The Hassib Sabbagh IT Center of Excellence at the Arab American University held the event and challenge, the first of its kind in Palestine entitled “Women in Engineering”. The event was organized by the Society of Engineering Women in the IEEE Society of Electrical and Electronics Engineers from the Faculties of Engineering and Information Technology, and the cooperation of the volunteers of Hassib Sabbagh IT Center of Excellence “IP Team: Innovation Pioneers Team”, with the participation of nearly a hundred students seeking to find meaningful solutions to problems in the fields of health, education, technology, industry, transportation and media.
Dr. Mays Awwad, the director of the Hassib Sabbagh IT Center of Excellence at the University, said: “The idea of the challenge is to be an opportunity to present innovative and pioneering ideas and solutions to the problems that will be presented on the day of the competition. The challenge will be launched for all teams to find the most appropriate and applicable solutions in a creative, pioneering manner and the Center will offer financial rewards to the first three teams after going through the experience of presenting ideas and being judged by jury committees.
Dr. Hazem Khanfar, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, and Dr. Muhammad Marei, Dean of the Faculty of Information Technology, stressed the importance of holding these competitions at the University and the need to involve female students to find better opportunities for them and increase their representation in various fields of work in all sectors of engineering and information technology.
The competition activities were attended by the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Hassib Sabbagh IT Center of Excellence, Engineer Muhannad Hijawi, and the board members Dr. Sami Awad and Engineer Hussam Abu Alrub.
The arbitration committee of the competition included Eng. Nadia Habash, President of the Palestinian Engineers Association, Dr. Maysoon Ibrahim, President of the Information Technology Association and member of the Board of Directors of the Supreme Council for Creativity and Excellence, member of the Board of Trustees of the Arab American University, and Dr. Bassam Walweel, President of the General Federation of Industries and Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Injaz Palestine. Dr. Mona Al-Damidi, President of the IEEE Association of Electrical and Electronics Engineers in Palestine, Eng. Rose Habayeb, Director of Operations at Asal Technology Company, Eng. Yasmine Abu Baker, Director of Mac International for Consulting and International Accreditation / Lloyd's Agents in Palestine, as well as the faculty members from the Arab American University, Dr. Raed Iriqat, Dr. Nisreen Salama, Dr. Dalal Iriqat, and Dr. Mohammad Abu Sharbeh.
The University president, Prof. Dr. Ali Zaidan Abu Zuhri, received the members of the arbitration committee and praised their efforts in making the competition a success, judging it in a professional and transparent manner as well as providing advice and guidance to the participating students to provide them with experience when entering the Palestinian and regional labor market.
During the closing ceremony of the competition, Dr. Awwad, the director the Center, announced the final results of the competition after being judged by the arbitration committee. Mac International presented financial support to them. The second place was won by the “Creative Fingers” team consisting of female students (Marah Salahat, Baisalan Zakarneh, Hajar Ehab, Shams Zakarneh), and the third place was won by the Renew Moda team consisting of female students (Bayan Abu Alrub, Batool Salama, Taqwa Kamil and Adan Sawafta).
