Samsung launches Engineering Academies in Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa
0Aimed at addressing the critical technical and engineering skills shortage in Africa, Samsung has launched its Samsung Electronics Engineering Academy in South Africa, Kenya and Nigeria as part of the company’s broader goal to develop 10 000 Electronics Engineers across the continent by 2015.
The Samsung Electronics Engineering Academy provides hands-on, vocational skills training for Grade 10-12 students. Opening up skilled, well-paying job opportunities for its students; differentiates Samsung’s quality of service to its customers as we build a workforce of technicians and exclusive service experts in line with the government’s drive of creating decent jobs, especially for young citizens.
Students selected go through a year’s program which comprises of Basic, Intermediate and Advanced engineering skills, aligned to their set Curriculum at a corresponding technical school.
Upon completion of the program at the Academy, students earn themselves an opportunity for an internship at Samsung or Samsung’s Channel partners. Outstanding performers stand a good opportunity to participate in a year-long Learnership opportunity at HQ in S. Korea as part of the 100 African young leaders program.
The Engineering Academy program is currently being piloted in South Africa, Kenya and Nigeria in 2011 and will scale to more African countries by 2015.
Speaking at the recent launch of the academy in Lagos State, Nigeria, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), Tuesday called for greater attention to technical and vocational education in the country saying it is the only way to grow the economy both at the state and national levels.
“We are moving into cashless banking. A lot of electronic data would be needed and where are the support technicians? I see them in the students of this academy and our upcoming children. We need homes, we need power and we need to produce more water. So, we are going to need the engineers and technicians in very large numbers”, the Governor said.
According to the Governor, “We cannot produce too much of these technicians and engineers because we have a deficit of them. We need to rebuild the country. This nation is being run on an infrastructure that is about 40 years old. So, anybody who is investing in technology, in technical engineering is investing in the right place”.
