IET-KFUPM PATW Competitions 2011 (Final Report)
The IET-KFUPM Team & the PATW Finalists
The IET-KFUPM Team & the PATW Finalists
What is PATW?
The Institution of Engineering & Technology (UK) and its various local networks and student chapters annually organise the “Present Around the World (PATW) Competitions” – a series of presentation competitions for engineers and engineering students to celebrate Engineering & Technology – to encourage valuable contributions to the engineering discipline and recognize young and talented engineering students and professionals.
The PATW competitions provide a supportive environment in which young engineering students and young professionals network and develop their presentation skills. They also help students and young professionals to learn about the latest advances within engineering and technology and embrace new ideas.
The global event runs on several levels and series of competitions, namely – National, Regional and the Global Finals. This year, The IET Saudi Arabia Network and its IET-KFUPM Student Chapter had the privilege to organise their first ever local heat of the IET PATW Competitions on Saturday, 30th April 2011 – Sunday, 1st May 2011.
The Elimination Stage:
Having received an overwhelming number of applications by young undergraduate as well as graduate-level engineering and technology students, only the best 15 were shortlisted based on their presentation abstract’s relevance to the theme of Engineering & Technology, their level of originality and newness along with considering how appealing they were. The elimination stage was designed such that each of the 15 contestants were given 2-3 minutes to speak and introduce themselves, and briefly talk about the intended theme of their presentation. Based on their performance and their speaking/presentation skills, body-language, clarity, etc. the best 8 were selected to participate in the Final Stage.
The Judge:
A very senior and active member of IET, Dr. Muhammad Wassim Raad (Lecturer, Dept. of Computer Engineering) was kind and generous in accepting our invitation to be the judge for the elimination stage. Dr. Raad is the Head of the SmartCard & RFID Lab, KFUPM and has been actively involved with the IET-KFUPM Student Chapter since its beginning. He has a passion to share his knowledge and experience and getting involved with young engineering students. He has delivered several invited seminars and workshops, including international talks.
The Elimination Round’s (15) Contestants:
The Final Stage:
To mark the main string of the IET-SA’s PATW competitions, the best 8 selected contestants united on the stage, to battle and prove their excellence in presenting themselves. The finals were held on 1st of May, 2011, in Bldg.14 (Information & Technology Center, KFUPM), Auditorium # 108. Each finalist was given 10 minutes for his presentation along with a 3-5 minutes Q&A session.
The 8 Finalists:
Syed Ahmed Raza
Mohammed Alameer
Hatem AlHamrani
Atif Aliuddin
Mohammed Omer
Abdullah Majeed-Saidan
Yaser Sulaiman
Zahid Saleem
The Jury:
The IET-KFUPM Student Chapter had the honour to have three distinguished professionals as the judges to select the IET-SA’s PATW Winner and Runner-up. The three judges, hailing from different engineering and professional backgrounds, were:
Dr. Salem Al-Dini (Asst. Dean, CASS, KFUPM;Head of the Voluntary Work Unit, KFUPM; and Asst. Prof., Mech. Engg. Dept., KFUPM)
Dr. Mahmoud Dawoud (Professor, Electrical Engg. Dept., KFUPM; Senior Member of IET)
Dr. Talal Al-Kharobi (Asst. Dean for Employment & Training, Deanship of Student Affairs, KFUPM; and Asst. Prof., Computer Engg. Dept., KFUPM)
The WINNERS:
Abdullah Majeed-Saidan (1st Winner)
Mohammed Omer (1st Runner-up)
Yaser Sulaiman (2nd Runner-up)
The Organisiners:
IET-KFUPM Student Chapter