Huawei launched its Seeds for the Future (SFTF) 2022 program in the Caribbean region on November 4, 2022, to encourage ICT talent to tackle social challenges with digital solutions.
The program will bring together 55 top STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) university students from Jamaica, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago who won the opportunity to attend the 8-day digital boot camp from November 7 to 14, 2022 .
Twenty students from the University of the West Indies (UWI) and the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) will join their regional counterparts to receive advanced technology skills training from international industry experts through this year’s SFTF , which is now in Year 7 in T&T.
An additional feature of this year’s cohort is that the top three students from each country will be selected to attend a one-week study trip to Panama, following the culmination of the program, where they will be further exposed to lectures, seminars and tours of done. by ICT industry experts in the region.
Since the program was introduced in T&T in 2016, Huawei has welcomed 70 students for training, half of whom have visited China for hands-on experience in the latest technologies.
While the Covid19 pandemic has prompted the company to shift activities to online platforms, it continues to gain momentum, attracting a total of 40 students in the 2020 and 2021 cohorts of the program.
Seeds for the Future, which is one of the initiatives of Huawei’s wider ICT Talent Development Plan, aims to invest in the region’s Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector by enhancing the skills of the next generation of innovators through technological skills training, reinforced according to modules in business principles.
In addition, Huawei has offered direct employment to four (4) of its outstanding SFTF graduates in the Port of Spain office since the program’s inception, with the commitment to increase future training opportunities through internships at Huawei .
Speaking at the virtual launch of the program on Friday morning, Huawei Vice President of Public Affairs and Communications in Central America and the Caribbean Daniel Ding congratulated the students on their selection and encouraged them to use the skills learned to benefit their respective communities and countries. .
Mr. Ding in his remarks also expressed Huawei’s continued commitment to the development of the region’s digital infrastructure through various initiatives and praised the participating countries for their support and cooperation.
“Our vision is to bring digital (technology) to every person, home and organization for a fully connected, intelligent world. We honor this commitment no matter what.
“In Latin America, we have been carrying out our mission for more than twenty years and we have achieved a lot in close cooperation with our partners. We will continue to invest in joint innovation, breaking down technical barriers, driving industry improvement and providing opportunities for young talent.”
Representatives from the participating countries also expressed their gratitude and support for the program by congratulating the students on their acceptance.
Jamaica’s Minister of Education, Youth and Information, the Honorable Fayval Williams thanked Huawei for its continued support and assistance in helping STEM students reach their full potential and providing opportunities for their success.
“This gives them (students) the opportunity to work in a cross-cultural environment while having access to key training on the most advanced technologies.
“These twenty STEM students will benefit greatly not only from the knowledge gained through this experience, but also from the mentoring they will receive from a highly skilled team of Huawei experts.
“We want to provide our talented young people with the best possible STEM opportunities and help them succeed and contribute positively to the world.”
Also attending the virtual event was iGovTT CEO Charles Bobb-Semple, who thanked Huawei for their contribution to the growth of T&T’s technology landscape, while congratulating the students on their acceptance into the program.
Mr. Bobb-Semple also encouraged the participants to make full use of the opportunities in front of them by learning as much as they can and approaching various technical concepts with an open mind.
“With Seeds for the Future you are all in great hands to receive great guidance, teaching and experiences in your times ahead.
“As you all embark on this amazing opportunity, remember that you are all truly seeds for the future, to grow, to mature, to bear fruit of ICT knowledge, to bring benefits for yourself and your communities. always be afraid to ask questions as you seek to grow in your ICT knowledge.”
In his speech the Deputy Director of E-Government in Suriname, Prewien Ramadhin emphasized the value of ICT development in the region and noted that he was confident that the topics presented to the participants would sharpen their skills on the latest developments. the latest in technology.
“Through this program students will have the opportunity to learn about emerging technologies such as 5G, cloud computing, Artificial Intelligence to meet Huawei experts and industry professionals. Looking at the topics of this program, I am confident that the program will help students bridge the skills gap.
As of 2021, the Seeds for The Future program has benefited over 12,000 students worldwide in 137 countries.
