Tribune News Network
Doha
The Arab Robotics and AI Association, in collaboration with STEAM Centre, successfully organised the second edition of the Arab Artificial Intelligence Olympiad. The event took place on 24 June 2023, in Amman, Jordan, and featured five competitions that served as a platform for Arab youth of all age groups in the fields of programming, mathematics and algorithms, computer vision, cybersecurity, and embedded systems.
This year, more than 150 students from Jordan, Palestine, Kuwait, Qatar, Libya, Yemen, and Egypt representing over 20 schools and 13 universities from around the Arab world participated in the Olympiad. Notably, three students from Qatar University (QU) showcased their exceptional talent in the event’s competitions. The outstanding participants were granted the prestigious Talent Scholarship upon their acceptance to QU. Faisal Abdullah Salam Batis, Marcus Wein Esmiller Monteiro, and Galal Faez Salem Ban Amr excelled in various courses and secured top positions in multiple categories at the Olympiad. Marcus and Galal secured the first place in the programming course, while Marcus, Galal, and Faisal achieved the second position in the embedded systems course. Faisal also claimed the third spot in the mathematics and algorithms course.
The Ministry of Education and Higher Education of the State of Qatar played a vital role in supporting the participation of students from various schools and universities in Qatar who could not physically attend the event in Jordan. The Ministry coordinated with the participants and ensured that they had access to the necessary resources to complete their tasks remotely from the Ministry’s office.
Commenting on the event, Dr. Saleh Al-Hazbi, Lecturer of Computer Science at QU, said, "The Artificial Intelligence Olympiad is a competition that aims to raise awareness about the growing significance of AI in today’s world. Our participating students, who have showcased their talent in various categories, have been accepted into QU’s prestigious Talented Students Programme. This programme, offered at QU, aims to attract students with exceptional talents in different fields.”
Marcus Monteiro, the winner of first place in the programming course, expressed his thoughts on the experience, saying, "I, along with my fellow participant, Galal, was extremely nervous, but we realised the competition would be tough with participants from other countries. However, as we began answering the questions, we gradually gained more and more confidence. I told my colleague, ‘We will win this competition for Qatar’.” He stated, "The future of artificial intelligence is very bright. Many people believe that AI will take away people’s jobs, but we see it as a tool for the future, making us smarter and more capable.”
The Arab Artificial Intelligence Olympiad stands as a testament to the growing significance of artificial intelligence in today’s world and the role of Arab youth in shaping its future. By promoting collaboration, innovation, and excellence, this event has become a catalyst for empowering the next generation of AI leaders.
STEAM Centre is a research and educational centre dedicated to preparing students for 21st Century workplace careers by providing high quality educational opportunities in science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics fields.