Huawei SA’s annual Seeds for the Future Programme, in partnership with the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT), will take place online this year.
This, as the country tries to weather the coronavirus (COVID-19) storm, with infections breaching the 311 000 mark, a total of 4 453 COVID-19-related deaths and 160 693 recoveries, to date.
Huawei SA and the DCDT have opened the call for entry to qualifying post-graduate ICT students to participate in this year’s programme.
The Seeds for the Future training initiative is an ongoing partnership started in 2016 with the then telecoms and postal services department, now known as the DCDT. As part of the programme, 10 university students are chosen from various institutions across SA to travel to China for a two-week study trip.
However, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Chinese technology giant has created an online course this year, which is open to 20 students.
The course is open to university students with ICT-related majors, including computer science, electronic science, IT, software and engineering.
Communications and digital technologies minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams urges all qualifying students to apply for the course to secure a place in the fourth industrial revolution that will drive the future economy of South Africa.
“COVID-19 has presented us with a unique opportunity to fast-track our transformation to a fully-connected digital society,” says Ndabeni-Abrahams. “I urge all students studying ICT to think of their roles in this new society and to explore all opportunities that are available to them, to improve their skills to become world-class ICT professionals.
“Through the Seeds for the Future Programme, students will get access to Huawei’s latest technology and that will give them a valuable insight into how ICT works to change our lives. This is the 5G, cloud and AI era, and we want our students to get the best skills so they can innovate and create local solutions that will serve our local needs.”
According to Huawei SA, the programme seeks to develop local ICT talent, enhance knowledge-sharing, and improve people's understanding and interest in the ICT industry.
In addition, it aims to encourage countries across different regions to participate in the construction of digital communities.
The telco has promised to fund the necessary data for the qualifying candidates, adding there will be a variety of prizes for top-performing students. Learners will also receive a Seeds for the Future certificate after successful completion of the course.
Interested applicants should e-mail saseeds@huawei.com before 21 July.
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