Riyadh: TCS has launched its flagship digital innovation and career readiness program – goIT – in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The program basically aims at at demystifying computer science and assisting students in gaining the skills and confidence required to pursue STEM education and technology jobs. TCS says goIT gives young people access to hands-on technology education and design challenges. It introduces students to design thinking and digital technologies to develop and prototype solutions that improve their own communities or support the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The curriculum includes innovation lifecycle, product prototyping, and industry-relevant entrepreneurial skills. Under the program, TCS employees mentor students, and provide industry context and real-world connections. TCS is currently collaborating with Al Sahafa International School, Riyadh and has trained 106 students. Under the theme of the UN SDGs, students ideated on solutions for good health and wellbeing, affordable and clean energy, and zero hunger. For example, Grade 7 students researched, ideated, and prototyped a mobile solution called ‘Team Earth’ that displays the location of the nearest renewable energy outlets and finds an environmental, social, and governance volunteer. Meanwhile, Grade 5 students pitched a technology solution to solve world hunger by creating an app that would act as a digital aggregator. Called ‘Free Supermarket’, it would help people make and receive donations.
“To be competitive in the digital economy of the future, every community has to invest in developing its human capital and creating a digitally-capable workforce. We have been partnering with local communities for the past 13 years to spark interest in IT and technology among young people,” said Sumanta Roy, regional head, Middle East and Africa, TCS. “After the huge success of goIT in other parts of the world, we introduced this program in the Kingdom so students can learn from TCS’ skilled technology professionals and flex their IT skills. We look forward to expanding the program to more schools in Saudi soon.”
The program has benefitted over 100,000 students across 38 countries around the globe since its inception in 2009, says a statement from the company. In a first, the TCS goIT program was conducted in Arabic to suit local schools across the Middle East.
