The eagerly awaited Regional Final of the Huawei ICT Competition 2023-2024 for the Middle East & Central Asia is set to commence in the Kingdom of Bahrain from December 19-21, 2023. In collaboration with Bahrain Polytechnic and the University of Bahrain, this event aims to unite exceptional young talents from the region, encouraging them to embrace digital technology and emerge as future industry leaders in the ever-evolving digital landscape. The initiative seeks to bridge the digital gap and pave the way for vibrant digital economies in participating countries.
The seventh edition of Huawei’s flagship ICT talent development program will feature 22 teams from 11 Middle Eastern & Central Asian countries, including Pakistan, Iraq, UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Qatar, Kuwait, and Oman. Since its inception in 2017, the Huawei ME & CA ICT Competition has grown into the largest and most influential initiative in the region, playing a pivotal role in cultivating ICT talent and enhancing national competitiveness with future ICT leaders. Over 100,000 college students have participated in the first six competitions.
Shunli Wang, Vice President of Huawei Middle East & Central Asia, emphasized the significance of ICT talents as the backbone of the region’s digital economy. The Huawei ICT Competition serves as a platform for knowledge transfer, healthy competition, and the exchange of innovative ideas, focusing on enhancing students’ ICT knowledge and practical skills.
The 2023-2024 edition of the Huawei ICT Competition in the Middle East & Central Asia kicked off in August, covering 21 countries in the region. With the support of UNESCO, more than 20 ministries, operators, and industry partners, Huawei attracted over 27,500 students from 600 universities across the region, marking the highest level of participation in the competition’s history. The regional final in Bahrain will see 22 teams compete to be crowned ME & CA winners, advancing to the global finals in China in May 2024.
This edition introduces two additional tracks for Cloud and Computing, expanding the platform for students to showcase professional skills. The participants will engage in the Practice Competition, covering the Network, Cloud, and Computing Tracks, evaluating their theoretical knowledge, hands-on ICT skills, and teamwork abilities.
The event’s Opening Ceremony is scheduled for December 19, 2023, at Bahrain Polytechnic, featuring written and practical exams for students, an Instructor Summit for professors, and the Closing and Awarding Ceremony on December 21, 2023, at the University of Bahrain. A panel discussion on “Building the ICT talent ecosystem” with regional ICT leaders is also planned during the event.
The Huawei ICT Competition collaborates with UNESCO, government authorities, colleges, and universities in the Middle East & Central Asia to identify, support, and nurture future ICT leaders.
The program aims to bridge the gap between the classroom and the workplace, providing students with enhanced employment opportunities in the ICT sector through knowledge sharing, hands-on skills development training, and exposure to the latest ICT developments at Huawei’s cutting-edge labs, R&D centers, and facilities. Huawei’s commitment to fostering innovation and creativity is evident as students compete for top honors in national, regional, and international finals.
