Unemployed ICT graduates unleash their talents at ‘Youth-Tech’ programme

AMMAN — Intel Corporation announced late Monday the winners of its “Youth-Tech” programme, which seeks to enhance employability of young Jordanians by providing them with entrepreneurial skills and familiarising them with the latest technologies.

During a ceremony at the Royal Scientific Society, ICT Minister Azzam Sleit honoured the winners, stressing the importance of the ICT sector to the country’s economy.

“The sector contributes 14 per cent of the overall gross domestic product and employs more than 11,000 people. Programmes that provide innovative technologies, entrepreneurship and employability training are vital to keep the sector flourishing,” the minister said at the event.

Stressing the importance of Intel’s programme, which is piloted for the first time globally in Jordan, Sleit said such initiatives will motivate entrepreneurship and provide a suitable environment for innovators.

A project called AIR, which entails developing a small chip that is placed on farm animals to keep count of their numbers and control their movement, won first prize.

Second place went to the Youth Entertainment Services project, which includes a variety of entertainment programmes for young people like outdoor cinemas, camps and parties.

“MODA” (or fashion), a shopping website dedicated to local fashion designers, won the third award.

The Youth-Tech programme, fully designed and funded by Intel Corporation, seeks to empower unemployed graduates who hold ICT and business university degrees to compete in the local and global economies.

About 21 unemployed youths took part in the programme and formed six teams that generated creative and competitive ideas. 

The concepts were tested and put in a business model canvas. Throughout the development of the ideas, professionals in different fields provided participants with mentorship while working on their prototypes for their projects and ideas, according to organisers

“The programme comprised six weeks of intensive training and included several workshops on soft skills, idea generation framework, technology and business, and entrepreneurship and mentorship,” Rula Habash, Intel’s corporate affairs manager for the Levant and North Africa, said at the ceremony.

The Youth-Tech pilot programme was launched in March this year by Intel Corporation in partnership with Jordan Education for Employment as an implementing partner in collaboration with the Labour Ministry, the ICT Association of Jordan and the Queen Rania Centre for Entrepreneurship.

Organisers said a few companies in Jordan have expressed interest in incubating some of the projects or providing internships for the participants.

The programme will now be presented to all stakeholders to consider for national scale implementation in Jordan, as well as other countries in the region, organisers said.