Intel’s Davies (right) and ictQATAR’s Radcliffe shake hands yesterday at the signing ceremony.
By Joseph Varghese/Staff Reporter
Intel Corporation is in talks with Supreme Education Council and Qatar Foundation to introduce its STEM curriculum and competitions programme in Qatar, revealed John E Davies, vice president, World Ahead Programme at Intel.
Intel also signed an agreement with the Supreme Council of Information and Communication Technology (ictQATAR) yesterday to collaborate on a national digital inclusion programme that would encourage various digitally excluded target groups to learn and possess technological skills needed in society today.
Speaking to Gulf Times, Davies said the STEM programme would be implemented in Qatar soon. It aims to improve the proficiency of the students in science, technology and maths and provides online resources to encourage students’ interest and participation.
Students in Qatar will have to first enter a country-level competition and then compete with students from other countries. The programme is being assessed by Qatari officials.
“Qatar will send some representatives to observe the big final of this year’s competition, being held in New York next month, and a decision is expected shortly afterwards,” he explained.
Davies was also present to oversee the MoU signing between Intel and ictQATAR to implement the digital inclusion programme in Qatar through Intel’s Easy Step Programme, already in use in around 40 countries.
“It is implemented in many languages. In Qatar the programme will be both in English and Arabic. We need someone in the host country to implement the programme and ictQATAR has taken the role in Qatar,” he said.
Damian Radcliffe, ICT and Society acting executive director at ictQATAR, said: “Technology has become a necessity in multiple aspects of our daily lives, and it is imperative to ensure we provide the basic tools to support and encourage adult learners; this is something we will achieve through our collaboration with Intel, allowing us to strengthen our digital education initiative across the nation.”
As per the agreement, ictQATAR will provide the courses in English and Arabic through flexible programmes in community settings, as well as “train the trainer” workshops in which 60 selected individuals will become instructors. They will be taught class management, so they are able to train their peers. A crucial part of the collaboration will be to develop customised content in Arabic for Qatar and the target groups.
According to Davies, the agreement gives room for Intel to provide a complementary Intel Easy Steps Programme that provides adult learners with hands-on digital experience. Instructions are provided in a non-technical manner, accommodating learners with minimal computer experience and providing an opportunity for adult learners to enhance social and economic self-sufficiency through digital literacy.
Davies disclosed that he had met with some of the top officials of Qatar Foundation, ictQATAR as well as Supreme Education Council during his visit. Intel is already collaborating with Qatar Foundation in a major project. “We are helping Qatar Foundation to translate Khan Academy videos to Arabic,” he said.
Seven million students are trained by Intel every year and Intel is willing to provide the experience to Qatar in its various education initiatives for school and university students.
