AUS Computing Camp a big hit with high school students from across the UAE

High school students from around the UAE had the opportunity to dive into the world of machine learning, artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things and other exciting fields at the Ninth American University of Sharjah (AUS) High School Computing Camp held during the winter break.

Fifty students in grades 10–12 from 28 schools across the UAE were selected to participate in the one-week online camp. Divided into two groups of 25 students each, the students worked with seven lab instructors from the Department of Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) in parallel sessions every day. All participating students received certificates of attendance at the end of the camp.

“The interest of high school students in the camp has grown tremendously since its introduction. We received more than 250 applications from close to 60 schools this semester. This is the second time we’ve held the camp online. We have ensured that it has all the elements of our past in-person events. During the camp, students were able to develop their programming and computing skills, as well as hone their soft skills as they worked in teams,” said Dr. Fadi Aloul, Professor and Head of the Department of CSE at AUS.

Participating students learned about timely topics as such as programming in Python, smart home development, artificial intelligence and machine learning, mobile application development, games development, computer networks and digital systems design.

Speaking about the experience, student Dakshesh Gupta from Bright Riders School, said: “As a grade 12 student who is going to college soon, this camp provided me with an excellent experience. It gave me a clear insight into the different fields of computer science and engineering. I was able to learn quite a lot from the camp. Each session was packed with information, and the projects we built during those sessions were very engaging.”

The technical knowledge gained from the camp was important to Saba Atharique from St. Mary's Catholic High School, Dubai. She said: “If you're considering a future in technology, the AUS Computing Camp is the way to go. I had an amazing time exploring and engaging with the wide world of computer science and engineering.”

Students also had the chance to work on their soft skills, such as time management. “The camp did not only make me wake up and follow a fixed regular schedule, but more importantly, it gave me something to look forward to after waking up. At the end of every session, I had a strong sense of accomplishment, which goes to show how well planned the courses were. The lab instructors were very helpful and did not hesitate to answer any of our questions. This is a great learning experience for anyone who is curious to know the different fields of computer science,” said Ahnaf Ahsan from St. Mary's Catholic High School, Dubai.

AUS offers bachelor’s degree programs in both computer science and computer engineering, along with a master’s degree in computer engineering. For more information about these programs, please visit www.aus.edu/cen/department-of-computer-science-and-engineering.