Sharjah Airport Authority (SAA) recently honored the second cohort of university students participating in the “Promising Generations” initiative, held during the new academic year. The initiative was organized in collaboration with the Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation (SRTI) Park and supported by Air Arabia, Huawei, ERI Marses, Ar Engineering, e&, Beta, Waseela, and 86b Research.

The graduation ceremony for the second cohort was held at (SRTI) Park’s headquarters, attended by His Excellency ‏Sheikh Faisal Bin Saoud Al Qassimi, Director of SAA, along with key officials, participating students, supervising professors, and representatives from the companies supporting the initiative.

Cultivating a Supportive Environment to Hone Skills and Prepare for Future Challenges

The initiative aims to harness university students’ skills in innovation, analytical thinking, and critical analysis within the UAE by providing a supportive environment that enhances their skills and prepares them for future challenges. Through healthy competition, students are encouraged to propose unique initiatives and develop innovative projects, equipping them for the next stages in their academic and professional journeys.

A Significant Success in Creating a Network of Innovative Students and Fostering Creativity

His Excellency ‏Sheikh Faisal Bin Saoud Al Qassimi, Director of Sharjah Airport Authority praised the milestone achievements of the “Promising Generations” initiative, which has been active since its launch in 2021. He emphasized how it has fostered a creative network of students, inspiring their innovative capacities and reflecting Sharjah Airport’s commitment to nurturing young talent. He underscored that involving students in such initiatives transforms challenges in their academic and professional paths into opportunities for growth and innovation, affirming that young people, equipped with advanced knowledge and critical thinking skills, are at the forefront of driving sustainable development in society.

H.E. Hussain Al Mahmoudi, CEO of the (SRTI) Park, said, “The ‘Promising Generations’ initiative aligns with (SRTI) Park’s strategy to create a conducive environment supporting entrepreneurship and innovation among the youth. We are committed to empowering students to develop technical and intellectual skills while offering collaboration opportunities with leading global companies in technology and aviation. Through such initiatives, we strive to support young people in creating practical solutions to future challenges, thereby actively contributing to sustainable development.”

Combining Ideas to Develop Innovative Solutions

Student engagement in the initiative and its workshops highlights the power of cross-disciplinary collaboration, where student teams work together to solve challenges through a competitive approach, merging ideas to create systematic and innovative solutions.

The ceremony agenda included the final presentations of outstanding projects by student groups, who met the initiative’s standards. Following the presentations, participants were honored, and the winning project was announced: a Smart Travel Ticket issued using blockchain and AI technology by students from the Higher Colleges of Technology, earning them the Excellence Cup.