RIYADH: The Saudi Skills National Competition launched its mobile robotics challenge in Al-Ahsa on Tuesday, bringing together 40 talented young men and women from across the Kingdom.

The participants are from six leading educational institutions. The challenge is organized by the Technical and Vocational Training Corp.

Abdullah Al-Dahilan, senior competition secretary, said that the five-day event serves as a gateway to broader opportunities, with winners qualifying for Gulf, Asian and international championships, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.

Contestants are being evaluated by certified experts and judges from Saudi Arabia and Russia, the SPA reported.

Successful participants will represent the Kingdom in regional and international competitions in 2025 as part of the WorldSkills Competition framework.

“Our mission is to nurture local and national talents through programs that meet international standards,” Al-Dahilan said.

Similar competitions are taking place at technical colleges, institutes and schools across major cities including Riyadh, Makkah, Qassim, Jubail and Al-Ahsa.

The competitions cover various technical fields, from electrical installations and electronics to graphic design, web design, mobile robotics, fashion design and welding.

Under the guidance of 16 trainers, participants will complete 50 hours of intensive training during the competition.

The event will end with an awards ceremony recognizing three winners in both junior and youth categories.

RIYADH: Saudi Education Minister Yousef Al-Benyan inaugurated the Technological High School for Gifted Boys at Tuwaiq Academy in Riyadh, the first government school in the Kingdom specializing in technology.

The event was attended by Communications and Information Technology Minister Abdullah Al-Swaha, Tuwaiq Academy Chairman Faisal Al-Khamisi, and other educational and technical leaders.

The school follows a pioneering global model aimed at developing the technological skills and capabilities of students, empowering them to build and innovate groundbreaking projects.

It also focuses on learning and scientific research, preparing students for local and international technological specializations.

By keeping pace with future advancements, the school enhances the Kingdom’s technological education standards. Students from the school will also represent Saudi Arabia in regional and international competitions and exhibitions.

“Technology has become fundamental to daily life and is an essential tool for navigating the future,” said Naif bin Abed Al-Zari, Riyadh’s education director, highlighting the Ministry of Education’s partnership with Tuwaiq Academy.

Abdulaziz Al-Hammadi, CEO of Tuwaiq Academy, called the partnership a cornerstone for advancing technical education.

The new educational establishment focuses on nurturing future talent through an immersive, application-based curriculum complemented by global certifications in specialized programs.

Al-Hammadi said that students at the school have earned more than 120 professional certifications from major global companies in the first semester of operations alone.

During their visit, the two ministers toured the technical school and academy facilities, observing programs, bootcamps and activities while interacting with students to assess the learning environment.

The school offers specialized programs in programming, cybersecurity, digital manufacturing, data science and other fields.

It will prepare students for major competitions like the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair, the International Invention, Innovation and Technology Competition and Exhibition, and the National Olympiad for Programming and Artificial Intelligence, showcasing Saudi talent in a range of technical fields.