First Global Challenge increases youth involvement in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and robotics. AI is indispensable to the UAE’s ambitions, and Dubai Future Foundation is a strategy.
The UAE has also introduced design and technology into the school’s curriculum and launched Mohammad Bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI), the first graduate-level, research-based AI university in the world.
Among other strategies, the First Global Challenge starts off the journey of youngsters in AI and robotics who will become the Chief Executive Officers, the Chief Technology Officers, and the leaders of tomorrow.
Winners of the First Global Challenge will be announced today.
First Global Challenge
The FIRST Global Challenge is a yearly Olympics-style robotics competition organized by the International First Committee Association to promote STEM education. The 2019 competition hosted in Dubai had 191 countries that competed to showcase innovations for cleaning the ocean of pollutants using AI and robotics.
Meanwhile, Dubai has recognized the role of AI and robotics in achieving its ambition of becoming part of the knowledge economy. Hence, the inclusion of creative design and innovation as a subject in schools.
The UAE Minister of Education, Hussain Ebrahim Al Hammadi, said that students could solve real-life problems with knowledge gained from the creative design and innovation subject.
He said the curriculum starts with the kindergarten class learning the basics of coding, their understanding increases unto grades nine and ten where they learn Python programming language. In category ten, the students complete applied projects as part of the Computer Science subject.
The Minister added that in grades eleven and twelve, students would apply holistic knowledge, including AI and robotics, to solve real-life challenges, like the First Global Challenge.
The 2019 First Global Challenge UAE team is represented by students in grades eleven and twelve, Shaikha Ali and Shouq Saeed, respectively.
The UAE First Global Challenge team members presented the solution to the challenge titled “future of my country.” Grade eleven and twelve students were glad to compete and learn about the latest developments in technology. They also said they would progress to study AI and robotics in the Mohammad Bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence.
Preparedness of the UAE
As part of the strategy of the UAE to become part of the knowledge economy, the Mohammad Bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence, the first graduate-level, research-based AI university in the world, was launched on October 16.
The University is also in line with actualizing the UAE AI ambition. Al Hammadi said the University has the potential to impact the world with personalities knowledgeable on the latest technologies. Qualified applicants with the capability and skillset from UAE and around the world will be offered admission to do their masters and Ph.D. said Al Hammadi.
Other moves in line with the UAE’s ambition is the first appointment of a Minister of Artificial Intelligence and the creation of the Dubai Future Foundation. UAE also involved the youth in its purpose for continuity through the First Global Challenge events.
