https://arab.news/mnnm5
DHAHRAN: The King Abdulaziz Cultural Center, known as Ithra, announced the qualification of 20 teams at the conclusion of the regional rounds of the fifth Saudi STEM Racing competition.
The contest aims to raise awareness of STEM disciplines (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) among students across the Kingdom and around the world.
The national finals will be held at Ithra from June 4-6, according to a press release issued by the center.
The 20 qualified teams were selected from 47 participating teams across six geographical areas: Dhahran, Jubail, Al-Ahsa, Riyadh, Madinah, and Jeddah.
The teams qualifying for the national finals represent the following cities: Jubail (Flare, Aerix, Rooh), Al-Ahsa (Drein, Revex, Avion, Sahr), Dhahran (Lynx, Gaddaha, Tors), Riyadh (Leap, Veyn, Peak), Madinah (Anaq, Velora, Rehla), and Jeddah (YLA, Baz, Astriv, Aerion).
Saudi STEM Racing, delivered by Ithra, is one of the Kingdom’s leading global educational programs designed for school students.
“At Ithra, we are committed to supporting students who are passionate about science and emerging technologies,” said Maha Abdulhadi, program lead of Saudi STEM Racing at Ithra.
“With the aim of advancing their academic and professional development and preparing them to become future leaders and a driving force behind the Kingdom’s distinguished creative industries.”
The students’ qualification followed participation in a comprehensive six-month training program supervised by Ithra and delivered by 37 local and international expert trainers across six specialized training centers.
The regional competitions brought together more than 280 students representing schools across the Kingdom, where participants undertook an integrated learning journey covering engineering fundamentals, design principles, teamwork, project management, presentation and communication skills, in addition to performance testing and race challenges. Both girls and boys participated.
Now in its fifth edition, the program aims to ensure sustained impact and long-term commitment to developing youth capabilities in science, technology, and engineering, while aligning with best practices in management, marketing, and modern digital skills.
The program also highlights Ithra’s continued commitment to empowering youth across diverse knowledge and creative fields through a wide range of initiatives that integrate culture and innovation on a global scale.
Several students participating in Saudi STEM Racing have qualified for the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair, the world’s largest international science competition, which is held annually in the US next month, with the participation of thousands of students from more than 70 countries.
“The program has further strengthened its position as the first initiative of its kind in the Kingdom to offer a comprehensive, team-based experiential learning model,” Abdulhadi said.