Two talented programming teams from Al Khor International School won first place in the “Alice Middle East Computer Science Competition,” which was held last February. The annual competition is organized by the Hamad Bin Jassim Center for Computing Science Education among 12th grade students at Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar. Member of Qatar Foundation.
It is known that the Jassim and Hamad bin Jassim Charitable Foundation established the Hamad bin Jassim Center for Computing Science Education, in cooperation with Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar, in April 2018, at a total cost of four million riyals, and aims to spread awareness among school students of the importance of the role of computer science in Developing communities and encouraging them to study scientific disciplines.
More than 100 students from 8 public and private schools from all over the country participated in this year’s competition, where they showcased their programming and creativity skills. All participating students study programming through a special curriculum, created by Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar using the “Alice Middle East” program. As part of the competition, students created animations and digital games on the topics of climate change, health, cybersecurity, and traffic safety.
Mr. Saeed Al-Hajri, CEO and member of the Board of Directors of the Jassim and Hamad bin Jassim Charitable Foundation, stressed: “The Hamad bin Jassim Center for Computing Education at Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar supports the goals of the Qatar National Vision 2030, achieves the Second National Development Strategy 2018-2022, and contributes to Building a national economy based on knowledge and developing generations, which is considered the basis of human development.
Al-Hajri explained that the center receives continuous attention and follow-up from His Excellency Sheikh Nawaf bin Jassim bin Jabr Al Thani, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Jassim and Hamad bin Jassim Charitable Foundation, with the aim of Developing school students’ skills in the field of computer science, contributing to encouraging innovation, creativity and scientific specializations, and striving to provide the appropriate tools that students need in their education and providing them with skills for their future professional lives.
Al Hajri added, “Computing skills have become essential for children who will spend their professional lives in the knowledge economy. We enthusiastically support the “Alice Middle East” competition, and encourage all young people in Qatar to explore the world of programming and computing.”
He pointed out that the center comes within the framework of Jassim and Hamad bin Jassim Charity’s keenness on the education sector and strengthening its partnerships with various community institutions, especially educational institutions, to achieve its vision of “better health and education.”
Al-Hajri appreciated the efforts of the administration and faculty members at Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar, and the role they play in activating the center’s activities in society, and spreading awareness of the importance of teaching computing sciences and instilling them in the hearts of young people, through adopting the “Alice Middle East” program, through this program and the “Mindcraft” initiatives. », The center supports learning computer skills among school children in Qatar.
For his part, Dr. Michael Trick, Dean of Carnegie Mellon in Qatar, explained, “The Alice Middle East program was created to help students in Qatar develop the basic skills they will need to work and live in a connected, digital world. “As every year, the participating students continue to amaze me with the impact this program has had on their development, and the great talent they display.”
Trick added, “The “Alice” educational program was originally developed on the main campus of Carnegie Mellon University in the United States, and at the request of Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, the program was adapted to suit the State of Qatar by Researchers from Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar, who also created a curriculum in Arabic and English. The “Alice Middle East” curriculum was created with the support of the National Priorities Program for Scientific Research, affiliated with the Qatar National Research Fund.”
For his part, Mr. Ali Al-Aboudi, Director of Information and Communications Technology Programs at the Qatar National Research Fund, considered that “enhancing scientific computing skills through initiatives and programs such as “Alice” is essential for achieving continued development in Qatar. “I was impressed by the high level of creativity shown by these students, and their ability to produce such high-quality work under pressure. We had difficulty choosing the winners as the results show.”
With support from the Ministry of Education and Higher Education in Qatar, the “Alice Middle East” program is now part of the curriculum in all government schools in Qatar that teach ICT, and approximately 5,000 students have benefited from the program.