JEDDAH, 18 May 2005 — Some young women at Dar Al-Hekma College are discovering they have an aptitude for the ever-growing high-tech marketplace. Today is the last day of a three-day technology exhibition at the college by students of its Business Management Information Systems (BMIS) course.
The event, “Out With the Old; In With the New,” is sponsored by eXtra electronics store, and it is bringing together instructors, students and their families for an extensive display on the latest products and technology in computers, MIS and telecommunication.
“The aim is to involve the students in an experimental learning approach that teaches them to manage and market a project,” said Dania Nassief, the course instructor. “They not only learn about the technology and become more familiar with it because most girls are kind of intimidated by technology, but they also learn how to use technology for their projects, how to sell and demonstrate the latest technology to customers,” Nasseif told Arab News.
The 15 girls in the course were trained last week at eXtra. It exposed them to a professional business environment and gave them a complete business experience. They applied what they learned at the exhibition, which is their final project for the course. They are acting as salespersons and technology experts and even are selling products to those interested.
“They won’t be given commission on what they sell, but they will receive very expensive gifts for their efforts,” Nasseif said.
But eXtra did offer special discounts. Some of the products in the exhibition are not yet in the Saudi market, but they are not for sale. It is hands-on experience for the students and reassuring to parents that the college is teaching not just theory but practice.
The students were divided into groups each responsible for a task such as marketing, designing the brochures and invitations and demonstrating the products.
“This was a rewarding experience,” said Sumayya Bari, the student project manager. “I learned a lot, whether in planning or working with my teammates who are very cooperative.”
