As part of their commitment towards youth and education, the tripartite of Intel, the Ministry of Education and MobileCom, has come together to encourage research and development in the Kingdom’s schools and progress the fields of science and engineering. In a project initially driven by Intel’s “Innovation in Education” worldwide initiative, the overall drive revolves around the organization of local scientific competitions and fairs to select a group of innovative students and enable them to partake in Intel’s International Science and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF), which will be held in Indiana, USA in May 2006.
Intel ISEF is the world’s largest pre-college science competition wherein students from all over the world compete to win what is considered by some to be the version of a Nobel Prize for young scientists.
The signing ceremony took place at the Ministry of Education, where Minister of Education Dr. Khalid Toukan signed on behalf of the Ministry, and Intel Education Manager for the Middle East Bassem Naser signed on behalf of Intel, while MobileCom’s CFO Majd Shweikeh signed on behalf of MobileCom. Other representatives from both companies and from the Ministry attended the ceremony.
During the ceremony, Intel Education Manager for the Middle East, Bassem Nasir highlighted the significance of this agreement saying: “Intel ISEF is one of the fundamental and strategic programs included in the Intel® Innovation in Education Initiative. Our strong belief in building the culture and practices of research and development in the areas of mathematics, science, and engineering in Jordan underpins our partnership with the Ministry of Education and MobileCom that we announce today.”
For her part, MobileCom’s CFO Majd Shweikeh underlined the importance of this project saying: “We believe this distinctive project will provide our Jordanian youth with a valuable opportunity to showcase their creativity and individuality. By working closely with the Ministry of Education and a world renowned partner, Intel, we also believe as a Group that we will be highlighting the significance of building, developing and bringing students’ entrepreneurial skills and talents to light.”
Jordan’s first representation in Intel ISEF was in 2004 in Portland, USA with one project. Second representation was in May 2005, in Arizona, USA, with two projects; an individual and a group project. Now the Kingdom prepares to take part in the 2006 fair, which will be held in Indiana, USA with 8 projects.
According to the agreement, MobileCom’s support for Intel ISEF, the first of its kind in Jordan, takes many forms including a program to drive awareness of the Fair and underline its international status and potential for students to succeed to the next level, which includes a trip to the International leg of the Fair being held in Indiana, USA. MobileCom’s additional funding, to that already committed by Intel, increases the number of opportunities for Jordanian students to participate in Indiana. Last year three students made the trip to the States; however this year the intention is to take the number up to 8 students and 4 supervisors.
Intel ISEF is the world’s only international science fair. Every year, more than one million students in grades 9-12 participate in regional science fairs. Over 1200 students from countries win the chance to compete for more than $ 3 million in scholarships and prizes at the Intel ISEF in a number of scientific categories such as mathematics, science, technology, engineering and more.
Registration forms to become part of Intel’s ISEF have been distributed to schools across the Kingdom and are currently available in all MobileCom customer service centers. Participation is open to students from 9th, 10th and 11th grades. Students must submit their project’s details no later than December 15th, 2005. Afterwards, the Ministry of Education will carry out a selection process to nominate the best projects. Following training workshops, selected candidates will present their projects at Fairs to be held in February, 2006 in the north, middle and south sectors of the Kingdom. Final selection of projects to be represented in Intel ISEF Indiana is scheduled for mid-February at two affiliated-local fairs. Friends, families and others will be invited by general advertisement to visit the Fairs to see the breadth and depth of the projects developed by Jordan’s entrepreneurial students.
Currently, in cooperation with Ministry of Education, Intel is carrying out workshops to raise teachers and students’ awareness of the project and to fully prepare them for the local fairs. In addition, the Ministry will organize workshops for judges, who will be chosen from different Jordanian universities, to familiarize them with the competition’s global refereeing procedures.
About MobileCom
MobileCom is the Jordanian public mobile telephone network operator, and is the operator of the mobile communications licence granted to Jordan Telecom. MobileCom is a member of the Jordan Telecom Group that also includes e-Dimensions and Wanadoo.
An agreement was signed on 23 January 2000 allowing the JITCO Investment Group, led by France Telecom, to enter Jordan Telecom with a 40 per cent shareholding equity. JITCO is a holding company which is owned partly by France Telecom (88%) and partly by the Arab Bank Ltd (12%).
The company combines local Jordanian capability with the technological advantages and network management/operation experience of one of the world's leading telecommunications operators, France Telecom.
The company has built a new, highly advanced, mobile communications network to serve the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, and launched its full public service in Jordan on 15 September 2000.
