Press Releases
13 Mar 2018
Holding the 2nd Y4PT Hackathon for undergrads
The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has organised the second Y4PT Hackathon, which included scores of university and college students. Kicked off today (Tuesday) at the RTA’s Head Office, the 3-day event (13-15 March 2018) was attended by RTA’s CEOs, Directors, employees and 70 undergrads from 12 universities and colleges.
"The Hackathon is one of RTA’s initiatives intended to develop high-quality strategies to induce various community segments to use public transport means instead of private automobiles. Through such high-value strategies, the RTA seeks to provide safe, sophisticated and diverse transit modes such as the metro, public buses, tram and marine transport. It seeks to provide effective tools for public transport commuters to make the public transport ride a convenient, fast and enjoyable experience. Examples of these tools include NOL cards, air-conditioned bus shelters, smart parking and smart Apps to name a few,” said Dr Yousef Al Ali, CEO of Dubai Taxi Corporation cum Chairman of RTA’s Youth for Public Transport Initiative (Y4PT).
“The winning team of 70 students from 12 universities will qualify for the World Hackathon, which will be held on the sideline of the MENA UITP Congress & Exhibition (23-25 April 2018). The jury and instructors will be from Dubai Taxi Corporation, IBM, Ronald Berger and DSI," added Al Ali.
Al-Ali expressed his deep delight with the promising and creative youth talents he had seen. He praised the tireless efforts of UAE’s varsities, colleges & institutes in educating and training students and honing their talents to meet the aspirations of the new generation and cope with the current global trend of knowledge & innovation-based economies. “The younger generation is capable of giving & producing, more innovative & creative thanks to their positive work spirit, creativity, and passionate futuristic attitudes.”
“The UAE in general and Dubai emirate, in particular, attaches great importance to young people and is keen to involve them effectively in adopting innovative practices. Such practices are no longer a luxury or an option but have become a basic need and a prerequisite of the sustainability of institutions and prosperity of governments,” elaborated Al Ali
The students attending the 2nd Hackathon were thrilled with their participation, which motivates them to achieve more excellence and innovation and devise creative solutions in public transport sector, which now attracts talents especially male & female students of universities, colleges and institutes