The opening ceremony of Huawei's global Seeds for the Future program at the Qatar National Convention Center witnessed a dialogue symposium that brought together an elite group of academics, technology and training experts from countries in the Middle East and Central Asia, in the presence of more than 175 students from 15 countries, and a large gathering of media professionals. University professors and representatives of local and regional bodies and relevant international organizations.
Under the title “ICT talents and the power of youth lead digital innovation and shape the sustainable future of the Middle East and Central Asia,” the symposium discussed the reality and challenges of digital transformation and the importance of raising the level of skills of the younger generation in line with the requirements of accelerating digitization.
Prominent figures from the academic field, the technical sector, and research and training institutions participated in the symposium, including Dr. Ahmed Al-Magarmid, Executive Director of the Qatar Computing Research Institute, a member of the Qatar Foundation; Reem Abdul Aziz Al-Muqbel, Deputy Governor for Planning and Business Development at the General Corporation for Technical and Vocational Training in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia ; Rustam Krimjonov, Deputy Minister of Digital Technologies of the Republic of Uzbekistan; Dr. Khaled Al-Baqaeen, President of the Kuwait College of Science and Technology; Xu Mia, Global Head of Corporate Social Responsibility at Huawei.
They all provided valuable insights into the most prominent aspects that lead the digital transformation process and the priority axes in the field of training programs and skills care. They stressed the importance of cooperation in the field of improving innovation approaches in the countries of the region, and the need to pay attention to refining the local technical talents of the countries of the region in a way that is commensurate with the reality of development to pave the way. Towards building a sustainable digital future based on knowledge.
The attendees also stressed the need to supplement university curricula and teaching systems with practical training provided by experienced technology companies, so that graduates are ready to participate in advancing social and economic development in their countries in line with national plans, strategies and visions that currently focus on making the most of technology. The participants recognized the need to activate more cooperation and partnership frameworks between the public and private sectors in the field of training young technical talents.
Dr. Ahmed Al-Magarmid, Executive Director of Qatar Computing Research Institute, a member of Qatar Foundation, said: “Our nation’s progress in the field of information and communications technology depends on nurturing local talent and embracing digitization in various sectors. We are committed to developing comprehensive strategies that are in line with our national vision of establishing an incubating environment for innovation. As one of the most prominent leaders in the field of information and communications technology in the world, Huawei has contributed significantly to nurturing the ICT talent ecosystem in Qatar through many effective initiatives, including the “Seeds for the Future” program.”
For her part, Reem Abdul Aziz Al-Muqbel, Deputy Governor for Planning and Business Development at the General Corporation for Technical and Vocational Training in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, said: “The cooperation of the public and private sectors forms the cornerstone of sustainable technological progress, as these partnerships contribute to stimulating innovation and paving the way for building an economy.” “Digital, knowledge-based.”
“Education curricula must quickly adapt to the evolving digital landscape,” said Rustam Krimjonov, Deputy Minister of Digital Technologies of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Through our cooperation with private ICT companies, we will build an educational system that provides students with the skills required to keep pace with a technology-driven future.”
For his part, Dr. Khaled Al-Baqaeen, President of the Kuwait College of Science and Technology, said: “ Artificial intelligence has great potential to change societies. Reaching this potential requires nurturing ICT talent, and global technology leaders must collaborate with government entities to accelerate progress in this field.”
“Huawei is firmly committed to nurturing ICT talent across the Middle East and Central Asia,” said Zhou Mia, Global Head of CSR at Huawei. Our many initiatives, such as (Seeds for the Future), aim to bridge the gap in digital talent, in line with national aspirations and contribute to driving sustainable growth.”
The symposium formed a platform for interaction with media representatives and students from 15 countries from the Middle East and Central Asia region, who gathered in Doha over the course of a full week as part of the activities to launch the 2023 edition of Huawei’s global “Seeds for the Future” program, which was launched by the company in 2008 and is implemented in 150 countries around the world. Technical talent from the Middle East and Central Asia is considered among the most prominent in the world.
The program falls within the framework of corporate social responsibility and embodies the efforts made by Huawei in partnership with a number of governmental, private and public academic institutions in countries of the region to contribute to enhancing the role of technical talent in building the digital economy and developing the technical system around the world.
In light of the growing focus on innovation and technological advancement, this competition provides young minds with a distinctive platform to exchange ideas and communicate with their peers around the world, and gain valuable insights into the ICT sector to shape their future and stimulate their participation in the digital society.
