More than 30 students from 21 schools across the UAE participated in the American University of Sharjah (AUS) High School Summer Computing Camp. This camp offered a blend of educational and entertaining activities, introducing young minds to the exciting fields of computer science and engineering.
Aimed at inspiring students in grades 10-13, the boot camp engaged young participants in a series of experiments and hands-on activities. It kicked off with an introduction to web development, covering the fundamentals of HTML and CSS under the guidance of the AUS Ada Club. By the end of the day, participants had successfully built their own websites.
The exploration continued with a focus on cybersecurity, led by the AUS Society of Cybersecurity. Participants delved into the basics of cybersecurity and ethical hacking, engaging in practical exercises that covered different techniques in cryptography and encryption.
The final day of the boot camp transported students into the captivating realm of game design and development, facilitated by the AUS Game Development Club. Participants learned the essentials of crafting video games, from conceptualizing game ideas to implementing them. By the end of the day, each participant had designed and developed their own video game, showcasing their creativity and technical skills.
“This bootcamp was really insightful and I enjoyed every minute of it. The mentors were engaging and would immediately help if any issue arises. The sessions ranged from basic fundamentals to advanced topics, helping us build our skills and explore these topics on our own,” said Rabeea Ahmed, a grade 12 student at The Westminster School, Dubai.
Marwa Kattak, a grade 10 student at International School of Creative Science, enjoyed the technical skills she gained at the boot camp as well as meeting students from other schools who shared the experience. “It was a great learning experience for curious individuals like me. Participating students were quite friendly and interactive, which made learning more fun,” she said.
Sponsored by Petrofac, the boot camp was organized by the Department of Computer Science and Engineering in the College of Engineering. All participants who completed the boot camp received a Certificate of Participation, recognizing their hard work and newly acquired skills.
“The enthusiasm and creativity demonstrated by these young minds were truly inspiring. Our goal was not only to teach them technical skills but also to ignite a passion for innovation and problem-solving. Participants have a better understanding of computer science and engineering, which better prepares them for their future academic and professional endeavors in the field should they choose it. They also gained important transferable skills such as teamwork, critical thinking and problem solving, which are essential whether they choose to enter into computer science or engineering or any other field,” said Salsabeel Shapsough, Lab Instructor at the Department of Computer Science and Engineering and boot camp chair.
For more information about the CEN boot camps, please visit www.aus.edu/cen/outreach.
