Huawei unveils a new, fully offline chapter of its flagship talent cultivation program “Seeds for the future” starting from July 2024

The highly anticipated week-long “Seeds for the future European Grand Finale”, uniting a select cohort of “Seeds for the future” alumni hailing from close to twenty European countries, culminated in an extraordinary Closing Ceremony today. Hosted by Huawei Europe, the event showcased the collective achievements of the talented future ICT experts and leaders, who have previously attended training programs organized in their countries. Throughout the week, participants engaged in illuminating sessions with tech experts, delved into the realms of connectivity and innovation, and contributed to insightful panel discussions on crucial topics such as diversity, green skills, and sustainability.

The pinnacle of the event, the Closing Ceremony, reverberated with the theme of international cooperation as a cornerstone for crafting a sustainable future for European talents. As we bid farewell to this enriching week of collaboration, Huawei proudly acknowledges the collective strides taken towards fostering innovation, knowledge exchange, and a shared commitment to a sustainable future.

Prof. Shahbaz Khan, Director of the UNESCO Multisectoral Regional Office for East Asia, officially opened the ceremony by saying: “We are delighted to see UNESCO and Huawei’s vision align with each other on eradicating digital illiteracy in young people. On February 2023, Huawei become an associate member of the UNESCO Global Alliance for Literacy (GAL). As the first private company to be an associate member of GAL, Huawei is committed to enhance educators’ use of technology in developing countries.”

At the Ceremony, the Senior Vice President of Huawei Europe, Radoslaw Kedzia, announced Huawei’s plans to accelerate the efforts in driving talent cultivation: “Now, as the world reopens its doors, Huawei is proud to unveil a new chapter in the “Seeds for the future” program – an immersive, fully offline edition set to take place in Rome, Italy, in July 2024. This initiative, driven by the spirit of international collaboration and dialogue, will bring together students from diverse corners of Europe to converge in one city, fostering a vibrant ecosystem for learning and collaborative development of tech-for-good startup ideas. Today we officially invite students pursuing studies in STEM to join this transformative offline experience and be a part of shaping the future of technology for the better.”

“This experience I went through at the Seeds for the Future Grand Finale redefined me, shaping a new self, wiser and much richer in knowledge. I started without many expectations and I was pleasantly surprised to receive one of the awards. And here lies the essence of this wonderful program: work without expecting rewards in return, because this is how true passion is revealed”, said Emanuel Rusu, the Romanian student who received the “Critical Thinker” award and will be invited to join Huawei in July in Rome, in order to share his experience as Seed alumni with the new generation of participants at the 2024 edition.

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Moreover, Huawei has unveiled the launch of a Seeds for the Future Scholarship program designed to support talented ICT students in the Netherlands, Bulgaria and Cyprus. This initiative underscores the company’s steadfast commitment to cultivating and nurturing exceptional talent.

Underlining the importance of such opportunities for students, the Ambassador of Cyprus, Martha Mavrommatis, speaking on behalf of the Minister of Education, Sports and Youth, Dr Athena Michaelidou, congratulated Huawei for the successful event and the students for all their efforts towards a sustainable and ecofriendly development. She said: “Companies like Huawei are making investments themselves, in parallel with institutional initiatives, like those of European Union and the member states. Huawei Seeds for the future program, as the name suggests, is deeply engaged in identifying localized talent and in enhancing knowledge-sharing among professionals and youth”.

Following this remark, Annette Nijs, the Former State Secretary for Education in the Netherlands, underscored “The commitment of Huawei to encourage students, who embrace technology, is as admirable as it is important. After all, technology will continue to create a fundamental shift in the way we work and live. ICT students of today will use technology in their careers to give wings to the changes of our societies”.

“Seeds for the Future Grand Finale proved that there are no geographical limits. I am extremely happy to have had the chance to show that even someone from such a small country as the Republic of Moldova can access incredible opportunities. In the complicated code of life, sometimes unexpected variables lead to the most inspiring rewards, as proof, we obtained one of the prizes awarded at the end of this program in China”, said Alina Duschina, the student who represented the Republic of Moldova. She received the “Diversity Front Runner” award, giving her the chance to participate in the largest Women’s Tech Summit in Central and Eastern Europe, called Perspektywy Women in Tech Summit in Warsaw, in June 2024.

Closing the event, the Ambassador of Moldova concluded “Seeds for the Future as Huawei’s flagship CSR program not only exemplifies corporate responsibility but also showcases a commitment to guiding young talents globally. The program, designed to shape the next generation of leaders in the digital age, goes beyond technical skills. It promotes a sense of global citizenship, encourages cultural exchange, and fosters an entrepreneurial spirit”.