JEDDAH, 25 February — A Saudi company has established a new prize for innovative urban development projects submitted by engineering students with the aim of encouraging research, analysis and data collection. The annual prize is worth SR60,000 in cash in addition to a certificate of appreciation.
The Urban Development Co. said the prize was intended to encourage young engineers develop new ideas, suggest changes to existing land use systems and come up with new engineering concepts for future urban projects.
UDC Chairman Abdul Aziz Abdullah Kamel said King Abdul Aziz University had officially endorsed the prize at a recent symposium on the development of engineering and urban studies hosted by the university.
"We hope that through the efforts of KAAU teaching staff and all those engaged in urban development the prize will help motivate our students in their course of study and encourage them to come up with new concepts in this area," Kamel said.
The prize is divided into three categories: Human Urban Projects prize which goes for those projects which provide urban solutions to special social segments of the society; Future Urbanization prize for the development of housing services and innovative future urban projects; and the Future Planning prize which covers projects that seek to develop the technical systems, basic infrastructure and related data systems. The winners will be given priority for employment with UDC.
"The idea is to encourage students to come up with innovative, cost-effective projects that can be applied in future, improve the local environment and maintain the social characteristics and value while coping with market demand," Kamel said.
The prize committee is made up of five members including representatives from Saudi and foreign universities, the Saudi Urban Sciences Society and municipalities of the Kingdom's main cities. (AWB)
