As the yearly group of students chosen for the Huawei Seeds for the Future (SFTF) programme first absorb the knowledge that they will be visiting China, one can imagine their feelings of excitement, anticipation, and even apprehension.
According to Valene Rampersad, who participated in the first UWI cohort in 2016, they wonder about language barriers, communicating with family, and what foods they might eat. Nothing can quite prepare them for the experience.
Seeds for the Future is Huawei’s flagship information and communications technologies (ICT) training programme. It has been giving students from across the globe learning opportunities for 15 years. The international technology company developed the initiative to promote industry development in the countries where it is based, and to close the knowledge gap between the classroom and the industry while introducing students to new and emerging technologies.
“We also aim to drive long-term economic, social, and environmental sustainability,” explains Tricia Henry, Public Relations Manager, Huawei Technologies (T&T), who manages the programme locally.
This year will mark the milestone of 100 T&T students participating in SFTF.
Besides incorporating training, presentations, tours, and other experiences, SFTF encourages students to immerse themselves in Chinese culture. Those who travelled to China visited historical sites and Huawei’s facilities.
“It is not just about learning new technology,” explains Henry. “The world of work is very much globalised, and young graduates will find themselves, more and more, working in cross cultural, cross country work environments.”
Participants interact with students from countries like France, Papua New Guinea, and Zimbabwe. Kalyani Mathura, a member of the 2020 cohort, recounts an unexpected meeting in a restroom at a Huawei event with a Colombian student she had met during her stint in the programme.
The students often find themselves acting as cultural ambassadors. “People are actually amazed by the variety of persons that come from Trinidad and Tobago, so it’s really a good opportunity to showcase the country,” observes Henry.
The pandemic disrupted SFTF in 2020. Huawei organisers found themselves drastically changing course and shifting their mode of instruction completely online. Utilising their established learning platform, iLearningX, they shortened SFTF from two weeks to one.
“The big challenge for them, was taking the content that we had been doing in an offline/face-to-face manner for so many years and curating it to suit an online fashion,” notes Henry.
The participants were able to experience an extensive Chinese culture workshop and lectures from ICT experts. Cultural exchange was still incorporated and the T&T cohort even performed a song. The online platform made it possible to accommodate more students. Twenty joined from Trinidad, with 13 from The UWI. Six UWI students participated in the first cohort.
The format brought its own obstacles, according to Mathura. “Just dealing with the loneliness,” she recalls. “I want to do this,” she says, describing her feelings at the time, “but then you're online. You're in your room by yourself.”
The industrial engineering student went on to complete the course and became a Huawei intern in 2021. She now works there as a Solutions Manager.
Formerly an Electrical and Computer Engineering major, Rampersad has been at Huawei since 2019, and is now a Solutions Account Manager.
Both appreciate the opportunity to be mentors to others entering Huawei, and to stay in contact with those they met through the programme.
“I am thrilled to see the immense growth each year as my efforts in mentoring really goes a long way in helping them to develop their career within Huawei and beyond,” remarks Rampersad. “It’s part of the job that serves to fulfil a more personal need to give back.”
Other former participants have become interns in Huawei locations. Some have launched their own start-ups and been SFTF speakers.
Both Rampersad and Mathura encourage others to apply if ICT interests them, even if the applicant is not pursuing computer science or telecommunications. They encourage more women to participate and join the ICT industry.
Once chosen, Mathura advises, “Give time to the events. Really try and be active in the live sessions.” She suggests interacting with other participants as much as possible “because you never know who your future colleagues will be”.
The online format continued in 2021 and 2022. In 2022, three SFTF’s top performers travelled to Huawei’s office in Panama for training and to see Huawei’s operations there.
This year, participants will once more travel as part of the hybrid format. Students from eight Latin American/Caribbean countries will meet in Costa Rica to carry on the programme’s legacy.
Henry also encourages students to apply for the newest cohort, emphasising benefits to students, the university, and the industry. “The programme has enhanced the available pool of skilled personnel in the technology sector, which in the long term will help reduce unemployment rates.” She predicts, “It will build on the T&T national diversification thrust in the area of ICT.”
Learn more about Seeds of the Future here: https://www.huawei.com/minisite/seeds-for-the-future/program.html
