Huawei ICT Skill Competition 2025–2026 Roadshow Awareness & Registration Session at KICS UET Lahore

Huawei ICT Skill Competition 2025–2026 Roadshow Awareness & Registration Session at KICS UET Lahore

The Huawei ICT Skill Competition Awareness and Registration Session organized at KICS UET Lahore on November 7, 2025, was a remarkable event that reflected the long-standing collaboration between KICS UET Lahore and Huawei Technologies Pakistan. The event began with the arrival of Huawei’s official team at the KICS reception area, where they set up an engaging registration booth. Students from multiple disciplines including Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, and Computer Engineering enthusiastically visited the booth, got registered on the spot, and received detailed guidance from the Huawei representatives regarding the registration process on the iLearning portal. The booth activity continued throughout the morning and generated great excitement among the students as they interacted with Huawei officials and collected informational materials about the competition, certifications, and upcoming training opportunities under the Huawei ICT Academy at KICS UET Lahore.

At around 11:00 AM, the formal session commenced in the KICS Seminar Hall. The event started with the recitation of the Holy Quran by Shahid Zulfiqar, Senior Program Officer at KICS and IEEE Lahore Section Treasurer. His recitation created a serene and respectful atmosphere, setting a perfect tone for the rest of the proceedings. Following the recitation, Mr. Kashif Bashir, Senior Manager Trainings at KICS UET Lahore and Chair IEEE ComSoc Lahore Chapter, delivered the welcome note and opening presentation. In his address, he warmly welcomed the Huawei team, faculty members, and students, highlighting the two-decade journey of collaboration between Huawei and UET Lahore. He elaborated on the establishment of the Huawei-UET Joint Telecom IT Centre (HUTIC) in 2002–03, where Huawei had installed equipment worth 3 million USD in its first phase, marking the beginning of a strong industry–academia partnership. Kashif Bashir also recalled that UET and Huawei signed a renewed MoU on December 31, 2004, which enabled the university to launch extensive ICT training and certification programs. Over 7,000 certifications were completed in the first decade of this partnership, helping students gain international recognition in Datacom and Cloud technologies.

In his detailed presentation, Kashif Bashir further discussed the evolution of this partnership over the years. He shared that Huawei provided an additional US$0.5 million worth of Datacom equipment in 2011, which allowed UET Lahore to become an Authorized Learning Partner for Huawei Datacom training and certification. By 2015, KICS UET Lahore had officially started offering Huawei certification programs with practical, hands-on training on campus. He also spoke about the formation of the Huawei ICT Academy (HAINA) at KICS, which became a platform for students to gain global exposure. Kashif Bashir proudly highlighted the consistent performance of UET students in the Huawei ICT Competition, recalling that UET teams represented Pakistan at the global level in 2018 after winning the national round. He mentioned that Pakistani teams, including KICS students, achieved first and second positions in the 2020 Middle East Regional Competition, earning the Huawei Excellent Partner Award that year. He went on to mention that in the following years, from 2021 to 2024, Pakistani teams continued to win global prizes, including the Grand Prize at the Regional Final held in Bahrain. Kashif Bashir concluded his presentation by emphasizing the forward-looking vision for 2025–26, including expanding the Huawei Cloud Developer Certification programs such as HCCDA Tech Essentials and Artificial Intelligence, with over 100 graduates already certified and a future target of training 300 more students at UET Lahore. He also announced KICS’s goal to increase participation in Huawei competitions and scale student employment outcomes through Huawei’s ICT Academy and iLearning resources

After the welcome presentation, Mr. Zubair from the Huawei Technologies Pakistan team took the stage. He thanked KICS UET Lahore for hosting the session and appreciated the strong collaboration that Huawei has maintained with UET for over two decades. In his engaging talk, Zubair provided a historical overview of the Huawei ICT Skill Competition and explained its purpose in bridging the gap between academia and the ICT industry. He described the competition as one of Huawei’s flagship global initiatives aimed at empowering young talent and promoting innovation in Networking, Cloud, and Computing technologies. Zubair then elaborated on the different stages of the competition, including the University Level where participants register and complete online learning modules; the National Level featuring online MCQs and practical labs; the National Final held at Huawei’s Islamabad office; and the Regional and Global Finals where top teams represent Pakistan in Asia-Pacific rounds and later compete in China. He also mentioned that participants can choose among three specialized tracks—Network, Cloud, and Computing—and that valid Huawei certifications like HCIA or HCIP provide additional points to participants. His detailed explanation helped students understand the competition structure, benefits, and preparation process, motivating many to register immediately.

Following Zubair’s session, Dr. Ali Hammad Akbar, Chairman of the Computer Engineering Department at UET Lahore, delivered an encouraging address. Dr. Ali Hammad appreciated Huawei’s continuous efforts to promote industry–academia linkage and emphasized the importance of such international platforms for student growth. He urged students to take full advantage of the Huawei ICT Competition to test and enhance their skills in networking, cloud, and AI technologies. He shared the inspiring stories of Ms. Fatima and Arfa Karim as exemplary figures in the field of ICT, reminding students that passion, discipline, and dedication can open pathways to global success. Dr. Ali Hammad’s speech deeply resonated with the audience, particularly because he linked technological learning with the legacy of young Pakistani achievers who made a mark in ICT innovation.

As the speeches concluded, the atmosphere became more interactive. The Huawei team engaged students in a lively Q&A session where participants asked insightful questions about Huawei certifications, the iLearning platform, and the competition process. The team addressed each question patiently, offering tips on how to prepare effectively and use Huawei’s online learning resources. Afterwards, Huawei representatives distributed giveaways including T-shirts, notebooks, pens, and other branded items, adding an element of excitement and appreciation for the participants’ enthusiasm. Students also had the opportunity to take individual and group photos at the booth, creating memorable moments of their participation.

The event concluded with a formal group photograph featuring representatives from Huawei Technologies Pakistan, KICS UET Lahore faculty members, and the participating students. The successful execution of the Huawei ICT Skill Competition Awareness Session once again demonstrated the strength of the collaboration between KICS and Huawei—a partnership that has consistently contributed to Pakistan’s ICT talent development. The event not only informed students about competition opportunities but also inspired them to aim for excellence in emerging digital technologies, continuing the shared vision of UET Lahore and Huawei to prepare youth for the challenges and innovations of the future.