Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — As part of ICTWEEK UZBEKISTAN 2024, running from September 17 to 20 in Tashkent, Huawei hosted the "Huawei ICT Talent Summit."

The summit gathered representatives from the government, international organizations, higher educational institutions in Uzbekistan, Huawei, and ICT students. The focus of the summit was on developing digital talents crucial for building an intelligent future.

Huawei’s educational session addressed key issues in developing digital skills and supporting young talents in ICT, as well as technologies aimed at transforming the education sector. The event was supported by the Ministry of Digital Technologies of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the IT Education Association, and featured speakers from the Ministry of Digital Technologies, the UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education (IITE), Tashkent University of Information Technologies (TUIT), and Huawei.

Rustam Karimzhanov, Deputy Minister of Digital Technologies, opened the summit with a welcome speech, highlighting achievements in IT education in Uzbekistan and the conditions created for youth to explore advanced technologies and enhance their digital and language skills for a successful career in the ICT industry.

"Developing ICT talents is a key task in establishing a digital economy. Open collaboration and interaction between the state, private sector, and international organizations contribute to accelerating the integration of future specialists into the digital environment. Significant joint efforts have been made to provide access to certified educational courses from leading ICT companies like Huawei. We encourage digital talents to take advantage of these opportunities and delve deeper into the intellectual world of technologies," said Karimzhanov. He also announced a government program to support youth in gaining practical skills and certifications in advanced technologies, including ICT Academy courses from Huawei.

Kevin Wei, Director of Human Resources at Huawei Uzbekistan, emphasized that students from 15 Uzbek universities currently have access to Huawei’s ICT Academy courses. "Students with digital skills in innovations like Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, and 5G enhance their competitiveness in the job market and lay the foundation for a successful career in the ICT industry. Huawei’s educational programs will allow you to gain advanced knowledge from industry experts while still in university," Wei shared.

Ekaterina Pushkareva, Program Specialist at IITE UNESCO, spoke about the organization’s efforts to promote innovative ICT use and achieve "Sustainable Development Goal 4" through ICT-based solutions and practices. She highlighted the importance of IITE UNESCO’s partnership initiatives with Huawei in developing ICT talents and enhancing digital skills, focusing on higher education and vocational training in the Middle East and Central Asia: "Such initiatives contribute to the development of ICT competencies and skills among students and educators, and promote equal access to educational opportunities in the region."

The summit covered ICT Academy activities in Uzbekistan and successful experiences in certifying Academy instructors at TUIT, as shared by instructor Azamat Kodirov. Dr. Mohamed Madkur, Vice President for ICT Strategy and Marketing at Huawei for the Middle East and Central Asia, emphasized that ICT is a fundamental platform for our lives and enriches the regional economy, making it more prosperous. He stressed the critical role of talent in driving digital transformation in the Middle East and Central Asia.

The event also addressed the role of digital technologies in shaping educational processes and the digitization of education. Reshat Boltaev, Huawei’s ICT Solutions Advisor in Uzbekistan, discussed key aspects of Huawei’s solutions aimed at digitalizing and innovating education, and how ICT solutions expand learning opportunities, making educational institutions more innovative and effective in preparing skilled personnel.

At the end of the summit, ICT Academy Ambassadors were appointed from local university students, who will promote the activities of the Academies and help expand digital knowledge among their peers. The registration for the "ICT Competition 2024-2025" was also launched, inviting students from Huawei ICT Academies, all Uzbek universities, and educational institutions with ICT programs. The ninth annual ICT competition will provide a prestigious platform for showcasing talents on the global stage.