Today's Edition
MAYS IBRAHIM (ABU DHABI)
Under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, the Mother of the Nation, Chairwoman of the General Women's Union (GWU), President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, and Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation (FDF), the 15th EmiratesSkills National Competition (ESNC) commenced at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) in Abu Dhabi on Monday.
Hosted by the Abu Dhabi Centre for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (ACTVET), the three-day event gathers talented youth from across the UAE to compete in 26 technical and vocational skills, such as aircraft maintenance, industrial control, mechanical engineering cad, automobile technology, programming, web technologies, graphic design technology, electronics, and more.
An international friendly skills competition, showcasing talents from 17 countries across the globe, is held alongside the main event. UAE youth will engage in diverse technical and vocational challenges, alongside counterparts from various nations, as they prepare for the forthcoming WorldSkills Competition in Lyon, France, scheduled for September 2024.
ESNC spans various sectors including engineering, industrial, and professional fields. It serves as a platform for showcasing the skills of UAE National youth, who are competing in seven skills: Future Coder, Autonomous Mobile Robotics, Automobile Technology, Public Speaking, Electronics, Electrical Installations and Mechanical Engineering CAD.
Aletihad spoke with young talents exhibiting their prowess in developing innovative solutions for real-world scenarios in the Future Coder category.
Sixteen-year-old Alyazya Sultan Almeqbaali reflected on her passion for coding, ignited at the age of 8, following her participation in a robotics and coding camp.
"I love taking on challenges, no matter how daunting they may seem. When I discovered coding, I found the perfect blend of difficulty and intrigue," she said, noting her determination to use her coding skills in order to create a secure online environment for youth. The aspiring coder is also interested in exploring the intersection of coding and medicine, recognising its potential to advance healthcare through technology.
Mariam Alameeri, another participant in the Future Coder category, shared her preparation process, emphasising the importance of debugging and problem-solving skills in coding. With goals to lead a career in psychology, Alameeri acknowledged the significance of coding knowledge in an increasingly tech-driven world.
Mohamed Jassim Almarzooqi discussed his motivations for participating in the competition and his goals to utilise his programming skills to create a better world. The 16-year-old started learning programming at age 11 out of curiosity, later on participating in competitions to sharpen his skills.
"My coding journey taught me critical thinking, problem-solving, and patience, as success is not always immediate," he said.
Almarzooqi's future plans involve creating educational programmes, particularly to improve literacy, and designing applications for aerospace engineering to ensure airplane safety.
This includes creating an app that teaches reading skills, an aspiration that stems from his desire to improve education globally, inspired by the UAE's emphasis on quality education and the UN's Sustainable Development Goals.
Aletihad also spoke to Shaza Alhalabi, the Curriculum Specialist for Computer Science at the Applied Technology School (ATS), who oversees the Junior Coder category, made up of 100 participants divided into juniors (grades 6 to 9) and seniors (grades 10 to 12 and above).
She explained that each day of the three-day competition demands students to deliver Python-based software solutions tackling real-world problems, with juniors focusing on console solutions and seniors on desktop applications featuring graphical user interfaces.
