Page 24 - Foresight Newsletter - English

NEWS

Dhofar University Shines in the Second Edition of OQ Hackathon 2024
DU students achieved remarkable success in the second edition of
the OQ Hackathon 2024. A team from the Department of
Architecture won first place in the challenge titled "Developing old
places and buildings in Central Salalah, Eastern Salalah, and
Al-Dhariz," set by the O ce of the Governor of Dhofar. The team’s
innovative design, titled "ERTH Al-Dhariz," combined historical
preservation with modern sustainability solutions, benefiting the
local community. The team members were Ahmed Khalid
Bamakhalaf, Hassan Jamal Ali, Abdullah Ahmed Bait Othman,
Linda Mujahid Kanaan, and Nour Eldin Mamdouh.

In a related challenge, Team “Mu'een” from DU secured third place
in a "Customer Service Using Artificial Intelligence" competition
sponsored by Nama Group. The team, comprising Ali Al-Mujibi and
Amin Al-Mashani from the Department of Electrical and Computer
Engineering and Shihab Al-Jabri from the Department of Computer
Science in the College of Arts and Applied Sciences, o ered an
innovative solution to enhance customer experience using AI.
Additionally, the team earned two awards from Ma erz, which
included an Innovation Certification and a Design Thinking
Professional Certificate.

Hackathon organizers plan to adopt and support the winning ideas. Furthermore, Dr. Lamiaa Mostafa, a
lecturer in the Department of Architecture, provided support and training to the students from the early
stages of the competition and also participated as an expert in the event, reinforcing the university's role in
fostering innovation and supporting students in achieving academic and professional excellence.

DU Students Achieve Global Recognition in NASA Space Apps Challenge

In an accomplishment that highlights student excellence and
creativity, a team from Dhofar University earned distinction in the
2024 NASA Space Apps Challenge, one of the world’s most
prestigious science and technology competitions. Hosted in
Oman for the second year and organized by the National
University in Ibra, this event underscores the nation’s commitment
to supporting ambitious young talent and inspiring innovation in
emerging minds.

The Dhofar University team comprises five engineering students,
Ameen Ahmed Al-Mashani, Suhail Salim Al-Barami, Ahmed Mohammed Ibrahim, Azzam Abdullah Bait
Obaidon, and Mohammed Jamal Salim, as well as Mohammed Rayan Asaf from CAAS. The team was
mentored by Engineer Abdulaziz Ali Al-Shashaei, who represented the university throughout the challenge.

The team advanced to the top 32 teams in Oman and participated in the final camp held in Ibra on October
5-6, ultimately securing a place among the top 1000 projects globally. The final results of the competition are
expected to be announced in early 2025.

The team chose the challenge “Tell Us a Climate Story,” aiming to o er innovative solutions to climate issues.
They developed a website focused on raising environmental awareness, sharing insights on climate impacts,
and supporting global organizations dedicated to environmental protection.

23 DHOFAR UNIVERSITY NEWSLETTER