The BSc (Hons) Computer Science students at the University of West London (UWL) RAK branch school recently won the “Most Inspirational Project Award” at the 2024 NASA International Space Apps Challenge. This was a big deal for the students. The team’s project, called “Eco-Metropolis: Sustainable City Simulation,” won this prestigious award on a world level, competing against 93,000 other projects from 163 countries.

According to Khaleej Times, Eco-Metropolis is an interactive game that is meant to teach kids about smart city growth, sustainability, and being able to handle extreme weather. The game has different levels for kids of different ages, and it uses NASA information to make the experience realistic and fun for people who are interested in resource management and urban planning. The 11th Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) calls for building towns that are sustainable and resilient. This project fits with that goal.

On February 13, at the DoubleTree by Hilton, Marjan Island, RAK, there was a ceremony to celebrate this amazing progress. At the event, well-known people like Dr. Steve Reissig (executive director of RAK DOK) and Dr. William Ed Obryan (space affairs attaché at the U.S. Embassy in Abu Dhabi) were present. Co-chairmen of UWL RAK Zubair Ibrahim and Ahmed Rafi were there, as well as representatives from the Ras Al Khaimah Department of Knowledge, deans, teachers, and proud parents. Everyone was there to celebrate the students’ success in coming up with new ideas.

At the event, important people talked about how important it is for education to be innovative and long-lasting. They also said that the students’ success was a big deal for UWL RAK. They liked how the project would inspire younger people and strengthen the university’s position as a hub for technology progress. Leaders at UWL were proud of what the students had done, saying, “This achievement is a testament to the talent, dedication, and innovative spirit of our students.” This award, given on a world level, shows that UWL RAK is dedicated to developing future leaders in technology and sustainability.

Rikzah Noorul Huda Khattal, Umamah Ali, Samira Rafiq Khan, and Shafeeqa Fathima Jahangir, who won, were praised for their vision and hard work in making their idea into a project that is known all over the world.

UWL RAK keeps up its reputation as “The Career University” by giving students real-world experience, education that is based on business needs, and a strong commitment to new ideas.