Jordanian ICT talent recognised in finale of Huawei Middle East ICT Competition 2021

AMMAN — A Jordanian team won the third place in the Huawei Middle East ICT Competition 2021.

The Jordanian team consisting of Zaid Jarrar, Mais Alreem Al Hawamde and Yazan Yacoub from Al Balqa Applied University won the third place as well as the “Excellent Academy” award, and Njad Amin Abed Al Najdawi won the “Excellent Tutor” award, according to a Huawie  statement. 

This year’s competition saw 13 teams of talented students compete from 10 countries and 453 local colleges and universities in the Middle East, and the final ceremony took place in Saudi Arabia physically and virtually. 

The 2021 edition of Huawei Middle East ICT Competition witnessed the company teaming up with Prime Ministry of Jordan and Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Jordan with the aim to develop the local ICT ecosystems, nurture young talent and encourage innovation amongst the next generation of ICT leaders, the statement said.

Throughout the competition, the participants received trainings and world-class knowledge from Huawei experts, followed by a national exam, which was held in their local countries, and continued to the final stage which included a six-hour practical exam to determine the final winners. 

The final ceremony commenced with an opening speech by Steven Yi, president of Huawei Middle East, in the presence of Shunli Wang, vice president of Huawei Middle East, Hussam Al Husseini, Jordan’s ambassador to China, Zhan Tao, director of UNESCO IITE, and the ambassadors to China from other countries.

Zhan said: “I am very delighted to witness such innovation among Middle East youth in this competition. UNESCO IITE maintains good cooperation with Huawei on ICT talent development. As our joint report on Middle East ICT talent for digital transformation insight report shows, cultivating ICT talent remains one of the current priorities and requires the joint efforts of governments, international organizations, universities, and enterprises.”

“Huawei has been a long-term supporter of global ICT talent development. The successful holding of the ICT Competition for many years has brought a positive impact on ICT talent development,” he added.

Commenting on the final results, Ethan Wang, CEO of Huawei Jordan, said: “I would like to congratulate our winners, and all those who made it to Huawei Middle East ICT Competition finals. This year’s competition witnessed some of Jordan’s brightest talents, as well as from the region. At Huawei, we’re committed to develop local talents and equip the future generation of ICT leaders with the necessary tools and skills required to successfully achieve the nation’s development plans and participate in the digital transformation journey.” 

Husseini said: “I want to thank Huawei again for the continuous support of our young Arab talents and the great effort to hold the ICT Competition despite COVID-19 restrictions. I’m so proud that our brilliant Jordanian students and future entrepreneurs managed to reach the final round again.” 

Launched in 2017, the Huawei ICT Competition has witnessed the participation of over 75,000 students across the Middle East and today, has become one of Huawei’s most influential competitions. Last year, the company collaborated with more than 20 ministries and 442 institutions, with over 15,000 students participating in the competition, the statement said. 

The Huawei Middle East ICT Competition is one of several corporate social responsibility initiatives undertaken by Huawei to nurture talent for Middle East youth. Together with the Huawei ICT Academy, the Huawei Innovation Competition, Seeds for the Future programme, joint university labs, and other initiatives, thousands of young people in the region benefit from an advanced skills development pipeline every year, equipping them with the necessary skills to lead digital transformation and development efforts within their country, according to the statement.