Three students from the College of Engineering win second place in the Global Student Challenge after competing against the top five finalists from Indonesia, Hong Kong, Malaysia and China
Three students from the College of Engineering win second place in the Global Student Challenge after competing against the top five finalists from Indonesia, Hong Kong, Malaysia and China
They designed an innovative project to rebuild Gaza at lower cost, faster time and higher quality
In an achievement that attests to the quality of educational outputs for students at the College of Engineering at Applied Science University, three students from the College of Engineering won second place in the 2024 Global Student Challenge organized by the Chartered Institute of Building, after competing against the top five finalists from Indonesia, Hong Kong, Malaysia and China, and undergoing online interviews conducted by a distinguished team of international judges.
Architecture engineering students Batoul Khalaf, Walaa Reda and Fatima Dhaif succeeded in achieving this accomplishment with their project titled “Rebuilda”, which provided innovative engineering solutions to the human tragedy caused by the war on Gaza, by designing prefabricated and fast-construction buildings, to contribute to the reconstruction process at lower cost, faster time and higher quality, which impressed the international judging committee who praised the project and affirmed that it touches reality and provides innovative engineering solutions, and that the students’ ability to design such a project indicates their high skills and the quality of the university’s educational outputs.
The Global Student Challenge is an annual competition organized by the Chartered Institute of Building, which is considered one of the most important and professional institutions in construction management and leadership worldwide. It dates back more than 185 years and is headquartered in the United Kingdom. This competition aims to test the creative thinking of engineering students and measure their analytical skills and ability to work as a team to design unique engineering projects.
The Dean of the College of Engineering Dr. Mohamed Salama affirmed that this achievement attained by the college’s students confirms the quality of the college’s educational outputs and the important role played by its faculty in supporting students and providing them with the knowledge, sciences, and theoretical and practical skills that contribute to honing their talents and supporting them to become distinguished engineers capable of excelling in the labor market and keeping pace with successive technological developments in various engineering fields. He extended his thanks to Dr. Wael Abdel Hamid and Mrs Safa Jamal, who supervised the students during the implementation of this project.
Dr. Salama explained that the programmes offered by the university in architectural engineering and civil engineering are unique in the Gulf and Middle East region in terms of their strong focus on sustainability and environmental design, in addition to providing graduates of these programmes with the opportunity to obtain a dual academic degree and graduate with certificates from both Applied Science University and London South Bank University, which provides advanced technical skills and greater job opportunities after graduation.
He noted that the academic content of the two programmes prepares students to master and apply environmental considerations such as energy conservation, renewable energy, electricity consumption, water recycling, water filtration, and the preservation of the world’s natural resources. The students’ graduation projects comprehensively reflect sustainability applications and environmental design strategies. Academic activities, including research and design projects, are based on sustainability principles and strategies, making the university’s construction environment programs among the most advanced in the region.
Dr. Mohammed Salama stated that the architectural engineering programme covers a wide range of topics, including building design, structural engineering, construction management, and environmental design, while the civil engineering program focuses on the design, construction, and maintenance of infrastructure such as roads, bridges, and water systems. He pointed out that both programmes are accredited by the Chartered Institute of Building.