A joint initiative empowering students to develop innovative digital solutions for the banking sector
KUWAIT: Weyay Digital Bank and the American University of the Middle East (AUM) have successfully concluded a Student Innovation Challenge aimed at empowering AUM students to develop creative digital ideas and turn them into practical solutions for the Weyay app, in collaboration with the global innovation platform Plug and Play.
The closing ceremony was held at AUM’s Cultural Center and attended by Mohammed Al Othman, Chief Executive Officer of Consumer and Digital Banking Group at the National Bank of Kuwait (NBK); Tareq Al Othman, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Human Soft Holding Company; senior leaders from NBK and Weyay Bank; AUM leadership and staff; as well as students’ families. The challenge marked the outcome of a strategic partnership designed to enable students to build innovative, market-ready digital solutions while enhancing the readiness of Kuwaiti youth for the job market, particularly in innovation and financial technology.
Plug and Play: Global Expertise Driving Innovation
Plug and Play is a global innovation platform and startup accelerator that connects startups with major corporations, investors, universities, and government entities to foster innovation and develop cutting-edge technologies. Its involvement added significant value to the challenge by introducing a global innovation framework and aligning student ideas with internationally recognized best practices in corporate innovation, ensuring high-quality outcomes with strong potential for future development.
One of the winning teams in the Innovation Challenge.
One of the participating teams reviews its project in front of the jury.
Photo shows the audience.
Tareq Al Othman delivers his speech during the ceremony.
Tariq Al Othman presents Mohammed Al-Othman with a souvenir gift in the presence of Amal Al-Duwaisan and Sheikha Al-Baghli.
Mohammed Al Othman
Mohammed Al Othman, Tarek Al Othman, Amal Al-Duwaisan and Sheikha Al-Baghli are pictured during the honoring of the first-place winning team in the Innovation Challenge.
Mohammed Al Othman, Tarek Al Othman, Amal Al-Duwaisan, Sheikha Al-Baghli and Dylan Palladino during the honoring.
Mohammed Al-Othman, Tarek Al-Othman, Amal Al-Duwaisan, Ghadir Al-Awadi and Dima Shaath.
Commenting on the initiative, Mohammed Al Othman, Chief Executive Officer of Consumer and Digital Banking Group at the National Bank of Kuwait, said: “I am proud to be at the American University of the Middle East, which stands as a benchmark for higher education in Kuwait. We are equally proud to partner with AUM and the global Plug and Play platform to deliver this innovation challenge. At Weyay, we firmly believe that true innovation begins by listening to young people and involving them in shaping the future of banking. This challenge was not just a competition – it was a real platform for transforming student ideas into practical digital solutions that reflect our vision as a digital bank closely aligned with the aspirations of the next generation.”
Tareq Al Othman, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Human Soft Holding Company, added: “We are proud of our partnership with Weyay Bank and Plug and Play in this challenge, which offered our students a hands-on educational experience that closely mirrors real-world work environments. Such initiatives reflect AUM’s commitment to bridging academic learning with practical application and empowering students to develop both innovative and professional skills.”
Dylan Palladino, Director of Plug and Play in the UAE, expressed his appreciation to AUM for hosting the challenge and for its role in ensuring the initiative’s success. He also commended Weyay Bank for its collaboration and for selecting Plug and Play as a key partner. Palladino praised the students’ performance, noting that they developed AI-powered solutions and generated more than 250 implementable ideas within just two days. He highlighted the students’ strong critical-thinking skills, which were clearly evident throughout their final presentations.
Academic-Banking Partnership with a Global Vision
The challenge brought together more than 60 AUM students from various academic disciplines, working in multidisciplinary teams to address five digital challenges inspired by user experience within digital banking services. Spanning three days, the program included intensive workshops and interactive sessions on design thinking, ideation, prototyping, and solution testing, guided by experts from Weyay Bank and Plug and Play. On the final day, teams presented their solutions to a judging panel comprising representatives from Weyay Bank, Plug and Play and AUM. Projects were evaluated based on clarity, feasibility and relevance to the defined challenges, resulting in the selection of three winning teams.
First place was awarded to Team 7, consisting of Rayan Al Nouri, Dana Al Ajmi, Awrad Al Qattan and Abdulrahman Hussein. Team 9, made up of Yousef Al Najm, Omar Hamdan, Abdulrazzaq Al Khamees and Roaa Al Baj, secured second place, while Team 8, comprising Mohammed Moeen, Abdullah Al Marri, Ayah Al Shammari, Ali Jamak and Ahmed Bouabbas, claimed third place. The event concluded in a celebratory atmosphere reflecting the high level of engagement and excellence demonstrated throughout the challenge.
Speaking about his experience, student Abdulrazzaq Al Khamees said:“I gained a great deal from this challenge, especially in learning the fundamentals of artificial intelligence. It also strengthened our teamwork and collaboration as one group. I strongly encourage all students, particularly newcomers, to take part in university activities, as they play a major role in personal development and skill building.” Student Fatima Malallah commented: “Participating in this challenge was a valuable experience. I gained new knowledge in artificial intelligence and learned the importance of teamwork and coordination among team members.”
Rayan Al Nouri added: “This challenge was a genuine opportunity to learn and experiment, particularly in the field of AI, while also enhancing communication and teamwork skills. Such initiatives play an important role in shaping students both academically and professionally.” Dana Al Ajmi said: “This experience allowed us to step outside the traditional academic framework and explore new ways of thinking and collaborating, while also developing our technical skills. I encourage students to make the most of university activities, as they have a significant impact on building real-world experience.”
Promising Educational and Career Outcomes
In addition to cash prizes, the challenge offered participants valuable educational and professional opportunities, including hands-on experience in innovation and design thinking, as well as direct interaction with experts in design and financial technology. The initiative reaffirms the shared commitment of Weyay Bank and AUM to supporting Kuwait’s innovation ecosystem and strengthening collaboration between the academic and banking sectors – contributing to the development of a new generation capable of leading the future of digital financial services.
