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Students unleash technological creativity

ABU DHABI — The growing number of young professionals working in digital technology is a testament of abundant talent and creative ideas of the fresh minds.

The innovative graphic adverts and online gaming that we see and play today are by-products of ingenious expression that could only come with that youthful imagination.

A talent that Microsoft intends to take advantage of when it launched the ‘Imagine Us Competition’ recently.

‘Imagine Us’ will challenge the students to ‘imagine a world where technology solve the toughest problems facing us today’ - such as those related to the environment, education and health - and present their thoughts and ideas by using special Microsoft programmes in Web Design, Digital Video and Graphic Design.

The competition, which is open to high school students in private and public schools at the Abu Dhabi emirate, was designed to disseminate knowledge and educate students on the importance of information and communication technology (ICT), and in building a knowledge-based society where the youth can use the modern technology in turning their ideas into reality.

It is a joint collaboration between the Abu Dhabi Systems and Information Centre (ADSIC), the Abu Dhabi Education Council (ADEC) and Microsoft Gulf.

“Imagine Us is all about igniting the imagination of tomorrow’s technology visionaries and leaders. When coupled with the power of technology, the potential of young people is unlimited and the ideas they develop for the event could significantly improve the lives of millions of people around the world,” said Charbel Fakhoury, regional general manager of Microsoft Gulf.

More than 65 teachers (team leaders) and approximately 100 teams from the private and public schools in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Al Gharbia have already signed up for the competition since its soft launch in December.

Munira Mohammed, an ICT teacher at Omrah bint Abdulrahman at Al Ruwais will be managing two teams of girls from her school who have signed up for the digital video and graphic design categories.

She said for the video, her students plan to highlight the plight of poor people from the third world countries and various ways to help them through charities, donations and build them homes.

Khawla Abdul Rahman, Grade 11 student from the Al Shahama Secondary School said she intends to become a film-maker, thus her group will be doing a video on education.

“We want to present other creative ways to learn in this globalised setting, such as getting connected through the internet,” she said.

Last day of submission of entries will be May 3 and announcement of winners will be on May 22. Prizes await the winning team.

Rashed Lahej Al Mansouri, director of ADSIC said the competition is a building block in our e-literacy programme and addresses the next generation of knowledge workers.

Dr Mugheer Al Khalili, ADEC director general said the council strives to prepare future leaders by improving their problem solving and creative skills while, “getting away from the conventional method of education which focuses on the book as the only source of knowledge.”

— olivia@khaleejtimes.com