Innovation and Entrepreneurship Bootcamp held by Etisalat BT Innovation Center at Khalifa University
Under the patronage of His Excellency Hussain Ibrahim Al Hammadi UAE’s Minister of Education the Etisalat-BT Innovation Center (EBTIC) established in partnership with Khalifa University held the last day of its exciting “Bootcamp” for school students on April 7 2015. The closing ceremony which was attended by representatives from the Ministry of Education Khalifa Fund and the ICT Fund in addition to Khalifa University and EBTIC management BT and parents saw students Sara Al Muhairi and Mohammed Al Hammadi awarded for their excellence and one team won the first place and was awarded 25 000 AED for their work on a parked car cooling system.
“I wasn’t sure I wanted to come to this ” said student Rashid Abdullah Alyammahi. “I was reluctant because it was during my school holidays but I came and I’m glad I did. I learned a lot and I got to meet new people and learn about their strengths and weaknesses. Everyone has different strengths and now we know how to use those strengths to solve problems. I hope I can do this again next year.”
The students ranging from grades 10 to 12 were selected from schools from across the UAE. The bootcamp taught them the value of collaboration and innovation through team building and problem solving. Students were given “problems” unique to the UAE to solve and were required to pitch their ideas to a panel of judges. In addition to workable solutions to the “problems” students were expected to conduct research into potential competitors and develop a business plan. In addition to the winning parked car cooling system some of the problems the students worked on were a smart irrigation system self-monitoring water taps respiratory protection for asthma sufferers a device for diabetes detection and a car accident alert system.
“We are thrilled with the outcome of this exciting bootcamp ” said Dr. Mohammed Al Mualla EBTIC’s Board Member and Senior Vice President of Research and Development for Khalifa University. “The instructors who came to us from Dublin where they have been running this camp for the last six years were very impressed with our students’ creativity positive attitudes and eagerness to learn. The confidence and enthusiasm demonstrated by the students speaks to the culture of innovation and ingenuity that the UAE is so carefully fostering through the National Innovation Strategy. The youths who attended this event are the future of this country and their approach to problem solving to collaboration and cooperation and their dedication to the future of their country is truly inspiring.”
The Bootcamp was conducted in collaboration with Khalifa University BT and the University College of Dublin (UCD Dublin) and with educational partnership from the UAE Ministry of Education the Abu Dhabi Center for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (ACTVET) Institute of Applied Technology (IAT) Applied Technical High Schools (ATHS) and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) UAE section. The event also boasted several notable sponsors including the Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development and ICT Fund who are platinum sponsors gold sponsors Emirates Advanced Investments and the Advanced Military Maintenance Repair and Overhaul Center (AMMROC) and silver sponsor Yahsat.
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Innovation and Entrepreneurship Bootcamp held by Etisalat BT Innovation Center at Khalifa University
Under the patronage of His Excellency Hussain Ibrahim Al Hammadi UAE’s Minister of Education the Etisalat-BT Innovation Center (EBTIC) established in partnership with Khalifa University held the last day of its exciting “Bootcamp” for school students on April 7 2015. The closing ceremony which was attended by representatives from the Ministry of Education Khalifa Fund and the ICT Fund in addition to Khalifa University and EBTIC management BT and parents saw students Sara Al Muhairi and Mohammed Al Hammadi awarded for their excellence and one team won the first place and was awarded 25 000 AED for their work on a parked car cooling system.
“I wasn’t sure I wanted to come to this ” said student Rashid Abdullah Alyammahi. “I was reluctant because it was during my school holidays but I came and I’m glad I did. I learned a lot and I got to meet new people and learn about their strengths and weaknesses. Everyone has different strengths and now we know how to use those strengths to solve problems. I hope I can do this again next year.”
The students ranging from grades 10 to 12 were selected from schools from across the UAE. The bootcamp taught them the value of collaboration and innovation through team building and problem solving. Students were given “problems” unique to the UAE to solve and were required to pitch their ideas to a panel of judges. In addition to workable solutions to the “problems” students were expected to conduct research into potential competitors and develop a business plan. In addition to the winning parked car cooling system some of the problems the students worked on were a smart irrigation system self-monitoring water taps respiratory protection for asthma sufferers a device for diabetes detection and a car accident alert system.
“We are thrilled with the outcome of this exciting bootcamp ” said Dr. Mohammed Al Mualla EBTIC’s Board Member and Senior Vice President of Research and Development for Khalifa University. “The instructors who came to us from Dublin where they have been running this camp for the last six years were very impressed with our students’ creativity positive attitudes and eagerness to learn. The confidence and enthusiasm demonstrated by the students speaks to the culture of innovation and ingenuity that the UAE is so carefully fostering through the National Innovation Strategy. The youths who attended this event are the future of this country and their approach to problem solving to collaboration and cooperation and their dedication to the future of their country is truly inspiring.”
The Bootcamp was conducted in collaboration with Khalifa University BT and the University College of Dublin (UCD Dublin) and with educational partnership from the UAE Ministry of Education the Abu Dhabi Center for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (ACTVET) Institute of Applied Technology (IAT) Applied Technical High Schools (ATHS) and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) UAE section. The event also boasted several notable sponsors including the Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development and ICT Fund who are platinum sponsors gold sponsors Emirates Advanced Investments and the Advanced Military Maintenance Repair and Overhaul Center (AMMROC) and silver sponsor Yahsat.
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