- Huawei Technologies and Higher Education Commision lauded for organising 3rd ICT competition
ISLAMABAD: Federal Education and Professional Training Minister Shafqat Mahmood on Thursday vowed to change the current education system by introducing one national curriculum and certification for all citizens.
While addressing at a ceremony titled ‘HEC-Huawei ICT Competition 2018’, the federal minister reiterated the government’s stance on skill development and highlighted the importance of setting up training and vocational universities. He said that introduction of one curriculum in the country would not only address the problems of the existing multi-layered education system, but would also help break the class barrier among masses in the long run.
The minister on the occasion lauded the efforts Huawei Technologies and Higher Education Commision (HEC) with regard to organizing the 3rd ICT competition, adding that such events are a must to raise IT awareness among the youth. He assured complete support of his ministry in matters pertaining to transformation of education in Pakistan.
On Pak-China relations, the minister said that Pakistan’s relation with China would further strengthen with the game-changing and era-defining China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project.
Chinese Ambassador Yao Jing, HEC Chairman Tariq Banuri, Huawei Pakistan CEO Saif Chi and other academics were also present on the occasion.
Yao Jing in his address recognized the unbeatable talent of youth in Pakistan. He highlighted the benefits of technology in modern day and age, and also informed the audience on how a government can utilise technology to improve the quality of education and subsequently create big names in the fields of IT, health, social sector etc.
HEC Chairman Tariq Banuri praised the ICT programme and said that such programmes should be replicated by other organizations to encourage more students.
Huawei Pakistan CEO Saif Chi on the occasion announced that the Huawei team would hold seminars and roadshows in universities to create awareness about the competition among the students. “With HEC’s support, we will be able to tap the youth’s talent which will contribute in the development of Pakistan’s ICT industry,” he added.
He said in 2018, the 3rd ICT competition would aim to motivate more students into registering for the competition and polish their ICT talent, adding that Huawei is also going to visit 50 universities for a road show.
In this year’s ICT competition, more than 10,000 students from reputable universities are expected to register for online test, while 5,000 students will take preliminary test, out of which 500 students will appear for e-learning test. The top 100 students will take the lab test. Top six students would be selected for the international round which would be held in Huawei headquarters in Shenzhen, China.
It is pertinent to mention that Pakistani students did exceptionally well during the last year’s ICT competition. More than 7,000 students from over 30 universities registered for the ICT skill competition. Over 3,000 appeared in the preliminary round, 150 students entered the regional final, out of which 50 were selected for the National final. The top six winners then took part in the Middle East international final competition in China.
Huawei, a leading global provider of information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure and smart devices, organized the event in collaboration with HEC to promote the ICT industry technology certification, and develop the local ICT industry talent and ecosystem.
