TRA opens 2nd Summer Innovation Camp

DUBAI, 17th July, 2016 (WAM) -- The UAE Telecommunications Regulatory Authority, TRA, today opened the 2nd edition of its 'Summer Innovation Camp,' a month-long initiative that will run until August 18th. The initiative has been designed to cultivate the spirit of innovation and creativity among young Emiratis, while also teaching them more about the local telecommunications and information technology sectors through different events and activities held throughout the country.

This year's edition of the event has been developed to support reading-based activities in support of 2016 being declared as the Year of Reading by President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and under the directive of Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The move aims to further develop a continuous reading habit among today's youth. In addition, this year's event will also see the opening of two camps for girls for the first time.

The TRA said that interest in the event has grown dramatically and that the eight camps set up in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Ras al-Kahimah, Fujairah and Al Ain have exceeded their capacity this year, even though the agency has already expanded the camp this year to accommodate the growing number of students aged 6 to 17 wishing to join the camp.

Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori, Director General of the TRA, said, "Our summer innovation camp is being held with the efforts to enhance and further develop a culture of innovation and creativity among UAE youth, while also teaching them more about the important role played by the telecommunications and IT segments in the country's growth. The camp also seeks to plant the seeds of knowledge and encourage them to improve their talents, skills and competencies. These young Emirati talents will help continue the growth and development of the UAE in the future. Under the directives of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the camp offers an environment that throws the spotlight on innovation, which reinforces the UAE's leading global position in this field."

Al Mansoori said that the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority Summer Innovation Camp is a significant step to engage UAE children and youths in worthwhile activities and further enhance their talents and creative skills. He further highlighted that this edition will focus on strengthening UAE goals and initiatives specifically for children and youth such as the 2016 declaration on the 'Year of Reading', and further developing programmes that allows creativity and innovation among them. The success of last year's camp has pushed the TRA to expand its seat capacity this year and to open a special camp for female students for the first time, which recorded the most number of students wishing to participate in the event, he explained, adding that discovering skills and building the future of young UAE Nationals is one of the main objectives of the TRA's corporate social responsibility programmes.