Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand delivered congratulatory remarks during the digital skills program kick-off
Huawei, on 19 August 2022, launched Asia Pacific Seeds for the Future 2022 in collaboration with ASEAN Foundation and Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). From August 19 to 27, the program will bring together 120 outstanding students from 16 countries across the Asia Pacific region, including 10 students from Thailand, for a 9-day digital boot camp in Thailand, to get immersed in technologies and cross-cultural experiences, and propose technical solutions to address social problems in Tech4Good projects.
2022 Asia Pacific Seeds for the Future marks the opening page of the ASEAN Seeds for the Future chapter since Huawei and ASEAN Foundation signed MoU on a scaled-up version of regional Seeds for the Future in 2021. Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) will also co-host a field trip for contestants from the ‘Seeds for The Future’ program. Through this program, TAT aims to deliver a new tourism experience that is meaningful and memorable during this year’s regional event.
The opening ceremony was attended by local government officials and representatives of multiple international organisations. Speakers at the event highlighted the important role multi-party collaboration plays in creating a solid foundation for the region's digital talent ecosystem.
H.E. Mr. Jurin Laksanawisit, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce of Thailand
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce of Thailand, H.E. Mr. Jurin Laksanawisit, said at the event: “I am very pleased to preside over the opening ceremony of Huawei Seeds for the Future in the Asia-Pacific region 2022, hosted in Thailand, and I would like to thank Huawei for organising such a wonderful project. At present, the public and private sectors are working together to increase ICT personnel in order to keep up with changing trends. Personally, I believe that co-training with leading specialised companies such as Huawei will greatly enhance the quality of the education and is an excellent step for advancing digital development with the goal of strengthening the economy to international levels."
Mr. Simon Lin, President of Huawei Asia Pacific
President of Huawei Asia Pacific, Mr. Simon Lin, reiterated Huawei's own commitment to talent development. "The 'seeds' represent hope, passion, and future,” he said. “As the corporate-level flagship CSR project with the longest history, this program has been brought to nearly 140 countries and regions, reaching over 12,000 students from 500 universities. The ‘Seeds’ have grown to a global ‘forest’.” “Digitalization is the driving force for our future. Talent is the key to digital transformation and sustainable growth. We deeply believe that the young generation will grow as the constructors of Asia Pacific when pursuing their tech-dreams.”
Asia Pacific Seeds for the future 2022 is not only about knowledge learning but also about how to transform ideas into initiatives and projects that will benefit the decent life quality and happiness in society.
Deputy Minister of Education of Thailand, Khunying Kalaya Sophonpanich, agreed that “The Seeds for the Future program is important for students interested in ICT and digital technologies as it fills the gap between theory and practice. The Ministry of Education envisions a greater focus on morals and ethics, whereas education should also emphasise digital skills. This is regarded as the most significant development in the Thai education sector; we will fully corporate with Huawei Thailand to boost the quality of education, in all forms, to advance education to a global level.”
Deputy Permanent Secretary for Ministry of Culture of Thailand, Mr. Krisada Kongkajan, also appraised Seeds for the Future. “This is a great platform for regional youth exchange and allow local student to have an opportunity to learn with Huawei that develop skilled, local ICT talent and bridge communication between countries and cultures,” he said.
From 19 August onwards, Students would embark on a cultural and digital journey filled with site visits, including United Nations Regional Hub in Bangkok, the Metaverse Expo, and the Grand Palace in Bangkok. At the same time, the participants will be provided training in cutting-edge technologies including 5G, AI, and cloud computing from industry-leading experts.
Dr. Yang Mee Eng, Executive Director of ASEAN Foundation
During the digital camp, the participants will be expected to team up and create a "Tech4Good" pitch where they share their visions for a better digital world. The winning teams will be given a place in an accelerator camp in Singapore that will be held from August 29 to September 4. This camp will give them the opportunity to meet leading entrepreneurs and investors, further develop their initiatives and bring their ideas to the market.
Huawei's held first global Tech4Good competition last year, Thailand team “Are u Ok” project took gold for their solution that helps patients in Thailand receive faster emergency treatment.
Digital talent cultivation has always been a strategic focus for Huawei Thailand. Seeds for the Future is Huawei's flagship Corporate Social Responsibility program that brings together young talent from top universities around the world. The program was first launched in Thailand in 2008 by Huawei Thailand CEO Abel Deng who said, “Huawei continuously supports Thailand to become the ASEAN digital talent hub and contributes to an upskilled workforce, promoting the Thai young generation with greater understanding and interest in the telecommunications sector, encouraging participation in the digital community.”
As of the end of 2021, Seeds for the Future had been implemented in 137 countries and regions, reaching 12,000 students at more than 500 universities. In Thailand alone, the program has so far benefited 215 students from leading universities nationwide.