Middle Eastern universities must instill a culture of self-learning if their graduates are to thrive in a rapidly shifting workplace. Speaking at the opening ceremony of Huawei’s Seeds for the Future in Doha, Qatar, Reem Almugbel, Vice Governor of Planning and Business Development at TVTC, Saudi Arabia, observed that continuous learning is the only safeguard as technologies evolve. Â Â
Almugbel joined academics and tech experts from the Middle East and Central Asia for a panel discussion under “ICT Talent and Youth Power Driving Digital Innovation and Shaping the Sustainable Future of the MECA Region”. Over 175 students from 15 countries participating in Seeds for the Future Qatar attended the panel discussion.
During the session, participants delved into the current situation and challenges of digital transformation, emphasising the crucial need to elevate the skill set of the younger generation. They highlighted the significance of aligning youth skills with the rapidly evolving digital landscape.
The attendees also stressed the need to enrich university curricula and teaching systems with practical training provided by experienced technology companies to prepare graduates for active participation in driving social and economic progress in their countries, aligning with current national plans, strategies, and visions that focus on maximising the use of technology. They also acknowledged the importance of activating cooperation and partnership frameworks between the public and private sectors in training young technical talents.
“I learned so many things in college that I never used when I joined the workplace. But through partnerships such as the one TVTC has with Huawei, we can make our curriculum more relevant,” Almugbel added.
Dr. Ahmed K. Elmagarmid, Executive Director of Qatar Computing and Research Institute, QCRI, Qatar Foundation, highlighted the potential of new advances in AI to nurture learning beyond the classroom. “Over the years, various programs that offer hands-on or out-of-the-classroom training, continuing education and lifelong learning have emerged. While such one-on-one models are important, they don’t scale very well. We are therefore very excited with AI, which can create new personalised educational content tailored for every student,” he added. Â
Dr. Khalid Al-Begain, President of Kuwait College of Science and Technology, said: “A key aspect of universities’ role to create and nurture talents is to give students the tools to self-learn, building the capability of continuous learning based on a hands-on understanding of what ICT world is. ICT cannot be adequately taught in the classroom; it has to be practiced.”
Maya Zhu, Global CSR Lead, Huawei Public Affairs and Communications Department, highlighted: “Our commitment to fostering ICT talent across the Middle East and Central Asia is unwavering. Through initiatives like ‘Seeds for the Future,’ we aim to bridge the talent gap, aligning with national aspirations and driving sustainable growth.”
The seminar served as a platform for interaction with media representatives and students from 15 countries in the Middle East and Central Asia region, who gathered in Doha for a full week of activities and training workshops as part of the 2023 edition of Seeds for the Future. The initiative was initially launched by Huawei in 2008 and is currently implemented in 139 countries worldwide. Technical talents from the Middle East and Central Asia are recognised as among the most prominent globally.
The Tech4Good regional competition, now in its third year, is also being held alongside Seeds for the Future to empower youth to drive positive change within their communities. Participating students will present their Tech4Good projects to the judges, and eight outstanding teams of 40 students will be selected to move on to the second phase of the Tech4Good program, which will be held in Dubai, UAE, from 10-16 September 2023. The winners then qualify to compete in the final global competition in China against other teams worldwide.
Additionally, as part of the students’ planned workshops at Seeds for the Future, Vodafone Qatar hosted an interactive 5.5G session, providing participating students with a unique opportunity to engage with industry experts and learn more about this cutting-edge technology. The session, titled “Embracing the 5.5G World: Unleashing Innovative & Sustainable Growth in the Middle East and Central Asia (MECA) Region,” brought together industry leaders and experts to delve into the transformative potential of 5.5G technology and its role in driving innovation and sustainable development across the MECA region.
Seeds for the Future is part of Huawei’s corporate social responsibility efforts and reflects its collaboration with the region’s government, private, and academic institutions. It aims to contribute to developing the digital economy and global ecosystem by empowering technical talents. With a growing emphasis on innovation and technological progress, the program provides young individuals with a distinctive platform to exchange ideas and connect with peers worldwide. It offers valuable insights into the information and communications technology (ICT) sector, enabling participants to shape their future and actively engage in the digital society.
