College of Computer and Information Sciences in a National Competition Titled AthkaU
College of Computer and Information Sciences, participated in a competition titled AthkaU. This national initiative aims to empower university students across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to participate in the global competition Imagine Cup 2025 by training, qualifying, and preparing them to compete on an international level.
It is worth mentioning that the AthkaU initiative was launched by the Saudi Data & AI Authority (SDAIA) in partnership with Microsoft. The initiative aims to raise awareness of artificial intelligence among university students, foster a globally competitive generation, and enable the formation of teams to represent Saudi Arabia in international competitions.
It is noteworthy that the initiative consists of two main components: (A 48-hour remote training program, conducted from October 28 to November 23, and the AthkaU competition, held from November 24 to January 13). The training program began with the nomination of 30 students from each university. During this phase, students are trained to become qualified to obtain three professional certifications accredited by Microsoft. The training aims to enhance participants' skills and prepare them to present innovative AI-based solutions, followed by the competition phase, which is consists of three stages: (nominating 2 to 3 teams from each university based on projects and ideas that meet the requirements and criteria, Screening and shortlisting ideas, A final ceremony. The winning teams will qualify to participate in the Imagine Cup 2025 global competition in Seattle, competing with winners from other countries for the global title. From the College of Computer and Information Sciences, two teams participated: GenRx System and NEUROLENS.
In this context, Dr. Manal bint Abdullah Aloahaly, Dean of the College of Computer and Information Sciences, emphasized that the participation of the college’s students in such competitions represents a challenge for them to present innovative solutions that can be applied in various fields of life. She also highlighted the importance of fostering an interactive learning environment in the fields of data and artificial intelligence to build a generation capable of adapting to advancements in these cutting-edge technologies. This aligns with the college’s objectives of developing future skills and enhancing competitiveness.
