This year, Huawei is hosting the Seeds for the Future program which will have an eight days of intensive training sessions and workshops, including cutting-edge ICT technologies, scientific and technological leadership, discussions on global topics and Tech4Good group projects, etc.
Under the patronage of Qatar’s Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA), Huawei kicks off the 2023 Seeds for the Future program at an official opening ceremony that took place in the Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC), Doha. Bringing together 175 students from elite universities across the Middle East and Central Asia (ME & CA) for the first time ever in Qatar, the regional event aims to develop local talent, share knowledge, increase the Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) sector awareness, and foster a digital community for young ICT talents.
High-level officials and industry leaders delivered keynote speeches, which included Reem Abdulaziz Al Mugbel, Acting Vice Governor for Planning & Business Development, TVTC, KSA, Omar Abdulaziz al-Naama, Assistant Undersecretary for Private Education Affairs, Qatar, Jawad Abbassi, Head of GSMA, MENA, and Dr. Jassim Haji, President International Group of Artificial Intelligence. The opening ceremony was also attended by Karimjonov Rustam, Deputy Minister of Digital Technologies of the Republic of Uzbekistan, and Kamil Akatov, Vice Minister of Science and Higher Education, Kazakhstan.
Eng. Hussain Salatt, Public Relations and Communication Unit Manager, CRA, said, “We are pleased to be part of the opening ceremony of the “Seeds for the Future” program for the Middle East and Central Asia region. CRA has patronaged this program for the fourth consecutive year, as it encourages skills development and innovation to contribute to Qatar National Vision 2030 goals.”
Shunli Wang, Vice President of Huawei Middle East and Central Asia, said, “We’re thrilled to host the first phase of the Seeds for the Future program in Doha and look forward to seeing some of the best regional ICT talents in action.”
Omar Abdulaziz al-Naama, Assistant Undersecretary for Private Education Affairs, Qatar, said, “ICT education is one of the most critical pillars in Qatar’s vision of a diversified, knowledge-based economy. Skilled talent is crucial to our prosperous digital economy and through our partnership with global industry leaders like Huawei on programs like Seeds for the Future, we are training and equipping our talented youth with the necessary skills to support Qatar’s ambitious Vision 2030 and ICT strategy.”
For current and future university students, Qatar offers a prime ecosystem for pursuing higher education. Advanced technologies like AI, 5G, and cloud are revolutionizing how we live, learn, and work. Digital transformation across the MENA is accelerating at an unparalleled pace, and it’s crucial to narrow the ICT talent gap and arm students with 21st-century skills. Enabling students to upskill their tech knowledge while gaining crucial soft skills is of paramount importance.
Huawei’s Seeds for the Future program is the company’s flagship CSR program that aims to develop ICT talents globally. The program has been endorsed by more than 450 senior officials and heads of states. From September 2-9, 2023, students representing 15 Middle East and Central Asia countries will participate in the first phase of the Seeds for the Future program in Doha. The Tech4Good regional competition, now in its third year, will also be held during the Seeds for the Future program to empower and engage the youth in driving positive change within their communities.
