The Sevens Team from Al Bayan Educational Complex wins first Ibtikar Qatar competition

Amani Alsaied, Duaa Awartani, Hajar Dauleh, Fatma Al-Nuaimi and Latifa Al-Boinin, known as The Sevens Team, developed a project that proposed a solution to raise awareness among the Qatari population of the benefits of recycling.

Their plan consisted of an information system that used an online news center as well as a searchable database on Qatari-based recycling centers and repair shops. It would guide the public as to the best ways of recycling or reusing obsolete equipment such as mobile phones and computers.

"This team came up with a great idea, something that is totally new to Qatar. And they did a great job presenting it and defending it to the judges," says Selma Limam Mansar, Ph.D., Information Systems program coordinator at Carnegie Mellon Qatar.

The Ibtikar Qatar competition was created as a way to get high school students involved in an environmentally-focused competition, while at the same time peaking their interest in the dynamic field of Information Systems.

Seventy-two high school students took part in the competition that challenged them to use Information Systems to make businesses and organizations more effective.

The competition began with a kickoff workshop in November where the teams learned the rules of the competition, as well as the role innovation and Information Systems play in the marketplace. They also learned how to design a poster to explain their project, and began brainstorming about ideas. Each year Ibtikar will focus on a different topic.

This year's theme was the environment, which is a topic already on the minds of many of the students. "Many high schools are running initiatives about the environment, so this competition mapped well with what they are already doing in their classes," says Limam Mansar.

Applying what they learned at the November kickoff, the teams spent weeks coming up with a project and creating a poster that explained their idea. Twenty-three posters were submitted from 10 schools. Teams were judged on the novelty of their idea; whether it used Information Systems effectively; its economic feasibility, its impact on raising environmental awareness, poster design and how well they presented their ideas. "The teams were very enthusiastic, and keen to win. We could feel the tension as the day went on," Limam Mansar says.

Current students in Carnegie Mellon's Information Systems program mentored the participating teams throughout the two-month event. Working on Ibtikar allowed the university students to deepen their learning on the subject as they not only applied but also enhanced their problem-solving skills. This experience also developed their communication skills, which is important for Information Systems graduates.

Additionally, Shell Qatar sponsored the competition and provided gifts to all participants. Four representatives from Shell Qatar took part in Ibtikar Qatar including Maha Abdeen, who is a Carnegie Mellon Qatar graduates.

"It was nice to see our first batch of graduates give back to Carnegie Mellon and give their time to work with current students and prospective students,"

says Limam Mansar.

Second place in Ibtikar Qatar went to The Basket Trash team from Doha College for their project 'Litter situation in Doha.' This project, which targeted children, proposed a solution that addressed the issue of littering in Qatar. Team members were Sherle Narula, David Jeffery, Hamad Aboushanab and Usaama Latif.

Third place went to the ABP Team for their project 'A drop of water is a drop of life.' This project created awareness among the Qatari population on the urgency of reducing water consumption. Team members were Lulwa El-Matbouly, Reem Kafoud and Almohra Al-Jaidah.
Schools that participated in Ibtikar Qatar include: Academic Bridge Program, Al Bayan Educational Complex, Al-shahania independent school, Amna bint wahab, Doha College, Doha Independent Secondary School, Global Academy International, M.E.S. Indian School, Middle East International School and Omar Bin Al-Khattab Independent Secondary School.