The female students of the Business Administration College at Umm Al-Qura University (UQU) won in the (STEAM) Innovation Challenge held at King Abdullah University for Science and Technology (KAUST). The challenge was organized by the KAUST Entrepreneurship Center on 12-14^th April 2018 and was admitted by 300 students of both genders. In this context, Student/ Mariam Khan, from the Department of Business Administration, was a member of a six-student team from various universities that was awarded the first prize.  

Another achievement in the same challenges was attributed to Student/ Khawla Al-Lehiany from the Department of Marketing. She was within a seven-student team representing various disciplines, universities and states that won the second prize.

It is worth mentioning that Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) Innovation Challenge includes workshops designed in collaboration with Northman Grumman, the Institutional Partner. It aims to support students to find innovative solutions to some of the challenges of local, regional and global significance that face the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and contributes to the achievement of Vision 2030.

The STEAM Innovation Challenge is a 48-hour to three-day intensive entrepreneurship program held in KAUST. Students from various universities established pilot projects from scratch in the form of small and medium enterprises through brainstorming and serious workshops. Each of the 30 teams established its project in three days and presented it before the arbitration committee in two hours. In the first stage, six teams were announced winners, four of which included students/ Mariam Khan, Khawla Al-Lehiany, Rawan Bal-Aswad and Ruba Al-Sharif from the UQU College of Business Administration.    

Nomination was based on the type of solutions in terms of uniqueness, level of innovation, applicability, impact, expandability, and finally sustainability. Moreover, members were judged according to their ability to communicate the idea in two hours of processing and readiness.  

In turn, Mariam Muhammad Israr Sherin Khan, Level6 BA Student, expressed her happiness to represent the BA College and rank first with her team. “I work as a digital marketing specialist in SOFTCARE with Irtiqaa Al-Turkistany, my colleague at work and study; our manager is Dr. Abdullah Murad. My team (# 19) ranked first, as we presented a solution for the missing people in crowded places. This depended on an application that connected the data of the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to the facial recognition system and smart bands using artificial intelligence. (STEAM) Innovation Challenge is one of the best experiences I have ever had. It pushes you outside the comfort zone to think in a new and innovative way. I would like to thank the BA College for nominating me for such a competition,” she said.

In the same context, Khawla Saleh Abdurrahman Al-Lehiany, Level6 Marketing Student, said, “I and my team were awarded the second prize. Our project was a program that enabled parents to protect their children against internet risks via usage control. (STEAM) Innovation Challenge allowed me to explore new skills in me such as my ability to work in a team and solve problems. It was a very beautiful experience that got out the best of me to the extent that I wish to repeat it every year. I would like to thank the BA College for my nomination. 28th Rajab 1439H will always be a day to remember and an exceptional experience to the minutest detail. Thank God!”

On the other hand, Dr. Sultan bin Ayedh Al-Baqmy, Dean of the BA College, stated that such global competition was considered a unique initiative to discover students' skills of thinking, creativity and innovation. He added that it was in line with the challenges of the present era. In other words, it opened horizons to students, gave them self-confidence, and helped them connect between theory and practice. Therefore, and stemming from the significance of Vision 2030 initiatives, this competition met the aspirations and kept up with the vision and mission of the BA College.    

Within the same framework, Dr. Al-Baqmy appreciated the efforts of Dr. Suzan Al-Wazzan, Vice-Dean of the BA College. This was as she coordinated with the KAUST Entrepreneurship Bureau, nominated and supported students and stayed beside them until the announcement of the results, which had a great impact on them. In turn, Ms. Arwa Shafy, KAUST Entrepreneurship Center Projects Coordinator and Graduate of UQU BA College, hailed the efforts exerted in cooperation, coordination and facilitation. She also expressed that she was proud with the College’s outputs and their great success in the labor market, and that she was happy with the BA students’ support and victory. She added that she deeply believed in their success to top the list of winners. In other words, they spared no effort within a limited time, and thus they deserved to win.