Naveed Ahmad Khan
DOHA, QATAR: The Ministry of Education and Higher Education hosted the final ceremony of Huawei’s Seeds for the Future program 2023, honoring the winners of the first phase of the program at its headquarters on September 9. Held under the patronage of Qatar’s Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA), the regional event aims to develop local talent, share knowledge, increase the ICT sector awareness, and foster a digital community for young ICT talents. A total of 175 students from elite universities across 15 Middle East and Central Asia (ME &CA) countries participated in the first phase of the Seeds for the Future program in Doha.
This included Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, Bahrain, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Oman, Uzbekistan, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Azerbaijan, Mongolia, and Kyrgyzstan. 16 Qatari students participated in the program, hailing from renowned educational universities in Qatar, including Qatar University, Hamad bin Khalifa University, Qatar Community College, and the University of Doha for Science and Technology. The first phase of the Tech4Good regional competition, aimed at empowering and engaging the youth in driving positive change within their communities, was also held in parallel.
Participating students presented their Tech4Good projects to the judges, and seven outstanding teams of 40 students were selected to move on to the second phase of the Tech- 4Good program, which will be held in Dubai, UAE, from 10-16 September 2023. These teams represent Qatar, UAE, Jordan, Uzbekistan, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, and Azerbaijan. Two mentors, Ammar Khalid Mohammed Al-Siyabi from Oman and Zomurd Ahmed Alhamdani from Iraq were selected as favorites. Ammar was chosen for his strong leadership skills, unwavering belief in the vision, effective communication, and high energy. Meanwhile, Zomurd was recognized for his resilience, quiet yet impactful leadership style, adept handling of complex situations, and his positive influence on the team’s dynamics.
Alex Zhang, CEO of Huawei Technologies LLC, said: “Qatar has been a fabulous host for the first phase of the Middle East and Central Asia leg of the Seeds for the Future program and Tech4Good competition and we extend our heartfelt gratitude to our sponsor, Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA) and all our valuable partners – Qatar’s Ministry of Education and Higher Education, Qatar Tourism, Qatar Foundation, Vodafone, Aspire Zone and all other partners who made this event happen. We are confident this gathering was a milestone in nurturing ICT talent and harnessing the youth power to drive digital innovation and shape the sustainable future of the Middle East and Central Asia region.”
Dr. Salem Al-Naemi, President of the University of Doha for Sciences and Technology and representative of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, stated: “Developing ICT learning and digital skills in the education field has become an integral part of strategic planning in Qatar. In an era of digital transformation, we aim to nurture young talents with the necessary skills and knowledge to advance and lead in their careers. Huawei’s Seeds for the Future program provides one of the best training grounds for all future ICT practitioners and enhances international knowledge transfer among participants. Eng. Hussain Salatt, Public Relations and Communication Unit Manager, CRA, said: “We are pleased to attend the closing ceremony of the “Seeds for the Future” program and the successful completion of its first phase, which hosted exceptional talents from 15 countries representing the Middle East and Central Asia region.
I would like to extend my thanks to all the entities that supported the program and express my appreciation to Huawei for their continuous efforts in nurturing youth talent in the ICT field and promoting innovation.” Following the second phase of Tech4Good regional competition in Dubai, UAE, the winners will then qualify to compete in the final global competition in China against other teams from around the world. The students will jointly explore ICT’s huge potential to drive sustainable development. Winners from the Tech4Good Global Competition will be invited to the Tech4Good Startup Sprint in China, where they will visit Shenzhen, Beijing, and other cities to experience real-world entrepreneurial environments and compete for a startup support fund of US$100,000.
Huawei’s Seeds for the Future program is the company’s flagship CSR program that aims to develop ICT talents globally. With an ever-increasing emphasis on innovation and technological advancements, this competition offers a unique platform where these young minds can exchange ideas, network with international peers, and gain valuable insights into the ICT sector that will shape their future and promote their participation in the digital community. Since its launch in 2008, more than 15,000 students have participated from 139 countries worldwide. The program has been endorsed by more than 450 senior officials and heads of states.