Software engineering isn't only for the guys, Microsoft's student competition proves

[Al-khiyal]

Microsoft’s annual student competition comes to a head this week in Seoul, South Korea, with eight teams in the finals representing the Middle East and Africa. This is the largest contingent from this region since the competition began four years ago. Countering the stereotype that software development is a masculine domain, two of the finalist teams are all-female, and young women are well represented on the other teams as well:

SEOUL, South Korea, 8 Aug 2007 — Selma Hamouda and Ghalya Ali Al-Mannei are breaking down stereotypes left, right and centre. Not only are they studying computer science, traditionally a male-dominated field, but they are also both from Islamic countries, where professional opportunities for women are rapidly changing. Today Hamouda and Al-Mannei are in South Korea, competing alongside their teammates in the world finals of the Imagine Cup — Microsoft’s annual student competition to foster innovation as part of Microsoft Unlimited Potential.

The Software Design segment of the competition challenges students to use technology to solve what they consider to be challenging problems related to this year’s theme: “Imagine a world where technology enables a better education for all”. Using Microsoft tools and technology, competitors unleash their creativity and talent to create usable software applications.

This year, the largest-ever contingent from the Middle East and Africa have made it to the finals — seven teams in the software design category and one in the short film category. With a total field of 111 teams competing across nine categories, there is stiff opposition, particularly considering that all of the teams have already won their national competitions. So this week, the best of the best are looking to take home the top prizes.

Hamouda is part of an all-female team from the Institut National d'Informatique in Algeria that took the education theme to heart in their submission, which offers a way to introduce children to the PC in early childhood. Their invention, VisChild, is an interface for the Windows Vista operating system that “grows up” with a child, evolving over time as the child’s computing abilities become more sophisticated.

Al-Mannei’s team, composed of three young women from United Arab Emirates University, has created a tool that enables people to take courses via SMS messaging on their mobile phone or PDA. The team created a “mobile learning framework” that lets teachers distribute course material to students and even give multiple-choice exams — all via SMS.

“The Imagine Cup creates a huge amount of energy and enthusiasm — not to mention remarkable ideas — among students who are working towards a career in computer science, information technology and the digital arts,” says Ali Hoballah, general manager of Microsoft Unlimited Potential for the Middle East and Africa. “Fostering innovation among future talent in the Middle East and Africa is essential for economies across the region to grow and compete on the world stage.”

Now in its fourth year, the competition exposes young innovators to their peers from their country and, ultimately, around the world. Already more than 100,000 students from over 100 countries and regions have competed in the Imagine Cup.

The competition gives students a focus, separate from their academic work, to test and develop a wide range of skills, from programming aptitude, to critical thinking, to entrepreneurship and teamwork. Hamouda says the competition helped her team expand their programming and web services experience, while forcing them to work productively as a group with no real supervision.

“I am learning to open my own company to develop software, so I think this experience will benefit me a lot,” Al-Mannei says. I am leading our team, so I’m gaining experience managing a group. And I think developing our own company would be better than looking for work in the UAE, because there are very few companies developing their own software — the kind of work we are looking for probably does not exist here.”

Regarding future challenges in what some see as a man’s world, the young women are universally nonchalant. What they care most about is representing their country, and their culture, in the best possible light.

“At my university, women are a minority,” Hamouda says. “And it’s true, in our society, it is harder for women to prove themselves in their profession than for men. So that makes us very proud to be an all-girl team and represent our country.”

Software engineering isn't only for the guys, Microsoft's student competition proves

[Al-khiyal]

2007 Imagine Cup Finalists

Algeria:



A PC that “grows up” with your child

Team HBM2: Lamia Moudoub, Lynda Mettouchi, Nadjet Belblidia and Selma Hamouda

The team from Algeria’s Institut National d'Informatique devised a less-complicated computer interface for children that becomes more advanced as they grow older. The team’s invention, VisChild, was inspired by the fact that children are exposed to computing earlier in life than ever. Tailored to each individual child’s profile, VisChild presents customised applications and interfaces that evolve as the child gets older.