Abu Dhabi: The International Congress of Arabic Publishing and Creative Industries (Congress PCI) has launched a new initiative called the Youth X Congress Award. It focuses on using technology to enhance Arabic learning and nurture creative talent in arts, media, and poetry.
The Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre (ALC) hosted Congress PCI 2024 on April 28, with the theme “Technological Transformations in the Publishing Industry and Drivers of Change.” The award made its debut at the event as the first platform for youth entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship in the United Arab Emirates. Its goals are to give young people access to creative learning opportunities and to support their innovation in the Arabic language and creative sectors.
The Congress opens the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair (ADIBF) 2024, which is sponsored by President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and runs from April 29 to May 5, 2024, at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC).
Dr. Ali bin Tamim, Chairman of the ALC, stated that, “In line with our mission at the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre to advance the Arabic language and promote its use – particularly among the younger generations – the new Youth X Congress award initiative strives to empower youth and develop their capacities to come up with unconventional solutions for fostering a love of Arabic reading. The award encourages students to read more in Arabic, enhancing their proficiency and expanding their knowledge of the language. This, in turn, allows for preserving our cultural heritage and cultivating a sense of pride and belonging to the Arabic language and culture.”
“In the long term, the award will have a significant impact towards youth empowerment, setting the conditions for deeper cultural and language appreciation among them, and laying the foundations for an interconnected Academic Ecosystem that facilitates the exchange of ideas and experiences,” Tamim added.
Arab youth between the ages of 18 and 39 are the focus of the Youth X Congress prize, which encourages them to submit their ideas. This comprises students in the 18–21 age range, creatives and entrepreneurs in the 21–30 age range, Arabic-speaking students in the 18–21 age range, and Arabic-speaking creatives and entrepreneurs in the 21–39 age range.
After a pitch competition where the ideas are judged using three criteria established by Unipreneur, creativity and technological innovation, content impact, and feasibility and scalability, the top ten most creative concepts will be chosen to proceed.
Numerous universities and institutions throughout the United Arab Emirates received registration forms for the Youth X Congress award, including the following: Sheraa Entrepreneurship Institute, Mohamed Bin Zayed University of AI (MBZAI), Khalifa University, NYUAD, Abu Dhabi University, UAE University, University of Sharjah, GEMS Modern Academy, Middlesex University, Hub 71, Heriot-Watt University Dubai, University of Birmingham Dubai, Amity University Sharjah, University of Science, Ajman University, and University of Wollongong.