Saudi Arabia’s Leap into Future: National Olympiad for Programming, Artificial Intelligence
Saudi Arabia has been making significant strides in the field of technology, particularly in artificial intelligence (AI). The inaugural National Olympiad for Programming and Artificial Intelligence, was launched by the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) in partnership with the Ministry of Education and the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity (Mawhiba).
The Conception of the Olympiad
The ability to understand and manipulate computer programming and artificial intelligence has become a sought-after skill. Recognizing this, the SDAIA, the Ministry of Education, and the Mawhiba Foundation have come together to launch the National Olympiad for Programming and Artificial Intelligence, dubbed “Smartest”.
This event aimed at involving 300,000 middle and high school students from various regions of the Kingdom. They were chosen from among three million students in these two stages of public education. The goal? To train these young minds in the areas of programming and artificial intelligence.
The Purpose of the Olympiad
It is not just about learning programming and AI; it’s about preparing a promising generation of programmers proficient in AI technologies. It has become an integral part of daily life and various business systems.
As Badr Al-Majrashi, the Director of Competitions at Mawhiba, points out, scientific competitions have great value in the education system. He believes that the launch of the Olympiad will spread the culture of competitive programming among students. It will reflect positively on the elevation of Saudi human capabilities in all technical areas.
Building a Creative Generation
The National Olympiad will enhance the skills of young boys and girls at an early age. It will develop their capabilities, and hone their skills. The event also aims to foster a culture of innovation and creativity among them. This will position Saudi Arabia as a global tech hub, boasting the latest advanced technologies and AI-related techniques.
According to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the Olympiad seeks to explore the distinguished individuals in the targeted category with computational thinking for analysis and solving programming problems to enter the field of artificial intelligence. It aims to nurture young talents and invest in their golden abilities to solve complex problems, in addition to building a creative generation capable of scientific competition in international Olympiads in the field of informatics and artificial intelligence.
