UAE Educational IT Challenge jury announces finalists

A record 235 projects from teachers, organizations and students within the UAE were received.

The panel of judging coordinators, chaired by Dr. Abdulla Al Karam, Director of the Knowledge Village of Dubai Technology and Media Free Zone, comprised both industry and educational representatives. A larger group of judges had previously ranked each project according to specific criteria.

The coordinators and Dr. Al Karam met to evaluate the projects and decide the finalists, who will be announced at a press conference on March 17th. The industry coordinators at the meeting were Mr. Mishal Hamed Kanoo, Deputy Chairman of The Kanoo Group, Mr. Najeeb M. Al Ali, e-Learning coordinator of the Research Unit at DIC, and Mr. Kidambi Vasudevan, Regional Manager of Samsung Gulf Electronics. Coordinators representing academia were Dr. Ahmed Barbour, Professor, College of Information Technology at UAEU, Ms. Lauren Stephenson, Office of the Provost at Zayed University, and Mr. Jonathan Marsh, Head of Teaching and Support Development at the Higher Colleges.

All finalist and winning projects will be on display at the Emirates Towers on April 6th, where students and teachers will meet with the finalists and view the projects.

The winners are to receive their awards from His Excellency Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research and Chancellor of the Higher Colleges at a special award ceremony to be held at Godolphin Ballroom , Emirates Towers in Dubai on April 6th, 2002.

An initiative of the Higher Colleges of Technology, in association with the Universities and the MOE, the UAE Educational IT Challenge has received wide support from both industry and academia, and consideration is being given to making it a regular event or widening it to include other Gulf States.