“BETHA” Scholarship

Since its launch in 2010, the ICT Fund has granted 1876 scholarships through the BETHA program. These scholarships aimed to develop national human cadres in Information Communications Technology-related disciplines such as Telecommunications Engineering, Electrical & Electronics Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Big Data Science, Smart Cities, Cybersecurity and others.
The ICT Fund has invested heavily in BETHA to allocate hundreds of seats for bachelor's and master's degrees at leading in the UAE, as well as  international universities in the United States, Japan, Australia, the United Kingdom, and other globally leading countries in this sector. The program aspires to attract more outstanding students in the coming years. BETHA forms part of ICT Fund's strategy to scale up national human cadres specializing in ICT, including Computer Science, Electronic Engineering, Computer Science, Informational Technology, and other disciplines.

Innovation Center for the development of iOS applications at the Higher Colleges of Technology

The ICT Fund received a funding request to establish the Innovation Center for the Development of iOS Applications at the Higher Colleges of Technology in Dubai. The center forms part of the universities’ direction in the UAE toward introducing innovation-related curricula and programs. It will be equipped with technical staff and infrastructure including computers and smart tablets, as well as servers and smart boards. It will also offer educational programs related to the Bachelor’s degree in mobile applications studies.

The Center aims to develop the knowledge and skills of Higher Colleges of Technology students in smartphone application development and programming, enabling Emirati youth to become entrepreneurs in the field of application development within the UAE and beyond. The HCT will cooperate with various educational institutions and universities to allow national students from those institutions to use this Center and provide the necessary facilities for higher education and research.

Pioneers of the Future Hackathon

The ICT Fund and Sheraa, in partnership with Sharjah Youth Council, offered a unique opportunity for more than 500 contestants, of whom 100 advanced to the final round of the three-day hackathon.

The first prize went to “Targo” which is a website supported by Augmented Reality and Artificial Intelligence technologies, enabling small businesses to book international cargo space and conduct purchasing and clearance processes electronically in an innovative manner.

TDRA, Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza), and Qureos Sign MoU to Train BETHA Students

The Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA), represented by the ICT Fund, signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding with Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza) and Qureos regarding the training of students enrolled in the ICT Fund’s BETHA Programme through the Qureos platform and Jafza’s Tumoohi 2020 Program.

The agreement stipulates the selection of students from the ICT Fund’s BETHA Program to join Jafza’s Tumoohi Program, which provides practical training that contributes to preparing them for the labour market. The Program aligns with TDRA’s vision of qualifying and increasing Emiratization in the telecommunications and information technology sector.

The student selection process will be conducted through Qureos platform, which enables  students to participate in solving virtual challenges that simulate real professional environments, in order assess the competencies required to complete the challenges identified by  Jafza. Additionally, qualified candidates will be interviewed to work on actual projects identified by  Tumoohi, which will last for 4 months.

Agreement with the University of Sharjah

Addition of a new specialization, Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity Engineering, at the University of Sharjah, to be included in the BETHA Program.

Other projects

• ICONET Center at the American University of Ras Al Khaimah
• University of Dubai lab
• Startups initiative with the Higher Colleges of Technology
• “Seeds for the future” initiative with Huawei
• Overseas Scholarships in cooperation with the Ministry of Cabinet Affairs
• IoT Lab in collaboration with the University of Rochester Dubai