CODED launches 4th edition of Kuwait Codes in partnership with Kuwait’s leading organizations
Academy aims to enhance youth technology skills
KUWAIT: CODED Academy is pleased to announce the launch of the fourth edition of the Kuwait Codes initiative, targeting high school students and ninth graders, as part of a strategic partnership with Alghanim Industries, Kuwait Finance House, Zain, Agility and Kuwait University, and with the exclusive digital sponsorship of M2R and media sponsorship of Kuwait Times and Kuwait News.
In 2024, this initiative aims to teach a thousand high school students the fundamentals of programming in various programming languages and technology fields. These fields include application development, web programming, game development, cybersecurity and more. The initiative is entirely free of charge and also offers the opportunity to participate in training programs to develop and apply their skills.
The Kuwait Codes initiative represents a valuable opportunity for students, as it aims to build a tech-savvy youth community in the field of technology, providing new opportunities for participation and influence in the future of technology in Kuwait. This aligns with Kuwait’s vision for 2035, focusing on a technology-dependent future. It’s worth noting that the Kuwait Codes initiative has graduated outstanding students who have executed innovative projects in various programming fields, as well as forming a community of individuals sharing a common interest in the tech world and providing them with valuable scientific connections.
At the press conference announcing the launch of Kuwait Codes 2024, Ahmad Marafi, CEO of CODED, remarked: “This initiative comes at a crucial and vital time, as the world witnesses a rapid transition towards technology in various aspects of life. CODED Academy believes that by empowering Kuwaiti youth with programming and technical skills, our young men and women will have the ability to become critical and creative scientific figures - contributing to the development and progress of Kuwait. Furthermore, this initiative addresses the rapidly changing job market needs in Kuwait, offering new job opportunities for young tech enthusiasts.”
Zain Kuwait
On his part, Zain Kuwait Chief Corporate Affairs and Relations Officer Waleed Al-Khashti said: “We are delighted today to renew our support to the community’s top programming initiative – Kuwait Codes, which comes this year in its fourth season. We are proud to have supported the past two seasons of the program, which has achieved so many successes since its inception by upskilling over 2,500 aspiring young, Kuwaiti programmers, whom we look to as the leaders of our nation’s digital future.”
Al-Khashti added: “Many of our corporate sustainability initiatives center around youth and education development, and as digital skills are gaining accelerating importance in the future of education and the economy, we have put the development of programming and other digital competencies at the forefront of our priorities. Zain will always be keen to contribute to upskilling the next generation of local talents with the skills required by today’s markets, like cybersecurity and AI, both of which are being introduced in the fourth season of Kuwait Codes.”
He concluded by saying: “We look forward to a new season filled with success and achievement, and we can’t wait to see even more aspiring young programmers join the program to bolster their skills. We wish our colleagues at CODED all the best in their ongoing journey to empower digital innovation and creativity, not only in our own community, but across the region as well.”
Kuwait Finance House
Likewise, Deputy General Manager for Public Relations and Media at Kuwait Finance House (KFH) Yousuf Abdullah Al-Ruwaieh stated: “We take pride at KFH in continuing our strategic partnership with CODED Academy, to develop programming fundamentals and support technological innovation, through which we aspire to support Kuwaiti youth and contribute to providing them with the best educational means in the field of programming.”
Al-Ruwaieh emphasized that KFH is keen on continuing to enhance its role as a model in corporate social responsibility and innovation support at the level of private sector institutions, and to consolidate its prestigious position in the community as the largest bank in Kuwait and a leading global Islamic financial institution.
Agility
Commenting on their continued partnership with CODED for Kuwait Codes, Henadi Al-Saleh, Agility Chairperson, said: “Young people need digital fluency and technological skills to succeed in the knowledge economy. That’s why Agility has partnered with CODED Academy. Together, we can equip the younger generation with critical software development skills so they can contribute to progress and innovation in Kuwait. I look forward to seeing their progression and development as part of the coming Kuwait Codes cohort.”
Alghanim Industries
Public Relations Manager, Corporate Development and Communications at Alghanim Industries Hussain Al-Qatari added: “Over the past two years, we’ve witnessed firsthand how Kuwait Codes transcends the mere teaching of technical skills, instead nurturing critical life skills among our youth. At Alghanim Industries, our goal extends beyond fostering technological proficiency; we aim to cultivate the collaboration, problem-solving, and creativity that are vital in today’s world.
“This program marks a significant shift from conventional coding education, encouraging continuous growth and active engagement. In collaboration with CODED and our partners in the private sector, we are deeply committed to unlocking the potential of our young people. Together, we are paving their path towards a future where they can lead with technological savvy and a spirit of teamwork, contributing to the ‘Kuwait 2035’ vision.”
Kuwait University
Furthermore, Dean of the College of Business Administration at Kuwait University Professor Adel Al-Wugayan commented: “We gather here today to celebrate this ambitious event and the pioneering initiative marked by the signing of the memorandum of understanding concerning the joint strategic collaboration between the College of Business Administration at Kuwait University and CODED Academy, which includes the Kuwait Codes initiative.“
The College of Business Administration at Kuwait University and CODED Academy share the mission to engage youth in technology and programming. Their partnership aims to foster programming skills among high school students and grow the programming community in Kuwait and the Gulf region through cutting-edge IT and programming courses. The college is dedicated to developing human capital, empowering young generations, serving the community and promoting enlightened thinking in line with the university’s mission.”
Kuwait Times and Kuwait News
Managing Partner of Kuwait News and Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Kuwait Times Abdullah Boftain praised the significant role played by CODED in the past years, affirming that trust, good reputation and achievements have contributed to attracting prominent companies interested in social and national responsibility.
Boftain’s remarks came during the launch of the fourth edition of the Kuwait Codes initiative by CODED Academy to develop programming basics and support technological innovation, in media partnership with Kuwait Times and Kuwait News. He added Kuwait News and Kuwait Times carefully select media partnership opportunities, explaining that choosing this opportunity is in appreciation of the educational and technological company’s efforts since 2015 in providing distinguished human resources to the job market with an eye on the future.
Boftain emphasized that Kuwaiti youth are ambitious and capable of creativity and innovation whenever given the opportunity. “Our role is to provide these opportunities and support them in implementing their ideas in reality,” he stressed.
M2R Group
In a concluding remark, Bilal Al-Mourad, CMO at M2R Group, said: “As a pioneer in the media and advertising industry company with 360 approach, M2R group is proud to be a sponsor of Kuwait Codes as part of its CSR efforts and as an extension of its dedication towards supporting important initiatives in Kuwait. It’s critical for media & advertising companies to support such initiatives in order to increase awareness for such initiatives, and engage as many people as possible. We thank CODED for this opportunity and wish participants the very best.” Registration for Kuwait Codes 2024 is now open for all eligible high-school students on code.kw.