The King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals in Dhahran has joined hands with Intel to offer its best students special placements at Intel facilities as part of the Intel Engineering Excellence Program. This program will enable Intel and KFUPM to address the needs of skills development and knowledge transfer, which will in turn contribute towards enhancing the overall Professional standing of the KFUPM graduates.
Gordon G. Graylish, Vice President, Sales & Marketing Group and General Manager, EMEA Intel Corporation addressed faculty members of KFUPM and senior regional management of Intel at the university to mark the launch of the program in the Kingdom. The Intel Engineering Excellence Program will later roll out in Jordan, Turkey and Egypt.
Graylish said: "The Intel Engineering Excellence Program is part of our Digital Transformation Initiative and we are pleased to launch the first chapter of this initiative in the Gulf's largest economy."
"Working with KFUPM, we are offering gifted students in ICT-related fields gain unparalleled work experience and training, and addresses some of the more pressing needs of regional governments. It also helps provide the building blocks for information-based economies, creating job opportunities and improving competitiveness in the global digital marketplace. It also underscores Intel's long-term commitment to promote technology skills, knowledge transfer and economic development in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the rest of the region," he added.
Running for three to six months, the internships are only open to Saudi Nationals. Intel will offer handpicked students internships at its sites around the world.
Announcing the launch of the Intel Engineering Excellence Program, H.E Dr. Khaled S. Al-Sultan, Rector of KFUPM, said: "This program is an example of public-private collaboration at its best. It will contribute to the personal and career development of our students and work for the greater good of the Saudi economy and society. The program meets the specific scientific, technical and management challenges facing the Kingdom today, and helps put our knowledge workers on the world map."
The internships will be implemented through the KFUPM's Cooperative (COOP) Program, which aims to bolster the practical experience of students prior to graduation and equip them with the necessary vocational skills to excel in the workplace.
The Intel Engineering Excellence Program seeks top science and engineering undergraduates, post-graduate and doctorate students whose studies encompass relevant subjects in the Information Communication Technology sphere, such as computer science and engineering, wireless communications, and electrical engineering.
The joint exercise with KFUPM will satisfy the practical training requirements of its colleges in Applied Engineering, Industrial Management, Computer Sciences and Engineering, and Environmental Design.
A managing committee will review applications, and a policy specialist will monitor the program to ensure internships match the evolving ICT objectives of the Kingdom. This committee will specify technical areas of interest to guide the selection of students, and the most promising candidates will be picked through a series of interviews. A sophisticated reporting and evaluation structure for the internships will also be put in place.
In October 2005, Intel announced its Digital Transformation Initiative for the Middle East, which encompasses programs tailored to improve digital accessibility, education, entrepreneurship, and specialized competencies.
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Intel helps students engineer Saudi Arabia's digital future
- Saudi Arabia: Wednesday, March 08 - 2006 at 13:32
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Intel Corporation's vaunted Digital Transformation Initiative for the Middle East reached an important milestone in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with the announcement of an internship programme aimed at some of the Kingdom's brightest science brains.
Left to right: Gordan Graylish Vice President, Sales & Marketing Group and General Manager, EMEA Intel Corporation --- H.E Dr. Khaled S. Al-Sultan, Rector of KFUPM.
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Posted by Lara Lynn Golden, News EditorWednesday, March 08 - 2006 at 13:32 UAE local time (GMT+4)
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Benefits of the "Intel Engineering Excellence Program"
There are numerous social and economic benefits of the "Intel Engineering Excellence Program." The program will:
• Enhance the ability to compete and excel in information and communication technology (ICT)-related university studies. This is especially important for students who may lack the funding to complete their university studies.
• Provide an opportunity to develop professional and technical skills in areas that are most needed within the country's ICT sector, such as systems design, platform development, and advanced technology research.
• Provide structured professional training to develop and expand the capabilities and talents they need to become capable professionals in the workplace.
• Broaden and improve educational and employment opportunities.
• Supply highly qualified knowledge workers who can contribute to the accelerating development of the country's information-based economy.
• Encourage creativity, innovation, research and development.
More about the "Intel Digital Transformation Initiative"
The Intel Engineering Excellence Program is the first initiative to be rolled out under the Intel Digital Transformation Initiative for the Middle East that will expand Intel's economic, educational and technology-related support throughout the region.
Through the Digital Transformation program, Intel is increasing its investments in four key areas - local entrepreneurship, education, digital accessibility and specialized technical competencies. These are seen as critical building blocks for developing new technology centers in the region.
Intel already has significant ongoing IT activities underway in the Middle East, Turkey and North Africa. The company works with local governments, educational institutions, businesses, NGOs and non-profit organizations, program developers, local businesses, and other groups and organizations to expand the use and understanding of technology.
Over the past decade, Intel has expanded its operations in the Middle East, Turkey and North Africa to include six offices in the region - Istanbul, Cairo, Riyadh, Beirut, Dubai and Casablanca.
Moving forward, Intel anticipates:
• Enhanced support for regional software developers and other local technology entrepreneurs.
• More investments in education at all levels.
• More effort to make the latest information and communication technology - including the wireless Internet - more widely accessible.
• An increased commitment to building specialized technical competencies in key industries, including energy and finance, serving the region.
Other Educational Initiatives in the Region
Intel already has a number of educational initiatives underway in the Middle East and Turkey, including:
• Intel Teach to the Future in Jordan, Egypt and Turkey - This program trains teachers to integrate IT into their classroom teaching. Making its debut in the region in 2003, Intel Teach to the Future runs in three countries and Intel is currently in negotiations with the governments of three other countries (Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, and the United Arab Emirates) to develop programs there. To date, the Intel Teach to the Future program has trained more than 55,000 teachers - and improved the classroom experiences of approximately 2 million students - in the region. Worldwide, the program has trained 3 million teachers.
• Intel Learn in Egypt - Intel launched its Intel Learn program in Egypt in 2005. Intel Learn is an after-school, community-based program designed to teach eight to 16-year-olds, technological literacy, problem solving and collaboration skills - essential attributes for success in today's knowledge economy.
• Intel Computer Clubhouses in Ramallah and Amman - Intel Computer Clubhouses provide an opportunity for young people in under-privileged neighborhoods to interact with each other, be mentored by young adults from the community, and develop information and communications technology (ICT) skills. Clubhouses were established in Ramallah in 2003 and Amman in 2004.
About Intel
Intel, the world leader in silicon innovation, develops technologies, products and initiatives to continually advance how people work and live.
For more information please contact:
Rola Zaarour
Corporate communications manager, Intel META
Tel: 971 4 22 47 111
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