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| (L-R): ASEAN Secretary General His Excellency Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, Huawei ICT Competition Asia-Pacific 2023-2024 Innovation Track Champions Cebu Institute of Technology, Permanent Representative of the Philippines to ASEAN Her Excellency Ambassador Hjayceelyn Mancenido Quintana (Image Source: Huawei) |
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| (L-R): ASEAN Secretary General His Excellency Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, Huawei ICT Competition Asia-Pacific 2023-2024 Computing Track Champions iACADEMY, Permanent Representative of the Philippines to ASEAN Her Excellency Ambassador Hjayceelyn Mancenido Quintana (Image Source: Huawei) |
The winners of the 8th Huawei ICT Competition Asia-Pacific 2023-2024 were announced at an awarding ceremony organized by Huawei and co-hosted by ASEAN Foundation held at the ASEAN Headquarters in Jakarta, Indonesia. Opened by ASEAN Secretary General His Excellency Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, the ceremony was attended by distinguished representatives from missions to ASEAN and international organizations. Providing a retrospective, Huawei Asia Pacific President Simon Lin stated, "Beginning in 2023, we added a new Computing Track, together with the Network, Cloud and Innovation track. Moreover, we designed more interactive activities to enhance the students’ leadership and employment skills. Together with governments, industry, and academia partners, we hope to cultivate future leaders, practitioners, and innovators in this region."
Two Filipino teams made waves, clinching two out of four categories. Cebu Institute of Technology – University (CIT-U), represented by Thomas Danjo Manulat, Adrian Sajulga, Tristan James Tolentino, and Instructor Dr. Eugene Busico secured the Grand Prize in the Innovation Track, marking a historic milestone as it was the first time the Philippines advanced for the regional round. Their innovative project WEI Care taps on the potential of technology to integrate heart attack monitoring system utilizing Huawei smart watch technology and Huawei AI. Meanwhile, iACADEMY’s Ryan Caezar Itang, Nicholas Barilea, Justine Benedict Umali, and Instructor Jayson Viernes, represented by SOC Dean Francisco Napalit, emerged as the regional champion in the newly added Computing Track. Institut Teknologi Bandung from Indonesia topped the Network Track while the Grand Prize in the Cloud Track was awarded to Singapore Polytechnic. These Grand Prizes were presented by Dr. Hourn along with representatives from the missions to ASEAN of their respective countries. Additionally, 16 other teams from Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Cambodia, Laos PDR, Viet Nam, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong (China), and Macao (China) were awarded first, second, and third prizes across the four tracks. The winners will represent the region at the Global Final of the Huawei ICT Competition in Shenzhen in May 2024.
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| (L-R): ASEAN Secretary General His Excellency Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, Huawei ICT Competition Asia-Pacific 2023-2024 Network Track Champions Institut Teknologi Bandung, Permanent Representative of Indonesia to ASEAN His Excellency Ambassador M.I. Derry Aman (Image Source: Huawei) |
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| (L-R): ASEAN Secretary General His Excellency Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, Huawei ICT Competition Asia-Pacific 2023-2024 Cloud Track Champions Singapore Polytechnic, Representative from the Mission of Singapore to ASEAN (Image Source: Huawei) |
With the theme “Connection, Glory, Future", the competition has been participated by more than 6,400 college students from fourteen different countries across the Asia-Pacific region, exhibiting their skills and talents in the field of information and communications technology, and developing innovative solutions that place value to what the world needs. “With the rapid pace of technological advancement and the growing demand for digital expertise, it is essential that we empower our youth with the digital skills they need to succeed in the digital economy,” said Ambassador M.I. Derry Aman, Permanent Representative of Indonesia to ASEAN. Maki Katsuno-Hayashikawa, Director and Representative of UNESCO Regional Office in Jakarta, extended his appreciation to Huawei for being "a committed partner of UNESCO Global Skills Academy and demonstrating its dedication to providing free online certification training for learners worldwide through the Huawei ICT Academy program, cultivating ICT Talents". ASEAN Foundation Executive Director Dr. Piti Srisangnam highlighted the essential role of digital literacy, saying, "In ASEAN and across the Asia Pacific, digital literacy and proficiency are not just desirable skills; they are essential for economic growth, social development, and global competitiveness."
The Huawei ICT Competition serves as dynamic platform for students to engage in healthy competition and idea exchange, bolstering their ICT (Information and Communications Technology) knowledge and practical skills. This initiative not only boosts their innovative capacities but also plays a crucial role in narrowing the digital talent divide. Huawei is committed to further expanding its educational impact with a goal to establish 500 ICT Academies that aim to nurture over 200,000 students by 2025.
