Samsung and the University of the Western Cape (UWC)celebrated the achievements of the 4th cohort of students graduating from theirSoftware Development Programme. This Samsung-sponsored initiative is part of abroader strategy to enhance youth employment opportunities in South Africa,which is currently facing a youth unemployment rate of 45.5% (aged 15-34 years), significantly higher thanthe national average of 32.9%, according to Statistics South Africa.
In response to thecountry's youth unemployment issues and to assist the government in addressingthis challenge, Samsung launched an Equity Equivalent Investment Programme(EEIP) worth R280 million in 2019.
The company is nowcelebrating five years of this EEIP programme's sustained success. This EEIPprogramme is projected to have a measurable impact on job creation and contributenearly R1 billion to the South African economy.
Five years inSamsung's EEIP programme has managed to train 539 youth in SWD and artisanalskills. Professor Jose Frantz, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research and Innovationat UWC, said: "We firmly believe in the transformative power of highereducation to empower youth. The Future-Innovation Lab at UWC exemplifies thiscommitment by equipping previously disadvantaged youth with the skills andexperiences necessary to succeed in an AI-driven economy.
"By bridging the gapbetween education and industry, this initiative not only addresses the pressingissue of youth unemployment but also fosters a culture of innovation andresilience. As we celebrate the upcoming graduation of the fourth cohort, werecognise the importance of such programs in nurturing the next generation ofleaders and change-makers. Together, we can create a future where every youngperson has the opportunity to thrive and contribute meaningfully to society."
This SWD programme whichis part of Samsung's EEIP has ensured sustained ICT investment in historicallydisadvantaged universities, which in turn has helped to enhance the prospectsof employment in the country's youth. Importantly, this SWD programme hasprovided an opportunity for previously disadvantaged youth to gain skills insoftware development and digital social innovation with the ultimate aim ofopening doors to employment or further training. Samsung strives for a 100%absorption rate of all the students in its training programmes.
Lenhle Khoza, Managerfor B-BBEE and Transformation at Samsung South Africa, said: "As Samsung, wewould like to congratulate this group of brilliant students. From the start ofthis programme, our focus has been on capacity building in ICT training anddevelopment. With these software development skills, we are confident that theseUWC students will now be able to play a crucial role in the digital economy."
For Samsung, thisgraduation of the fourth cohort in this SWD programme is a clear indication ofhow successful partnerships with institutions of higher learning such as UWC arehelping to address the country's societal challenges through the development ofdigital solutions.
According to UWC, the41 students who participated in the SWD programme have gained proficiency inhigh-demand coding languages, software architecture, web and mobile appdevelopment as well as database management and more. The hands-on andproject-based approach has ensured that graduates emerge not just withtheoretical knowledge, but also with the practical skills demanded by themodern job market.
With hands-on,real-world experience provided through creativity and fun in a learning andworking environment, these UWC students will now be able to successfully applytheir new skills, which are highly sought-after in the country's digitaleconomy.
"As Samsung, we'vealways prioritised the need to demonstrate a measurable outcome on thecountry's youth in all our education-focused initiatives. This SWD is noexception and in collaboration with UWC we have ensured that these graduatingstudents are employable and that some can attain permanent employment throughour partner network," concluded Khoza.
