Mawhiba program nurtures gifted students

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The Mawhiba Classes program aims to provide an educational environment that nurtures giftedness and creativity through advanced supplementary curricula. (SPA)
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The Mawhiba Classes program aims to provide an educational environment that nurtures giftedness and creativity through advanced supplementary curricula. (SPA)
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Updated 21 August 2023
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Mawhiba program nurtures gifted students

  • Some 8,600 across 150 schools in 13 Saudi cities to benefit from tailored curricula, specialized training
  • Issa Al-Fifi: These curricula aim to provide gifted students with opportunities to excel in various scientific fields

RIYADH: The King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity has enrolled 8,600 students in the Mawhiba Classes program across 150 schools in 13 cities.

The students, ranging from fourth grade to the third year of secondary school, have passed the Mawhiba intellectual aptitude assessment, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.

The Mawhiba Classes program aims to provide an educational environment that nurtures giftedness and creativity through advanced supplementary curricula tailored to the abilities, needs, interests, and scientific inclinations of students.

Issa Al-Fifi, the director of school partnerships at Mawhiba, said that the curricula resulted from the advanced performance of students.

He added that it focused on developing various aspects of the students’ personalities, encouraging advanced comprehension and understanding of concepts and topics. This was to be achieved by enriching knowledge with further information.

Al-Fifi said: “This enrichment is accomplished through specialized skills in academic subjects, encompassing the grasping of overarching ideas, clarity of concepts, and the deepening of cognitive structures related to academic subjects.”

He highlighted that the program involved instilling values, attitudes, and traits, encouraging actions such as fact-checking and risk-taking, while helping creativity, confidence, intellectual openness and collaboration.

It also aimed at producing diverse skill sets which would enable generalization, deduction, critical thinking, self-reflection, communication, and dialogue.

Al-Fifi added that the advanced supplementary curricula provided by Mawhiba enhanced and expanded upon the offerings of the Ministry of Education.

He said: “These curricula aim to provide gifted students with opportunities to excel in various scientific fields.”

He added that this was accomplished by carefully selecting schools that met specific criteria, including preparedness and ability to create a nurturing environment for gifted students.

Al-Fifi said that teachers at those schools were equipped through professional development programs and specialized training courses in teaching strategies, assessment methods, and digital environments.

The Mawhiba Classes program was launched in the academic year 2009-2010 in partnership with several government and private schools in the Kingdom.

The selection of schools was based on specific criteria, including infrastructure, teaching methods, assessment techniques, learning methods, and teacher qualifications.

The program is regularly updated and expanded, with ongoing monitoring to ensure compliance with the standards and requirements set for Mawhiba classes.


Global AI competition aims to revolutionize Arabic language technology

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Global AI competition aims to revolutionize Arabic language technology

  • 3-day event in Riyadh ends on Saturday

RIYADH: The finals of the Allam Challenge are taking place in Riyadh, bringing together tech talent from 17 nations in an initiative to advance Arabic language technology, the Saudi Press Agency has reported.

The three-day event, which finishes on Saturday, is being hosted at Digital City’s Crowne Plaza and is a collaboration between the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority and the Saudi Federation for Cybersecurity, Programming and Drones, with technical support from IBM and the National Technology Development Program.

The challenge aims to develop AI models capable of composing and analyzing Arabic poetry; performing complex grammatical analysis; and creating engaging Arabic language learning tools for children, with a prize pool of SR1 million ($260,000).

Participants will be showcasing their capabilities in developing innovative solutions through the enhancement of large language models. They will benefit from training opportunities and workshops led by more than 50 mentors and 40 judges, and comprising AI experts and Arabic language specialists.

These experts will support participating teams and evaluate their projects according to criteria, ensuring the sustainability of solutions and their potential transformation into real-world AI projects serving the Arabic language across various sectors, the SPA added.


Saudi Quality of Life Program’s CEO stresses ‘people first’ approach

CEO of Saudi Arabia's Quality of Life Program Khalid bin Abdullah Al-Bakr speaking at the World Urban Forum in Cairo. (SPA)
Updated 07 November 2024
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Saudi Quality of Life Program’s CEO stresses ‘people first’ approach

CAIRO: CEO of the Quality of Life Program Khalid bin Abdullah Al-Bakr has reaffirmed that the initiative places people at its heart.

This human-centered approach drives a range of projects across the Kingdom, aligned with the objectives of Vision 2030 to transform urban landscapes, elevate the quality of city services, and foster innovation through the adoption of modern technologies.

The statement was delivered during a dialogue session called “Putting People First in a Digital Era,” which was organized by the UN as part of the 12th World Urban Forum. The session featured the participation of experts and specialists from across the world.


