Following the launch of Samsung’s R280m Equity Equivalent Investment Programme (EEIP) in 2019, Samsung SA and the University of the Western Cape (UWC) officially opened the Samsung Future-Innovation Lab on campus in March this year.
Five months later, Samsung and UWC celebrated the graduation and prizegiving of the first set of 74 graduates who took advantage of this opportunity, worked hard and ultimately achieved success. Software development skills are highly sought-after in the digital economy, which is why Samsung considers it an important part of its educational initiatives.
The innovation lab brought to you by The EEIP Research & Development Academy, aims to provide previously disadvantaged youth with skills in software development and digital social innovation. Aligned with Samsung’s global mission, “Enabling People”, the lab will empower deserving, previously disadvantaged young people.
The first cohort of the UWC software developers will showcase their learning by solving social problems through digital innovation. During the course, there have been many success stories, including that of Sibusiso Labi from the Western Cape, who was recognised as the top student in the Samsung Future-Innovation Lab.
At the age of 18 years, he found a job as a packer at a supermarket distribution centre. A year later he resigned to pursue his dream of becoming a web developer. His excellent academic results on this course helped him to enter the Samsung EEIP App Factory in partnership with Microsoft SA.
Furthermore,UWC will host this nine-month programme of applied skills training and building of software products to raise the prospects of employment or digital entrepreneurship.
