Huawei Technologies (Kenya) in collaboration with the Ministry of Information & Technology has today sent-off the first beneficiaries of the “Huawei Seeds for the Future” Internship program.
This programme, which is aimed at up skilling top engineering students drawn from various local universities with the requisite ICT skills and providing them with the opportunity to learn and apply the latest technologies, will see nine students travel to china for training on Chinese culture, language and innovative ICT technologies and interaction with top IT specialists at the Huawei University.
During the send-off ICT Authority Ag. CEO Victor Kyalo reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring that there is adequate skill set in all the areas in technology.
“Kenya is already a leader in ICT on the continent and we want to ensure that we maintain this leadership and also grow the momentum internationally. This programme is a reflection of not only our focus on developing local skills but on the government’s commitment in working with the private sector”.
The MOU between Huawei and ICTA commenced on 5th June, 2014. Following completion of the program, students will be awarded certificates in addition to professional mentorship acquired in China.
Kyalo further added that for Kenya to compete globally in technology there is a continued need to nurture local ICT talent, enhance knowledge transfer while promoting a greater understanding of and interest in the telecommunications sector.
CEO Huawei Technologies (Kenya), Dean Yu, said that Huawei is committed to developing ICT talent in Africa and beyond by collaborating with local governments, higher education institutions and other organizations for students to study and experience the future technologies at the firm’s headquarters in China.
Officially launched in 2008, The Huawei Seeds for the Future – Student study Trip Program has been implemented in more than 30 countries with Kenya as the first beneficiary in Africa. The program aims to further technical knowledge transfer through interactions with Huawei staff, laboratory visits for hands-on experience and to witness live demonstrations of the latest ICT technologies globally.
He further added that the program seeks to develop local ICT talent, enhance knowledge skills transfer and promote a greater understanding and interest in, the telecommunications sector, whilst improving and encouraging growth and participation in the digital communities. The program aims to benefit a variety of stakeholders within the ICT industry, including government officials, students, universities and local countries and communities he concluded.
In a continued effort to develop ICT skills and industry expertise, Huawei is also running the second call of “Huawei seeds for the Future” Internship program until December, 2014. The program, an initiative of Huawei and ICT Authority is looking for talented university students in their 3rd, 4th or 5th year of study, specializing in ICT engineering.
The nine engineering students drawn from various Kenyan universities were selected in September, 2014 from a finalist pool that attracted hundreds of applicants. During the Study tour in China, Beijing and Shenzhen cities, the students will visit the Huawei Headquarters and top universities to interact with top technologists. They will also experience products and solutions focusing on the latest trends in mobile internet applications, cloud computing and networking.
Kenya is among a few beneficiaries of the capacity building program and through this program, Huawei has cooperated with over 100 universities benefitting approximately 1000 students from 30 countries. Additionally, Huawei has set up 45 Huawei training centers worldwide, under the Huawei Seeds for the future program, offering student scholarships, donating ICT equipment and laboratories to local universities, providing technical courses, teacher training, qualification assessment and career certification through the Huawei Authorized Network Academy (HANA) which has combined beneficiaries of over 10000 students.
Telecom Seeds for the Future is Huawei’s global CSR flagship program designed to share ICT expertise with local communities through various channels, help form effective education systems with ICT technologies, and nurture ICT talent.
Staff Writer
