- Initiative to support computer science and coding skills for early age students in the UAE
- Collaboration to inform and raise awareness on the benefits of computer science and employment opportunities
Abu Dhabi, UAE, 13 March, 2023: e& today announced its partnership with Code.org, a global independent and non-profit organisation, to join the international movement to encourage and promote the teaching and raise awareness of computer science for the next generation of students and academics in UAE and its operating markets in the Middle East, Asia and Africa.
e& will work closely with Code.org to develop initiatives to raise awareness and promote curriculum changes at the national and local school level, to integrate computer science skills and concepts from an early age. This will also include providing insights into the potential opportunities and future prospects of embarking onto this career path. The collaboration will start in UAE and eventually expand across e&’s footprint.
The partnership will prioritise the expansion of computer science education for Arabic-speaking students by providing free, accessible content. The efforts will involve equipping teaching staff with the necessary skills to raise awareness about the importance of computer science, cultivate student curiosity, and impart key concepts.
The organisations will collaborate closely with the UAE Ministry of Education, with whom Code.org recently signed an MoU during the World Government Summit held in Dubai, as well as other relevant government institutions and local corporations. This partnership aims to address the ICT gap in the country and take appropriate measures to bridge it.
Hatem Dowidar, Group CEO of e&, said: “Collaborating with industry partners and investing in future technologies presents an excellent opportunity to contribute to the future of computer science and drive the industry forward. The impact of computer science is undeniable, evident in the digital technologies inspiring innovation, powering entrepreneurship, fuelling invention, streamlining research, and driving societal change globally.”
“At e&, we have already taken significant steps in this direction with initiatives such as the AI Graduate Program, which focuses on building the next generation of coders and nurturing digital architects for emerging technologies. I would also like to express my gratitude to the UAE leadership for their vision of investing in the future of computer science and technology to drive economic growth and innovation in the region.”
Under this partnership, e& also joins global corporations like Microsoft, Amazon, Google, Meta, AT&T, Verizon, Telefonica among others.
Hadi Partovi, founder and CEO of Code.org said: “It’s great to have e& onboard, especially since UAE is our primary focus and will be a crucial pillar for our expansion in the region. All students across all schools worldwide need to learn computer science, not only to understand the language of the technology we use daily but also to acquire the critical skills it fosters, such as mathematics, problem-solving, creativity, critical thinking, and teamwork. And these are the skills that companies demand, especially with the transformation of the world to digital. Promoting digital competencies and skills to access the jobs that the labour market demands are more critical than ever. And in this new employability, lifelong learning and professional reskilling of workers are two essential elements to connect with the challenges of the digital era.”
Code.org is a non-governmental organisation born in the United States in 2013 whose mission is that every student in every school in the world learns to code, just as they learn another subject such as mathematics, algebra or biology. For this organisation, computational thinking fosters the skills that future jobs will demand, such as logic, problem-solving, critical thinking and creativity.
Etisalat Group has changed its brand identity to e&, effective on February 2022. Its strategy aims to accelerate growth through the creation of a resilient business model represented by Group’s main business pillars.
The telecoms business currently continues to be led by etisalat by e& in the Group’s home market and e& international markets, upholding the Group’s rich telecoms heritage, bolstering the strong telecoms network and maximizing value for the Group’s various customer segments.
Ramping up the digital services for individuals to elevate their digital-driven lifestyle, e& life brings next-generation technologies through smart platforms in entertainment, retail and financial technology. e& enterprise focuses on maximizing value through its end-to-end solutions in cybersecurity, cloud, Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI), as well as deploying mega projects, in order to enable the digital transformation of governments, large-scale enterprises and corporates. e& capital allows the Group to focus its efforts on driving new investments while maximizing shareholder value and strengthening the Group’s global presence.
