Huawei’s commitment to the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) training of T&T University students continues to grow, with its seventh annual staging of the company’s flagship global Corporate Social Responsibility Initiative: the “Seeds for the Future” Programme.
Leading students in STEM disciplines––Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics––at the University of the West Indies (UWI) and the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) will soon be able to apply for the Programme, when it launches the programme in September 2022.
It is also open to non-STEM students who can establish a keen interest in technology and are prepared to put their training to use in practice.
The Programme will be conducted online for the third time since the outbreak of COVID-19.
Since 2016, Huawei launched the Seeds for the Future Programme in T&T, working jointly with the UWI and UTT to build a stronger ICT ecosystem in T&T––promoting ICT skills-training and capacity-building through the programme, helping ICT students fill the gaps between theory learnt in the classroom and practices applied in the workplace, as they go about mastering the skills required for the country’s new Digital Economy.
Over the last six years, “Seeds for the Future” has taken 70 T&T students totally through the training, almost half of whom have traveled to China for two-week hands-on instructions on latest technological innovations at Huawei’s international headquarters, as well as on Chinese culture.
Since the programme went online in 2020 because of the global pandemic, 40 outstanding students took part in the 2020 and 2021 virtual programme, giving more students the chance to interact with experts from across the globe on subjects such as: the latest in 5G, Cloud and AI technology, leadership, and business…to name a few.
Additionally, Huawei has since provided direct employment to four of its outstanding “Seeds for the Future” graduates at the Port of Spain office, with the commitment to increase the future opportunities for training through internships at Huawei.
This year, Huawei will welcome more T&T students to join with others from over 500 universities around the world to participate in an immersive and interactive eight-day online programme, featuring both interactive live-stream and pre-recorded courses available on Huawei’s free online learning platform: iLearningX.
The session will give students exposure to: ultra-advanced technology, exclusive stimulating sessions with visionary global industry leaders, history of Huawei and its technological developments, plus the Asian environment in culture as well as world-famous Chinese scenic locations. They will also be treated to leadership and career development mentorship.
Participants will receive an official Programme Graduation Certificate, with the top student receiving a special award. Additionally, this year students will participate in the Tech4Goodgroup project and global competition, which will motivate participants to examine how to leverage technology to address the T&T’s most pressing social and environmental issues.
In an official statement issued recently, Huawei acknowledges that “the global ICT industry continues to grow rapidly, resulting in significantly advanced business models and customer needs”.
The Company points out that consequently, the ICT industry “urgently needs the technical resource––in appropriately large numbers and extensive skills-and-talents––to address the challenges posed by these developments efficiently and effectively”.
“However,” the statement goes on to say, “in many countries there is a huge gap between what is taught in classrooms and the skills that are needed in the real world. Therefore, professionals should be given the best opportunities to learn about and apply the latest technologies in their respective domains.
“Over the years, Huawei has led industry development with its cutting-edge technologies…while investing heavily in cultivating ICT professionals. Together with our various partners, Huawei remains fully dedicated to promoting communication technologies and knowledge, developing ICT talent, and increasing access to education.”
Through “Seeds for the Future”, Huawei has worked with over 500 universities, and as at the end of 2021, the programme has benefited over 12,000 students in 137 countries and regions.
Huawei will host information sessions for students to learn more about the Programme, after which the students will have the chance to apply to participate in this opportunity.
The “Seeds for the Future” Programme will run in T&T from November 7 – 14, 2022.
More information on the “Seeds for the Future” Programme is here.
