There's much more to IT

Technology is all about benefiting people as emphasised at the Beyond IT conference held recently. As UmmeSalma Mujtaba reports, community service was a crucial aspect of the event.

Empowerment through community involvement was the theme of the Beyond IT conference held recently at the Sharjah Higher Colleges of Technology. Through workshops, participants learnt how they could assist in developing the community.

The event was held under the patronage of Shaikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and it was organised by the university's IT department.

More than 600 delegates including students, faculty and presenters from nearly 30 organisations took part.

A number of organisations that were represented at the conference promoted their charity initiatives. Their speakers made presentations about their organisation's objectives and held workshops on their charity work.

WHAT THE CONFERENCE IS ABOUT

Notes spoke to Hind Al Mualla, special project manager on the Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum IT Education Project. She was also a guest speaker at the conference.

What are the aims of the conference?

Raise awareness and understanding of projects that can support disadvantaged individuals and communities.

Promote, support and facilitate voluntary action, which can enhance our students' development.

What does "beyond IT" stand for?

In today's world we are so driven by technology around us that at times we forget the actual purpose of this technology is to help us not to drive us.

Therefore, we want people to think more than just education in IT, and reach out to the actual goal of education, which is lending a helping hand and building the community for a better tomorrow.

What is empowerment through IT for the community?

We want to use IT to lend a hand to the community at large in the UAE. The conference sponsors range from Wafi City to Tamkeen, an organisation that assists the visually impaired to make use of IT.

We have the IT Education project by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-president and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, that aims to empower individuals through the use of IT.

How do you see the conference adding value to students at the college?

Students get a chance to interact with a lot of organisations (sponsors) that are engaged in voluntary activities here in the UAE and elsewhere. Students get to register their names with them and make good use of their education in community building.

- The writer is a research scholar with SMC–Switzerland, a freelance lecturer, corporate trainer and academic consultant