Kazakhstan’s digital future in focus: experts share insights at ICPC 2024 roundtable in Astana
Astana Hub hosted a media conference as part of the international student programming competition ICPC 2024, dedicated to the development of Kazakhstan's IT education and the prospects for digital transformation. The roundtable became a significant platform for exchanging views between leading experts in the field of technology and education, including representatives of Huawei, as well as leaders of the Kazakhstani IT community, Kazinform correspondent reports.
The participants included key figures such as Deputy President of Huawei's HR Department Tian Xingpu, Vice President of the Huawei Institute for Strategic Studies Wang Aimeng, Director of the Board of Huawei Technologies Kazakhstan Xu Hai, Rector of the Kazakh-British Technical University Maratbek Gabdullin and Bill Poucher, Executive Director of ICPC.
The main focus of the event was the development of IT education in Kazakhstan and the role of global companies such as Huawei in supporting talent and innovative solutions.
In his speech, Tian Xingpu spoke about Huawei's key initiatives aimed at reducing the gap between academic knowledge and the real needs of the labor market. According to him, the company actively cooperates with Kazakhstani universities, integrating modern educational programs that include technologies such as cloud computing and artificial intelligence. "We strive to help young professionals not only gain knowledge, but also practical skills that are necessary for a successful career in IT," Xingpu emphasized.
He also spoke about the "Intelligent Base" project, which Huawei launched jointly with universities. This project is aimed at integrating Huawei's own courses into curricula, which helps students learn modern technologies and participate in various practical projects, developing skills that are in demand in the labor market.
Xu Hai spoke about the contribution to the digital transformation of Kazakhstan. He emphasized that over the past 26 years, the company has actively contributed to the development of key infrastructure facilities in the country. One of the striking examples was the project with Kazakhstan Temir Zholy, which created an intelligent railway system that provides safe and personalized services for passengers. "We will continue to work on the implementation of the Digital Silk Road to help Kazakhstan become an intelligent transportation hub," said Xu Hai.
Vice President of Huawei's Institute for Strategic Studies Mr. Aimeng emphasized the importance of the company's participation in international programming competitions such as ICPC. He noted that Huawei has been a long-standing partner of ICPC since 2012 and actively supports the competition by organizing boot camps and competitions for students. "We believe that ICPC is not just a competition, but also a unique opportunity for young professionals to develop their skills and become leaders of digital transformation," Aimeng emphasized.
ICPC (International Collegiate Programming Contest) is one of the most prestigious university programming competitions that attracts students from all over the world. This year, more than 400 students from 140 universities will take part in the competition, having passed national and regional selection stages. The competition provides a unique opportunity for young talents to demonstrate their skills in solving complex problems, thereby stimulating their innovative thinking.
“The ICPC competition is an opportunity for every student to shine on the international stage. We support them to solve problems that will help improve the lives of their communities. Our goal is to develop the next generation of leaders in programming and innovation,” said Bill Poucher, Executive Director of the ICPC.
Holding the ICPC in Kazakhstan highlights the growing role of the country in the international IT and technology arena. Maratbek Gabdullin, Rector of the Kazakh-British Technical University, noted: “Participation in the ICPC opens the doors to international opportunities for students. It also strengthens Kazakhstan as a hub for innovation.”
The participants of the roundtable expressed confidence that the ICPC and cooperation with companies such as Huawei will help Kazakhstan reach a new level in training IT specialists ready for the challenges of the digital age. The roundtable was held as part of the 48 edition of the international ICPC competition, which will be held from September 15 to 20. The event is organized by the Ministry of Digital Development of Kazakhstan, the Kazakhstan Federation of Sports Programming and Huawei.
