RIYADH: King Saud University in Riyadh hosted Athka KSU, one of the largest AI-focused events at universities in the Kingdom.
Academic experts told Arab News that the event reinforced the concept of “experiential learning” by providing a dynamic environment in which students and researchers could engage in hands-on experiences simulating real-world challenges.
Organized in collaboration with the Saudi Data and AI Authority, Athka KSU aimed to equip students, faculty, and staff with advanced technological skills.
Interactive challenges using AI technologies tested students' skills in a unique way that combined competition with innovation. (X: @SDAIA_SA)
It featured an intensive program with a diverse range of activities designed to develop participants’ skills in AI, while enhancing their cognitive, personal, and practical abilities.
The program, attended by hundreds of university students, included live applications, hands-on experiments, and showcases of leading global AI advancements.
A series of interactive challenges tested students’ skills through direct engagement with AI technologies, offering a unique experience that blended competition with innovation.
Minister of Education Yousef Al-Benyan and SDAIA President Abdullah Al-Ghamdi were among the distinguished guests at the Athka KSU event in Riyadh. (Supplied)
The event also highlighted the latest AI technologies used in the university’s labs, giving participants hands-on exposure to advanced applications.
As part of the event, King Saud University, in collaboration with SDAIA and Huawei, launched a research fellowship program and inaugurated AI Labs at the College of Food and Agriculture Sciences and the College of Computer and Information Sciences.
Rafiq Mahab Jamaluddin, professor of computer science at the university, said that the event equipped participants with critical thinking and problem-solving skills essential for keeping pace with the modern job market.
Interactive challenges using AI technologies tested students' skills in a unique way that combined competition with innovation. (X: @SDAIA_SA)
“The success of such initiatives highlights the urgent need to modernize university curricula, ensuring alignment with the evolving demands of the Fourth Industrial Revolution,” Jamaluddin said.
“Universities should continue to bridge the gap between theoretical education and hands-on application, ensuring graduates are globally competitive and equipped to drive digital transformation.”
Majed Al-Azouni, a lecturer at Al-Manzala Academy of Science and Technology in Egypt, described the event as a bold, forward-looking initiative toward thriving digital transformation.
Interactive challenges using AI technologies tested students' skills in a unique way that combined competition with innovation. (X: @SDAIA_SA)
“AI-focused events, such as Athka KSU, serve as key drivers in shaping young minds and fostering innovation within advanced academic environments,” Al-Azouni added.
Al-Azouni, who is also a member of the Arab Scientific Society for Transport, emphasized that such initiatives go beyond knowledge transfer and offer students and researchers hands-on experiences that simulate real-world challenges, ultimately shaping a generation of specialists capable of transforming ideas into effective applications.
He said that collaboration between universities and the industrial sector is a fundamental pillar of these initiatives’ success, providing students with valuable insights into market needs, and enabling them to develop practical solutions that address industry demands.
“Engaging startups and research institutions paves the way for developing viable, market-ready projects,” Al-Azouni said.
