In a collective move to fortify the digital skills pipeline, Huawei, the ASEAN Foundation, and the Southeast Asia Ministers of Education Organisation (SEAMEO) on October 18 hosted the Seeds for the Future Summit 2023. Under the theme "Connect, Cultivate, Contribute for Inclusive Digital Talent Growth in Asia-Pacific," the summit convened 91 exceptional participants of Seeds for the Future, Huawei’ flagship talent initiative, from 19 Asia-Pacific countries, emphasising the vital role of youth in the digital evolution of the region.
First launched in Thailand in 2008, the Seeds for the Future initiative aims to nurture local ICT talents and provide them with high-quality learning opportunities and multi-cultural experiences and has since expanded to encompass 137 countries and regions. As part of the 2023 Seeds for the Future program, Huawei Thailand selected students from leading universities in communications and electrical engineering fields as well as language-related and business management faculties to create an even more diverse group of future talents. In addition, Huawei Thailand has placed greater focus on supporting students who are interested in internship opportunities or working as employees with them in future as well as running several other talent development initiatives throughout the year, such as the ICT Cloud Developer. To date, Huawei has successfully trained 70,000 digital talents in Thailand alone and plans to train an additional 20,000 cloud software developers, empowering them with the knowledge to make the country a future digital leader in the region.
Echoing the theme, Mr. Simon Lin, President of Huawei Asia Pacific, stated, "This is the third year that Huawei has hosted the Asia Pacific Seed for the Future Summit. Every year, we witness this program evolving with an increasing number of partners joining us. However, three things remain constant: Partnership, Commitment, and Youth empowerment."
Cultural parade of representatives from ASEAN Seeds for the Future
The event commenced with a cultural parade in which the 19 delegations, adorned in their respective national costumes, greeted the audience and shared their cultures with pride. Officially opening the event, H.E. Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General of ASEAN, remarked, "I strongly encourage private-led initiatives that share a vision for attracting and nurturing digital talents, such as the Seeds for the Future program. I hope it will provide more opportunities for youths, as well as pay special consideration to vulnerable groups, such as women, people with disabilities, and those from rural areas, to ensure balanced participation and inclusivity."
H.E. Amb. Hou Yan QI, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to ASEAN, appreciated that "this program not only cultivates 'seeds' for the digital transformation of ASEAN countries but also injects youthful impetus into the upgrading of China-ASEAN cooperation." Additionally, H.E. Amb. Heng Sarith, Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Cambodia to ASEAN and Chair of the Board of Trustees of ASEAN Foundation, extended his appreciation to Huawei for "partnering with the ASEAN Foundation to create a platform that empowers young people in the Asia-Pacific region, enabling them to enhance their digital skills and expand their networks beyond national boundaries."
Dr. Kritsachai Somsaman, Centre Director, Southeast Asian Minister of Education Organisation Regional Centre for STEM Education, underscored the urgency of digital talent cultivation: "In this fast-evolving digital landscape, the cultivation of digital talent is more critical than ever before. It is the key to boosting growth and resilience and holds the power to revolutionise industries, societies, and economies. The Seeds for the Future program, at its core, is designed to inspire and nurture this next generation of leaders."
As part of the summit, Huawei and the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) also announced a joint declaration focusing on six key areas of digital collaboration across Asia Pacific, including ICT policy and regulation, joint research, inclusive infrastructure, digital capacity-building, girls and youth empowerment, and sharing digital best practices.
Mr. Simon Lin, President of Huawei Asia Pacific (fourth from the left), and Ms. Atsuko Okuda, Director of ITU Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (fourth from the right) witnessing the joint declaration
The event concluded with a panel discussion led by Dr. Piti Srisangnam, Executive Director of the ASEAN Foundation. Joined by experts from the National University of Singapore (NUS), representatives from Huawei, and the Seeds for the Future participants, the panel delved into the intricacies of shaping tomorrow's leaders by bridging gaps, harnessing digital skills, and nurturing lifelong abilities.
Panellists (from left to right): Dr. Piti Srisangnam, Executive Director of ASEAN Foundation; Prof. Goh Puay Guan, Associate Professor of NUS Business School; Jeziel Aijeleth Ramos, Seeds for the Future Global Ambassador; Thantita Ananjarulert, Senior 5G Marketing Manager and APAC Ambassador of Huawei; Glenn Cheow, Seeds for the Future 2023 Leader Award
Prior to the summit, 91 students were taken on a tour of Huawei's campuses in Shenzhen and Dongguan, China, as part of an immersive experience. There, they gained unique insights into areas such as information theory, digital power, automobile technologies, and cybersecurity. The students hailed from a range of countries, including South Korea, Japan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Fiji, and the Solomon Islands. All participants were collectively selected by Huawei, the ASEAN Foundation, and ITU.
Looking ahead, Huawei Thailand has partnered with the Thai Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (MDES), the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research, and Innovation (MHESI), as well as several leading universities and partners for the upcoming Talent Summit event to be held in Thailand in November. This will provide another opportunity for Huawei and various government bodies and agencies to collaborate in promoting educational approaches and expanding employment opportunities for new graduates, aligning with Huawei's mission to continually create value and contribute to a fully connected, digitalised, and green Thailand.