Huawei Sri Lanka launches ‘Asia Pacific Seeds for the Future 2022’

 University talents selected for Huawei’s Asia Pacific Seeds for the Future 2022 with Education Minister Dr. Susil Premajayantha (seated middle) and Huawei Sri Lanka CEO Tao Guangyao (third from left), Huawei Public Affairs Director Christophe Lee (seated from extreme left), Country Focal Point for Sri Lanka – UNESCO Cluster Office Himali Jinadasa, Strategic Advisor Huawei Sri Lanka Indika De Zoysa and Manager Public Affairs Jithendra Antonio

• Top university talents from Sri Lanka leave to Thailand for ICT training

Huawei in cooperation with the Ministry of Education of Sri Lanka recently announced the launching of the Huawei Asia-Pacific Seeds for the Future 2022 program with young university talents selected to take the ICT training in Thailand. 

The launching ceremony was graced with Minister of Education Dr. Susil Premajayantha, Country Focal Point for Sri Lanka, UNESCO Cluster Office Himali Jinadasa, and Huawei Sri Lanka CEO Tao Guangyao at the Ministry of Education with university students and the officials from Huawei and the Ministry. 

Seeds for the Future is Huawei’s global Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) flagship program as well as the longest-lasting initiative among CSR initiatives around the world that aims to develop skilled local ICT talent, enhance knowledge transfer, and promote a greater understanding with interest in the telecommunications sector. The initiative also encourage regional building and participation in the digital community and bridge communication between countries and cultures. 

This year in 2022 Huawei, in cooperation with the ASEAN Foundation launched extended version of the CSR program – Huawei Asia-Pacific Seeds for the Future 2022 to empower more regional talent development in the Asia Pacific region. This brings together world-class undergraduate students from 14 countries including Thailand and Sri Lanka for eight days of ICT training and mentoring that will be held first time in recent years on-site in Bangkok. The program will be held from 19-28 August and second part in Singapore from 28 August-4 September for selected winning participants. 

Addressing the launching ceremony, Minister of Education Dr. Susil Premajayantha said, “The recent events that took place in world has served as an early call to address the knowledge and digital divide and inequalities within and across countries in their future generations and that skills and talent development in education is one of most of important policies countries such as Sri Lanka should focus on.” He highlighted the importance of bridging the knowledge and skills gap divide in meeting the ever challenging global talent market.

“I’m indeed delighted to see Huawei has been actively participating in the development of the ICT skills and talent development as well as infrastructure in Sri Lanka continuously improving the country’s ICT sector. I believe Huawei’s continuation of the ‘Seeds for the Future’ program is a significant effort to enhance bilateral cooperation and increase people-to-people exchanges; and essential to youth generation of Sri Lanka. This is an excellent opportunity to explore the digital skills and applications and take their learning into exciting new areas of ICT,” Dr. Premajayantha added.

Huawei Sri Lanka CEO Tao Guangyao speaking at the event said, “ICT talent is one of the key elements for the success of digitalisation and economic prosperity of the country. Huawei believe it is important to introduce the latest technologies to the young talents, support their efforts in gaining the new knowledge and experience. With Seeds for the Future our vision is to inspire the global talent to shape the future. So I believe that the opportunity given to talented people like you sitting here today can stay inspired and light up the future of the world.”

“As Huawei we are always committed to cultivating upskill and improving the competitiveness of the university youth,” Huawei CEO Tao Guangyao said. He also thanked the Government of Sri Lanka, and the Ministry of Education for continuous support extended towards Huawei to expand the ICT talent and skills development of the country.

Seeds for the Future was globally launched in 2008 by Huawei, then followed by a MOU with the Government of Sri Lanka for ICT cooperation in 2016 the CSR program in Sri Lanka was first launched in the same year. Since then each year 10 university talents were fully sponsored to China for ICT and culture trip and training. During the height of the pandemic period the program was held online. Now in its seventh year in operation, to date with this year’s university talents, 80 Sri Lanka university students have been benefited from the Seeds for the Future in Sri Lanka.

Huawei has more than 30 years’ experience in the ICT industry across the world, and over two decades experience in Sri Lanka, and company. The program is one of several initiatives by Huawei geared toward nurturing talent for South Asian region and Sri Lankan youth. Other initiatives such as, Huawei ASEAN Academy in Sri Lanka – a long-term CSR initiative to cultivate ICT talents, the NAITA-Huawei ICT Academy, ICT Competitions and joint innovation labs with Sri Lankan universities, had enabled many youth in Sri Lanka to benefit from an advanced skills development launched by Huawei in recent years. These initiatives equip the youth with the necessary skills required to contribute to Sri Lanka’s future digital transformation, socio-economic development and national plans and visions.