Ibtechar unveils the winners of Sanea Competition 2024
At a celebratory event in Doha, the winners of the 7th edition of the Sanea Competition have been unveiled.
Organised by Ibtechar, a leading innovation consulting firm from Doha, the Sanea Competition takes preparatory and high school students on a six-month journey of discovery, creativity, and making. It challenges young participants to identify real-world problems and leverage Science, Technology, Mathematics, and Engineering (STEM) skills to develop innovative solutions.
The annual event is held under the patronage of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education and the sponsorship of Ras Laffan Industrial City Community Outreach Programme (RL-COP).
A total of 19 teams from 10 schools in Qatar’s Northern side took part in the latest Sanea Competition. This year’s edition featured the introduction of ‘Sanea Labs’ at each participating school. Equipped with cutting-edge digital fabrication technologies and materials, including 3D printers, laser cutters, and electronics kits, and VR technology, the makerspaces serve as catalysts for hands-on learning and exploration.
Teams were tasked with develop an innovative prototype, with a team of experts supporting them in areas of design, functionality, teamwork and presentation skills. The winners are selected by a panel of judges after an extensive evaluation process that includes four evaluation cycles.
The winners
The winners of the Sanea Competition 2024 edition include:
In the preparatory school category, the Smart Hall team from Al Khor Preparatory School for Girls claimed the first place for their project that converts kinetic energy generated during sports classes into electrical energy. The Smart Bracelet Design team from Talha ibn Ubaidullah Preparatory School secured the second place. Samisma Preparatory School for Boys won third place for the Automated Plant Irrigation project that aims to transform the watering process in agriculture into an electric one.
In the high school category, Al Shamal Girls’ Secondary School clinched the first place with their project on creating an assistive device for students with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder to maintain focus in class. Team Rayeq from Al Khawar Girls’ Secondary School achieved second place for their project on a wearable device linked to a mobile application to monitor vital body activities.
The Ambulance Signal team from Al Ka’aban Boys’ Secondary School took third place for their project involving a signal that facilitates ambulance movement on congested roads.
Under the sponsorship of RL-COP, first-place winners of the competition received a Lenovo Yoga Tab 11, while second-place winners took home the Quest 2 VR headset. Third-place winners won the Apple Watch SE 40.
Comments from leaders
Speaking at the ceremony, Maryam Noaman al-Emadi, director of the Educational Guidance Department at the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, said: “The Ministry recognises the importance of providing students with the competencies they need to succeed in a rapidly changing global economy and an evolving technological world. This requires integrating knowledge, skills and the latest trends into distinct and well-planned learning experiences.”
“In line with the Ministry’s strategic objectives that include achieving excellence in digital learning at all levels and adopting the spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship, while transforming schools into education beacons that provide safe, high-quality academic experiences for all students, the seventh edition of Sanea Competition provided a distinctive application model for these trends.”
Nayef al-Ibrahim, CEO and co-founder of Ibtechar, said: “With each edition of the Sanea Competition our focus remains on enhancing and broadening the overall impact of the programme. The addition of Sanea Labs to the programme this year has accelerated our ambition to provide the best possible tools and environment for young minds to flourish and recognise the impact of technology for positive change in society.”
