Page 51 - SAMENA Trends - June-July 2020

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

National Youth Commission Partners with Microsoft to Upskill Omani Youth

in Emerging Technologies

The National Youth Commission (NYC) today and tomorrow.” Alya Al-Shanfari, and collaborate, all in one place. With AI
announced its collaboration with Microsoft Member of the National Youth Advisory courses, participants will learn to build
to upskill the country’s youth in emerging Committee and Head of the Youth Tech predictive models and analysis, natural
technologies. As part of NYC’s Youth Bootcamp, said: “Young people will gain language, image and video processing, as
Tech Bootcamp, students and working the opportunity to harness various modern well as create intelligent conversational
professionals will gain the opportunity technologies by availing these specialized bots. And the IoT modules will enable
to get hands on trainings and harness courses from Microsoft; this will ensure youth to learn about the architectural
technologies such as Artificial Intelligence the development of a technically skilled components, implementing it on devices
(AI) and Internet of Things (IoT). “The generation. The National Youth Committee and the cloud, as well as identify and
Sultanate of Oman is at the forefront to is implementing this project as part of the articulate IoT business opportunities
make the most of the Fourth Industrial “Youth Capacity Development” program, across a broad spectrum of industries.
revolution and transform industries to one of our five sustainable program “The National Youth Commission is on
drive sustained economic growth” Said packages.” The Youth Tech Bootcamp will a thoughtful journey to build a learning
Dr. Sami Bin Salim Al-Kharusi, President introduce AI and IoT learning paths along culture and enable youth with skills to
of NYC. “Our youth will be the core drivers with fundamental trainings on the cloud. unlock their capabilities – and contribute
of this journey. Hence, it is of utmost The course paths will provide foundational to the digital economy of the sultanate.”
importance that we skill and upskill and deep technical knowledge on how Said Sheikh Saif Hilal Al Hosni, Country
national talent for them to make the most these technologies can be implemented to Manager, Microsoft Oman and Bahrain.
of latest technology and become experts, empower them in transforming challenges “With our mission to empower every
so they can accelerate innovation, create into opportunities across all industries person and organization to achieve more,
jobs as well as be prepared for the jobs of the sultanate. NYC will make use of we look forward to supporting them in their
of future. Our partnership with Microsoft Microsoft’s Cloud Society platform to efforts – and thus nurturing a generation
will be at the center of this effort to make the courses available, and conduct of knowledgeable, qualified, and future-
empower Omani youth and contribute to instructor led trainings via Microsoft Teams ready Omani youth with the language of
the ongoing digital transformation journey – a unified communications platform that the future.”
of the Sultanate – thus reshaping our brings people together to chat, meet, call

Microsoft Launches Center of Excellence to Promote Innovation and
Sustainability in the Energy Industry

Microsoft inaugurated a center of skilling initiatives in the energy sector. The attended by His Excellency Omar Sultan Al
excellence for energy – known as center will also help contribute towards Olama, UAE Minister of State for Artificial
‘Microsoft Energy Core’ – in the UAE. The environmental sustainability of the Intelligence, and Samer Abu Ltaif, President
initiative, and facility aims to accelerate industry – a key element of the company’s for Microsoft Middle East and Africa,
digital transformation; build coalitions global commitment towards climate along with several industry customers
for responsible innovation; and drive innovation. The virtual launch event was and partners. “The UAE has always been
at the forefront of innovation, with our
ambition to become a role model for the
world,” said His Excellency, Omar Sultan
Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial
Intelligence. “The UAE National Strategy
for Artificial Intelligence sits at the heart
of it, and our partnership with Microsoft
contributes to this effort. The Energy Core
will accelerate our collaboration to focus
on sectors such as the energy industry
– to enable digital transformation, and
address core areas such as increasing
efficiency, environmental sustainability
and policymaking in the region – leading to
a positive future for generations to come.

51 JUNE-JULY 2020