Huawei partners IMDA on Seeds for the Future program
Huawei and Singapore’s Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) have collaborated on the Seeds for the Future program where 10 Singaporean undergraduates will embark on a two-week learning journey to China.
Fully funded by Huawei, the program will allow students to spend a week in Beijing to experience Chinese culture and another week in Huawei’s headquarters in Shenzhen for intensive courses on the latest developments in information and communications technologies (ICT), including cloud computing, Internet of Things (IoT), and 5G.
The selected group of students is supported under IMDA’s Industry Preparation for Pre- Graduates (iPREP) program, which aims to prepare and equip pre-graduates with relevant skillsets and work experiences to meet industry talent needs.
Partnerships between the public and private sector on programs such as iPREP and Seeds for the Future, allow effective immersion of talent in key technology hubs such as China, to gain exposure to digital businesses at the forefront of innovation where growth is taking shape.
Tan Kiat How, chief executive of IMDA said: “IMDA is happy to partner Huawei in providing our undergraduates the invaluable experience of understanding the business culture in China’s ICT industry. The students will get the opportunity to learn about the latest ICT developments and acquire industry experience, in line with our aim to create a pipeline of industry-ready graduates.”
Lei Hui, CEO of Huawei International, said: “Huawei has always had a strong commitment to ICT skills development and driving innovations in technology since we entered Singapore in 2001. We are delighted to partner IMDA in line with Singapore’s strategy to boost ICT talent pipeline. I am confident the partnership will give local students the opportunity to learn new and relevant industry skills, enabling them to fulfil their ambitions in science and technology and contribute to Singapore’s Smart Nation initiative in the long run.”
The participants began their two-week trip with an opening ceremony in Beijing on May 26
The group of 10 students consists of undergraduates from National University of Singapore (NUS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore Management University (SMU) and Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT), majoring in Computer Science, Information Systems, Business Analytics, and Electrical and Electronic Engineering.
One of the participants, Wu Yunheng, an analytics major at SMU, said: “The Seeds for the Future program is a golden opportunity for aspiring ICT professionals to glean insights by learning first-hand from Huawei, a global ICT company.
Moreover, we will also have the opportunity to meet like-minded individuals from other countries, allowing us to build robust relationships with them that are crucial in the globalised world we live in today. Personally, I am looking forward to learning and experiencing all that I can, and believe this will be one of the most fruitful experiences for my professional development.”
According to a recent study, an estimated US$10 billion (€8.60 billion) will be added to Singapore’s gross domestic product (GDP) as the economy undergoes digital transformation. As Singapore continues advancing its journey towards a digital economy, a steady and sustainable pipeline quality talent is critical to harness its full economic potential.
Huawei’s Seeds for the Future program is a global corporate social responsibility (CSR) flagship program established in 2008 to help develop local ICT talent, enhance knowledge transfer, promote a greater understanding of and interest in the telecommunications sector, and improve and encourage regional building and participation in the digital community. To date, the program has benefited more than 20,000 students from over 102 countries and organisations worldwide.
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