Emirates Global Aluminium, the largest industrial company in
the United Arab Emirates outside oil and gas, today announced the winners of ‘The EGA Aluminium
Design and Innovation Challenge’, a competition held in partnership with Emirates Schools
Establishment (ESE) and BMW Group to inspire and raise school students’ interest in science,
technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
The winning teams were recognised by Her Excellency Hessa Ahmed Rasheed, Executive Director of
School Development Sector at Emirates Schools Establishment, and Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief
Executive Officer of EGA, at a ceremony held at EGA Al Taweelah in Abu Dhabi.
Her Excellency Hessa Ahmed Rasheed of Emirates Schools Establishment said: “The EGA
Aluminium Design and Innovation Challenge is a vital initiative that reinforces EGA and Emirates
Schools Establishment collaborative efforts to encourage and nurture students’ interest in STEM
education and help establish a strong foundation for the future of our workforce. The Establishment
continues to build bridges of cooperation and coordination with all partners in the public and private
sectors, to support students in their academic and practical journey by involving them in many
pioneering programs to qualify them for the future.
Her Excellency congratulated the students who won the challenge, expressing her great confidence in
their abilities and skills, wishing them all the luck in the future.
Out of 105 team applications received across the UAE, 20 teams were shortlisted to participate in the
competition. Shortlisted students from grades nine to 12 were invited to apply their STEM skills to
creatively design an innovative project using aluminium in one of the four challenge categories –
architecture, green solutions, product design and sustainable mobility.
The winning teams in each category are:
– Jameela Bu Heired School in the Architecture category
– Al Ma’arif 2 School in the Green solutions category
Press Release
– Al Maseera School in the Product design category
– Dubai National School – Twar in the Sustainable mobility category
Abdulnasser Bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Global Aluminium, said: Achieving our
national goals requires more young people to study and ultimately pursue careers in science,
technology, engineering and mathematics. The high number of applications for ‘The EGA Aluminium
Design and Innovation Challenge’ shows the interest amongst students in these subjects. The high
quality of the entries gives me great confidence that the coming generation will reach new heights for
our country. Congratulations to all the winners.”
‘The EGA Aluminium Design and Innovation Design Challenge’ is part of EGA’s ‘Engineer the Future’
programme, which introduces school students in the UAE to the real-life application in industry of
science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Over the course of four weeks, students were mentored by young EGA engineers. The students were
also provided with the necessary resources and tools to complete their projects.
In addition, EGA also runs an annual industrial robotics competition that aims to provide university
engineering students with real-life experience of robotics, automation, and big data. Last year, EGA
programmes inspired young people’s interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics
reached more than 6,000 students.