Gulf Bank's 3rd Datathon Empowers Kuwait's Youth in Data and AI

Gulf Bank, in collaboration with Kuwait University's College of Life Sciences and the "Kuwait Code" Academy, hosted its 3rd Datathon competition at Kuwait University's Cultural Center on May 13, 2024. The event attracted over 400 young talents and aspiring professionals from Kuwait, aiming to empower data specialists, school and university students, and those interested in working in the fields of data and analytics.

Why this matters: This initiative has the potential to shape Kuwait's future workforce and contribute to the country's economic growth by cultivating a skilled talent pool in data and AI. By promoting data literacy among Kuwait's youth, Gulf Bank is supporting the country's vision to become a hub for innovation and technology.

The competition featured three categories: "Data Modeling," "Data Visualization," and "Artificial Intelligence (AI) - GenAI," with the latter being introduced for the first time. The minimum age requirement for participants was reduced from 18 to 16 years old, allowing high school students to register for all categories. The event also included workshops with data science experts and was supported by the global company TABLEAU.

Ms. Salma Al-Hajjaj, Gulf Bank's General Manager of Human Resources, emphasized the bank's commitment to promoting data literacy within society. "We are committed to utilizing our resources to promote data literacy within society, encouraging young individuals to enhance their skills in the field of data to meet Kuwait's future demands," she stated.

Dr. Nawaf Al-Hajri, Dean of the College of Life Sciences, expressed his pleasure in hosting the competition at the Sabah Al-Salem University City campus, in partnership with Gulf Bank. Ghaith Ghazi, Tableau's Area Vice President, highlighted Gulf Bank's vital role in organizing such competitions to support Kuwait's talent base, which positively impacts the economy as a whole.

The Datathon competition aims to promote data literacy among Kuwait's youth and aligns with Kuwait Vision 2035, which seeks to cultivate a creative human capital. The event provides unique opportunities for university students, recent graduates, high school students, and data enthusiasts to enhance their skills in data analysis and programming. Gulf Bank's commitment to data literacy and digital services cements its position as a forward-looking financial institution.

The successful 3rd Datathon competition, with its expanded categories and lowered age requirement, demonstrates Gulf Bank's dedication to empowering Kuwait's young talents in the fields of data and artificial intelligence. By fostering data literacy and providing a platform for skill development, Gulf Bank continues to play a significant role in shaping Kuwait's future workforce and contributing to the country's economic growth.

Key Takeaways

• Gulf Bank hosts 3rd Datathon competition, attracting 400+ young talents in Kuwait.
• Event promotes data literacy, contributing to Kuwait's economic growth and innovation.
• Competition features 3 categories: Data Modeling, Data Visualization, and AI-GenAI.
• Minimum age requirement reduced to 16, allowing high school students to participate.
• Gulf Bank's initiative supports Kuwait Vision 2035, cultivating creative human capital.