HCT Sharjah wins e-biz challenge

Innovative college students who bagged the e-biz challenge were honoured at a glittering ceremony on Wednesday held by Zayed University.

In groups of three and assisted by a faculty advisor, 73 teams were registered and 43 teams qualified for the second round of the challenge. The challenge is a student-based initiative and its purpose is to recognise and reward national talent and entrepreneurs of tomorrow.

Those who got the first prize were from the HCT women's campus in Sharjah. The team members are: Amel Ismail, Fatma Saeed and Laila Obaid. The second place was clinched by students of the Abu Dhabi campus of Zayed University while the third by the Abu Dhabi Men's College.

Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research and President of Zayed University, awarded the first three winners at a ceremony held at the Dubai World Trade Centre.

The challenge, now in its second year, was launched in April 2003 where final year Higher Colleges of Technology and university students from the UAE and GCC were invited to submit a business plan for an e-business or e-service to benefit the local community by utilising national resources.

Sheikh Nahyan called the challenge a great success that continues to highlight technology as one of the most dynamic aspects of our world.

"The challenge helps students focus on the application of innovative technology to real world problems." He described it as a competition that is about team work, creativity and problem solving. "It promotes innovation, excellence and sound work ethics which are important qualities in the education of our children."

The qualified team was judged by a panel of 10 industry leaders and sponsoring partners of the challenge then convened to judge the entries on merits such as business concept, ease of implementation, innovation and benefit to the local community.

From the 43 business plans, 10 highly commended entries were selected and from these 10 finalists were chosen.