National competition to drive innovative thinking launches across six universities in the UAE

In collaboration with the UAE Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research and the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA), Huawei today announced the launch of its ‘Seeds for the Future’ Education Challenge 2016, a national competition taking place across six universities with the aim of encouraging  UAE students to think more innovatively.  

The Education Challenge, stemming from Huawei’s global Seeds for the Future program, is being held from September to December 2016, and is designed to help bridge the gap between the classroom and today’s work space. The initiative aims to develop Information and Communication Technology (ICT) talent among Emirati students who will become tomorrow’s leaders of innovation. 

 “Planting the seeds of innovative thinking is a first step towards realizing His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s vision of a future driven by entrepreneurship that is integral to the UAE’s transformation to a knowledge-based society,” said His Excellency Dr. Ahmed bin Abdullah Humaid Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of State for Higher Education Affairs. “This program emphasizes the critical role of technology and innovation in any society. Instilling the processes needed to develop innovative and creative skills among students, which accelerate their aptitude and receptiveness to this way of thinking, is a strategic starting point.”

The competition will see 36 teams, of up to three students studying ICT compete against each other to create, design and produce innovative concepts that help advance ICT innovation or have a positive impact on business through innovation.  The six universities participating in the Education Challenge include the United Arab Emirates University, Khalifa University, The American University in Sharjah, Zayed University, Canadian University Dubai and the Higher Colleges of Technology. 

Student teams will be evaluated against seven different criteria: the content of their submission; viability of the concept; innovation and creativity; quality and completeness; level of complexity; presentation and structure; and overall experience. The top six teams, will have the opportunity to visit Huawei’s headquarters in China to attend a two-week intensive training program, with the top three teams receiving cash prizes in recognition for their concepts. 

“The TRA is pleased to be part of this initiative by Huawei, which promotes entrepreneurship across all sectors and starts with the youth of the UAE, who are our most valuable and precious resource,” said His Excellency Hamad Obaid Al Mansouri, Director General of TRA. “By promoting a greater understanding of innovation and instilling entrepreneurial thinking in the classroom, we are nurturing the UAE’s great young minds, who will be the catalyst for the UAE’s transformation to a knowledge-based economy.”

Huawei supports the UAE’s ICT growth by transferring its know-how and capability to students who will become the innovation leaders of the future. With innovation in its DNA, Huawei’s employs more than 176,000 employees globally and invested over USD$9.6 billion into R&D last year alone. Huawei is in the best position to serve as a strategic partner for the UAE during its digital transformation. 

“The Seeds for the Future program extends from Huawei’s strong legacy of innovation and embraces the UAE’s ICT transformation by developing the country’s young talent in partnership with the UAE’s academic institutions,” said David Wang, CEO of Huawei UAE. “Dubai’s and the UAE’s success story is made possible through the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and Huawei is committed to this vision for innovation by contributing and sharing its expertise at the core of the UAE’s strength, its future generations.”