Huawei Kicks Off ME&CA ICT Competition Regional Finals in Riyadh

Huawei officially launched the 2024-2025 Middle East and Central Asia (ME&CA) ICT Competition Regional Finals at King Saud University (KSU) in Riyadh, marking the 10th anniversary of Huawei’s ICT Academy in the region. The event, held in partnership with the UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education (IITE) and supported by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT), King Saud University (KSU), and the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation (TVTC), hosts over 300 participants from 19 countries across the Middle East and Central Asia.

Wang Shunli, Vice President of ME&CA at Huawei, highlighted the competition’s role in bridging the digital talent gap in the region, emphasizing Huawei’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of ICT professionals. He noted that the regional finals, coinciding with the 10th anniversary of Huawei’s ICT Academy, align with national visions for digital transformation. Dr. Ibrahim Alwatban, Dean at the College of Telecom & Information (TVTC), praised the partnership with Huawei, stating that the ICT Academy has enabled advanced AI-driven education to prepare graduates for the evolving job market.

The first day featured the Huawei ICT Instructor Contest, where educators demonstrated their expertise through presentations and practical teaching demonstrations, while student teams showcased innovative projects in AI, Cloud, Computing, and Network technologies as part of the Innovation Competition. The competition has achieved record participation this year, with over 31,000 students registering from 640 regional universities and colleges across 19 countries. Among them, 290 students competed in the Innovation Track, and 30,900 participated in Practice Competitions covering Cloud, Network, Computing, and AI Innovation tracks.

The three-day event continues with a Huawei Innovation and Technology Tour, which includes visits to Huawei’s Future Space, flagship store, and advanced facilities in Riyadh. As Huawei’s ME&CA ICT Academy celebrates its 10th anniversary, it has trained over 300,000 students, certified more than 35,000 talents, and established a network of 2,000 qualified instructors. Through partnerships with 106 academies managed by six Huawei ICT Academy Support Centers, the program has become a cornerstone of digital education in the region.

Since its launch in 2017, the Huawei ME&CA ICT Competition has grown into the largest ICT talent initiative in the region, receiving endorsements from UNESCO IITE and over 40 regional ministries and industry partners. The competition reflects Huawei’s vision of fostering digital transformation, contributing to a fully connected, intelligent world, and strengthening the region’s digital ecosystem.