Three innovative millennials won AED 60,000 to change the game for their careers in technology today at GITEX. The GITEX Student Lab is an opportunity for students to develop never-before-seen solutions using engineering, technology, science and computing. Submissions to the competition came from all over the globe, from language learning to connected wearables, and featured software, gaming, applications, programs, hardware and more.
The winner was Shamsa Al Mazrouei from United Arab Emirates University, who developed a series of fully-immersive virtual reality games to help students learn Arabic. “We are so excited to have won the competition. It was just wonderful to even participate. We feel so good to have had the support from everyone. Our winnings will go back to our project and improve our technology,” said Shamsa Al Mazrouei.
Second place was The Giving Hand, a mobile app by Heriot-Watt University Dubai students Muhmammad Azeem, Balraj Singh Bains, and Morvarid Jalali that allows airline passengers to donate their unused baggage allowance to a charity, and carry donations for people in need. Third place was Navyo – The Smart Glove, a Bluetooth-connected glove and mobile app that guide people with visual disabilities in correct directions, developed by Delhi Technological University India students Madhav Aggarwal, Bhavesh Pachnanda, and Mohd Suhail.
The annual competition was sponsored by Accenture, the Ministry of Finance’s e-dirham, and Ministry of Presidential Affairs. Judges narrowed down 20 student projects to an elite top three. The winner won AED 30,000 as well as an internship with Accenture, the runner-up took AED 20,000, and third place received AED 10,000.
“As the Digital Economy accelerates, organisations should embrace disruption by empowering their people to continuously learn new skills and do more with technology, which can help improve how people work and create bigger and better outcomes for individuals, organisations and society at large,” said Omar Boulos, regional managing director for Accenture in the Middle East and North Africa.
“Accenture congratulates the winners and will award them an internship at the company, demonstrating our support for the digital leaders of tomorrow by enabling them to cultivate valuable careers while contributing to their countries’ growth and innovation agendas,” he added.
“GITEX is proud to support the work of these young students. Youth focused programmes such as the Student Lab allow students to hone their skills and make connections that will build their careers for the future. The success of these students today will benefit not only the winners themselves, but businesses looking for next generation apps and ideas, the technology industry looking for the next game-changing innovation, and the wider community that will rely on the ideas and creativity of this young generation of bright minds,” said Trixie LohMirmand, Senior Vice President, Event Management, Dubai World Trade Centre.
