UAE and Facebook to train 50 top university students in coding

Final-year students with an aptitude for maths and computers can apply for the elite summer school

Students, wearing face masks to help mitigate the spread of the novel coronavirus COVID-19, work on computers in the Social Learning Zone at the University of Bolton, in Bolton, northern England on October 7, 2020. 
   The University of Bolton has introduced numerous Covid-safety measures across its campus including: airport-style temperature scanners, socially distanced seating, perspex screens and visors for lecturers, a bicycle loan scheme for students, one-way routes throughout campus buildings and additional online resources for student learning. Hundreds of thousands of students have begun a new academic year at universities across the UK. / AFP / OLI SCARFF
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Fifty university students will be chosen from the UAE to attend an elite coding summer school with social media company Facebook.

The camp, scheduled for later this month, will introduce final-year students to coding and give them a crash course in the "language of the future".

Students can click on this link to apply. The camp is part of the National Programme for Coders announced last month.

Applicants should be in their final year and have a background in maths or artificial intelligence. Familiarity with Python programming is an advantage.

"Empowering youths with digital skills that enable them to innovate and create new solutions – to turn challenges into future opportunities – will be a key milestone," said Omar Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications.

Between August 15 and 26, students will attend workshops, a round table led by the Facebook Mena leadership team and Mr Al Olama, and connect with Facebook AI researchers from across the globe.

"By leveraging our expertise in developing and deploying AI to connect, protect and empower, we believe the Facebook AI Camp will provide students passionate about the field with a robust programme that will instil key capabilities to leverage new and progressive AI technology," said Azzam Alameddin, public policy director at Facebook's Mena and Turkey division.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, UAE Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, unveiled the National Programme for Coders with Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Cisco, IBM, LinkedIn, Nvidia and Facebook last month.

It aims to attract people with digital skills from around the world and boost the number of digital start-ups in the Emirates.

Sheikh Mohammed also wants to train 100,000 young people to be coders and programmers to equip the country for the future digital age and changing nature of jobs and workplaces.

Updated: August 04, 2021, 2:04 PM