huawei’s expertise in telecommunications, enterprise, and consumer business, not to mention a priceless cultural experience and knowledge exchange.
Fengnan Paul, CEO of Huawei Bahrain office, commented on the importance of enhancing the ICT skills of students stating: “Knowledge transfer and nurturing future ICT talent has always been a core pillar of the Huawei way, and we are thrilled to be able to launch the ICT Skill Competition for that exact reason. The future of ICT progress lays in the hands of our students, and by developing platforms and programs that allow them to grow and mature into experts, we can better equip the next generation of technology leaders.”
In total, 10,285 students across the Middle East applied for the competition, from which 4,113 were selected to take part in the preliminary rounds. 310 students passed on to the final round, and 39 will be traveling to China to compete internationally. The ICT Competition was made possible through the cooperation of 14 ministries across the Middle East. Huawei had 4 training partners to help prepare students for the rigorous exam. 121 universities took part in total, and 65 participated in the roadshow.
“I am thrilled at the opportunity to go to China and test my abilities against the region’s brightest ICT talent” said Muhammad Yasir, a student from the University of Bahrain. “It’s also a real honor to have the opportunity to go visit the headquarters of a global powerhouse like Huawei. The company is having a profound impact on the telecommunications industry worldwide and I am excited to learn directly from the experts who are working on the cutting edge of ICT research and development.”
The winners of the international final competition in Huawei Shenzhen Headquarters will receive certificates, trophies, and prizes, in addition to awarding the most outstanding team with $30,000 USD in cash, the next two teams will claim second place and three teams will be awarded third place. The next seven teams will receive Excellence Prizes, while 6 tutors and 5 academies will also be recognized with the Excellent Tutor and Best Academy Prizes.
The competition is part of Huawei’s longstanding effort to have a positive impact on the community in Bahrain. Huawei has already implemented a Seeds for the Future program to offer training and internships to promising students across the region. The ICT Skill Competition offers students additional opportunities to gain valuable experience in the industry. Participants will work in a real laboratory, and tackle some of the industry’s most complex challenges. The competition material is based on advanced IP and IT material, and tests competitors on their knowledge of cloud computing, switching, routing, and network security. It is a unique opportunity for students to test their abilities in ICT’s most cutting-edge fields.