BANGKOK — Huawei launched Asia Pacific Seeds for the Future 2022 on Friday. From August 19 to 27, the program will bring together 120 outstanding students from 16 countries in the Asia-Pacific region for a 9-day digital boot camp in Thailand, including 10 students from the Philippines.
Participants will be immersed in technologies and cross-cultural experiences, and will propose technical solutions to solve social problems through Tech4Good projects.
Fifty-six of the 120 participants this year are women, making the 2022 cohort the most gender-balanced in the region since the program launched.
The opening ceremony was attended by local government officials and representatives of several international organizations.
They highlighted the important role that multi-stakeholder collaboration plays in creating a strong foundation for the region’s digital talent ecosystem.
ASEAN Secretary General, HE Dato Lim Jock Hoi, emphasized that digital talent will be the driving force in building a digital ASEAN: “The private sector can play a pioneering role in realizing this vision. In this regard, I welcome the initiative of Huawei Asia Pacific: Seeds for the Future Program. This project underscores Huawei’s long-term commitment to collaborating and preparing ASEAN youth for the changing world of work and industry demands. I hope these efforts can also be extended to other ASEAN member states.
ASEAN Foundation Executive Director Dr. Yang Mee Eng said, “The growth of ASEAN’s digital economy is entirely dependent on the ability of young people in the region to participate. To nurture a generation of digitally savvy and innovative problem solvers, it is essential that ASEAN stakeholders create a robust learning ecosystem that enables our youth to advance their digital skills.
Director of DICT’s ICT Industry Development Office in the Philippines, Emmy Lou V. Delfin delivered her message: “Thank you to Huawei for partnering with DICT in developing young Filipinos to become entrepreneurs through to ICT. The Huawei Seeds for the Future program is so timely and relevant, especially for our students. Acquiring the right skills and training contributes to a better future. As your slogan says – inspiring talent to shape the future.
Huawei Asia-Pacific President Simon Lin reiterated Huawei’s commitment to talent development: “The ‘seeds’ represent hope, passion and the future. As the flagship enterprise-level CSR project with the longest history, this program has been rolled out in nearly 140 countries and regions, reaching more than 12,000 students from 500 universities. The ‘Seeds’ have become a global ‘forest’.
“Digitalization is the engine of our future. Talent is the key to digital transformation and sustainable growth. We deeply believe that the younger generation will grow up as Asia-Pacific builders as they pursue their technological dreams. Simon Lin added. Asia Pacific Seeds for the future 2022 is not only about learning knowledge, but also about how to turn ideas into initiatives and projects that will provide a decent, quality and happy life for all.
Thailand’s Deputy Minister of Education, Khunying Kalaya Sophonpanich, agreed that “The Seeds for the Future program is important for students interested in ICT and digital technologies, as it bridges the gap between theory and practice. The Ministry of Education plans to put more emphasis on morals and ethics, while education should also emphasize digital skills. This is considered the most significant development in the Thai education sector; improve the quality of education, in all its forms, to advance education globally.
Starting today, they would embark on a cultural and digital journey filled with site visits including the United Nations Regional Center in Bangkok, the Metaverse Exhibition and the Grand Palace in Bangkok.
At the same time, participants will receive training on advanced technologies such as 5G, AI and cloud computing from leading experts.
During the digital camp, participants will have to team up and create a “Tech4Good” pitch where they will share their visions for a better digital world.
Winning teams will be awarded a place in an acceleration camp in Singapore to be held from August 29 to September 4. This camp will give them the opportunity to meet leading entrepreneurs and investors and further develop their initiatives and bring their ideas to market.
Seeds for the Future is Huawei’s flagship corporate social responsibility program that brings together young talent from top universities around the world.
Huawei Philippines launched the program in 2015 to inspire ICT talents and encourage them to address social challenges with digital solutions. By the end of 2021, the program reached more than 200 students from more than 30 universities in the country.