Building on the huge success of its 2017 debut in the region, Huawei launched the second edition of Huawei Middle East ICT Competition under the patronage of H.E. Eng. Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed, Minister of Transportation and Telecommunication and in the presence of H.E. Chinese Ambassador Anwaer, and representatives from Bahrain Economic Development Board, Tamkeen, University of Bahrain, Bahrain Polytechnic University, and Ahlia University.
The second edition of Huawei Middle East ICT Competition which will run in Bahrain and 9 other countries in the region is a critical initiative in the Middle East, as it prepares the next generation of leaders for an intelligent world where every person, home and organization is fully connected. Combining the company’s CSR goal of nurturing local ICT talent with its vision to build the ICT ecosystem, Huawei aims to equip countries in the Middle East to pursue their national agendas for digital transformation.
Throughout the competition phases, students will gain knowledge and experience in the latest ICT technologies through course material on advanced IP and IT and get a glimpse of 5G technology which is set to disrupt the way business is carried out and people interact.
The competition promotes innovation and creativity among students, while increasing competitiveness and encouraging local communities to contribute in achieving the country’s national vision for digital transformation and economic growth. It will also enhance students’ future employment opportunities by bridging the gap between the classroom and the workplace and providing hands-on skills development training at Huawei’s state of the art labs, R&D centers and facilities.
His Excellency Engineer Kamal bin Ahmed Mohamed, Minister of Transportation and Telecommunication commented, “This is a great opportunity for Bahraini students to gain knowledge and experience in the latest cutting-edge ICT technologies and trends from a global ICT leader like Huawei. This competition will equip young talents with the necessary skills to forge a brighter future, and take the lead in achieving the goals of the Kingdom’s strategic policies and Economic Vision 2030, towards a leading sustainable digital society.”
His Excellency Anwaer, the Chinese Ambassador to Bahrain stated: “This competition is an excellent example of long history of cooperation between Bahrain and China. Huawei has made several contributions to Bahrain’s economic growth over the past decade and a half, and this competition is yet another contribution through their corporate social responsibility programs where they operate. The ICT Competition is a vital initiative to empower youth in Bahrain, the Middle East and around the world in this digital era. It will provide them with the necessary skills to lead the development of their countries.”
Lu Yuedong, CEO of Huawei Bahrain said: “Over the years, we have been committed to knowledge transfer in the markets in which we operate through several CSR initiatives that train and support the youth. As we pursue our new vision for an intelligent world we believe that it is time to nurture a generation of ICT leaders that are capable of moving their countries into the next stage of digital transformation”.
National winners from Bahrain and other participating countries will receive an all-expense paid immersion trip to Huawei’s global headquarters in China in November this year. This will give them, an opportunity to meet the brand’s leadership and a priceless cultural experience and knowledge exchange. The international finalists will receive certificates, trophies, prizes and a top prize of US$ 30,000 for the winning team, in addition to employment opportunities at Huawei for the most outstanding candidates. The trip will provide participants with real life experiences in the state-of-the-art Huawei laboratories, R&D centers and facilities, and will equip them to tackle complex challenges in areas such as cloud computing, IoT, and network security by taking advantage of Huawei experts’ insights and opinions. In addition to technical training, the finalists will also be engaged in cultural learning, visits to heritage sites and exposure to the Chinese language.
Along with the ICT competition, Huawei also awarded 10 outstanding students for it’s’ flagship CSR program “Seeds for the Future” which was launched in 2008. The students from University of Bahrain, Bahrain Polytechnic and Ahlia University received a fully paid trip to China as part of Huawei’s ongoing Seeds for the Future initiative. The program aims at cultivating local ICT talent, promoting knowledge transfer, improving people’s interest in and understanding of the ICT industry, and encouraging countries and regions to participate in the building of digital communities.