Falcons club, NEOM in preservation drive

Updated 07 November 2024
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Falcons club, NEOM in preservation drive

  • The partnership is a major step in promoting the concept of sustainable falconry
  • The Hadad program works to revitalize the habitat of peregrine falcons at the NEOM reserve

NEOM: The Saudi Falcons Club’s Hadad program has announced a strategic partnership with NEOM to improve falcons’ habitat in the NEOM Nature Reserve.
The partnership, which was signed during Hadad’s annual meeting hosted by NEOM on Thursday, is part of the second phase of the program, which focuses on protecting endangered species and reviving habitats by employing the latest international standards in wildlife conservation.
The partnership is a major step in promoting the concept of sustainable falconry by preserving cultural and environmental heritage while integrating ancient traditions with modern practices.
The Hadad program works to revitalize the habitat of peregrine falcons at the NEOM reserve and implement effective environmental measures to ensure the sustainability of the species.
The partnership reflects NEOM’s efforts to preserve 95 percent of its land for nature, set new international standards to preserve the environment, and rehabilitate wildlife through its reserve.
It also illustrates the Kingdom’s commitment to enhancing its global leadership position in sustainable development and environmental protection, in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.


AlUla Royal Commission signs agreement with National Archaeological Museum of Naples

The exhibition at AlUla will showcase 15 masterpieces of historic cities and monuments, such as Pompeii, Herculaneum and Rome. (
Updated 07 November 2024
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AlUla Royal Commission signs agreement with National Archaeological Museum of Naples

  • Exhibition will showcase 15 masterpieces of historic cities and monuments

AlUla: The Royal Commission for AlUla signed a new strategic partnership agreement with the National Archaeological Museum of Naples to showcase a collection of antiques in the Kingdom and in AlUla for the first time.

The museum is an addition to the commission’s network of cultural partners, joining leading heritage and education institutions from the United Kingdom, France, China and Italy, to cooperate in preserving, studying and celebrating AlUla’s shared history of 20,000 years.

Built in 1777, the museum is also a landmark in an Italian heritage capital, embracing some of Europe’s richest cultural treasures, including Roman and Greek statues preserved in excellent condition, as well as bronze pieces, mosaics, and other works of art.

The agreement between the royal commission and the museum of Naples allows the transfer of a selection of artifacts from Naples in southern Italy to AlUla, northwest the Arabian Peninsula, to showcase the masterpieces of the museum.

The exhibition will showcase 15 masterpieces of historic cities and monuments, such as Pompeii, Herculaneum and Rome, and will be one of the main cultural events of the Ancient Kingdoms Festival 2024, which will take place in AlUla from Nov. 7 to 30.

During the exhibition, visitors will also have the opportunity to attend the AlUla World Archaeology Symposium.


Saudi arts and culture association hosts captivating ‘Ready for Display’ show

Updated 07 November 2024
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Saudi arts and culture association hosts captivating ‘Ready for Display’ show

  • Exhibition showcases impressive collection of works from 47 artists, reflecting rich diversity of styles and artistic approaches 

DAMMAM: The Saudi Arabian Society for Arts and Culture in Dammam began cultural programs with the seventh “Ready for Display” exhibition, showcasing works from 47 artists, including participants from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Syria, the Philippines, India and Pakistan. 

The exhibition aims to highlight a range of artistic styles, techniques and approaches while reflecting the beauty and essence of the local environment.

Running from Nov. 1 to Nov. 10, the show provides an important platform for local and resident artists. 

Each artist brings their individual approach to the canvas, with some embracing abstraction while others focus on realistic representations. 

Their works captured a variety of subjects, including people, places, animals and shapes, highlighting the rich diversity of artistic expression and individual creativity. 

Artists display various mediums, with some using stretched canvas while others experiment with materials such as wood panels and clay, adding distinctive textures and dimensions. 

This blend of techniques and media invites viewers to recognize the interconnectedness of art and cultural identity worldwide.

Visitors can appreciate how elements from the land and sea bring life to the displayed artworks’ color palettes and artistic designs.

The still-life drawings also showcase the artists’ attention to detail and innovative creative abilities.

Yousef Al-Harbi, director of the association’s branch in Dammam, said that such exhibitions helped visitors to “gain a deeper understanding of their history and identity,” fostering a sense of pride. 

The event has drawn significant interest, with the selection committee receiving 167 submissions from 98 artists, ultimately selecting 47 artworks for display, each representing different schools of thought and techniques in the art world.

In addition, the exhibition featured interactive events, including a workshop on acrylic painting on Nov. 2 and a live painting session on Nov. 3. 

Al-Harbi highlighted the association’s broader impact, saying: “In the past four months, we have delivered 38 training workshops, held eight art exhibitions and presented 21 theatrical performances,” aiming to establish the Eastern Province as a center of artistic creativity.

The association is dedicated to nurturing local talent in harmony with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, focusing on cultural identity and sustainable development.