In celebration of the three-year partnership and the achievements of 34 students from the Central University of Technology (CUT), a graduation ceremony was held recently to showcase the vital role played by the Samsung Innovation Campus (SIC) programme in fostering innovation and critical skills development in the Free State’s youth and South Africa as a whole.
This graduation was the perfect time to recognise the successful partnership between CUT and Samsung Electronics over the last three years. This event provided an opportunity to put the spotlight on how the SIC programme has empowered CUT students with cutting-edge Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) skills that are able to significantly boost employability in the country’s technology sector.
The main focus of this SIC programme, in collaboration with CUT, has been improving employment opportunities – a much-needed approach in a province that is full of potential, but is placed among the most affected when it comes to unemployment numbers in the country. This three-year milestone began with a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) signed in November 2022, making CUT the second institution in South Africa to host the SIC programme.
Over the last three years, this collaboration has focused on training CUT students in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Coding and Programming (C&P). Additionally, the curriculum focus of the SIC programme at CUT has combined both theoretical learning with practical applications and capstone projects to prepare students for real-world technology challenges.
“On behalf of the Central University of Technology, I extend our sincere appreciation to Samsung for its steadfast commitment to youth empowerment and digital transformation. The Samsung Innovation Campus is more than a corporate initiative; it is an investment in human potential.” said Prof. Mashele, Deputy Vice Chancellor for Research Innovation and Engagement at Central University of Technology.
“To the leadership of Samsung South Africa, thank you for walking this journey with us since the launch of the CUT Samsung Innovation Campus in 2022. Your confidence in this institution and in our students affirms that meaningful public–private collaboration can reshape the talent pipeline of our country. The certificates handed over are not conclusions—they are commissions to lead in the digital economy, to create solutions for our communities, and to ensure that Africa does not merely consume technology but shapes it,” continues Prof. Mashele.
Lefa Makgato, Corporate Social Responsibility Manager for Samsung Electronics in South Africa said: “We are pleased to see another group of budding youngsters graduate from one of the country’s most impactful technology programmes. This SIC programme highlights the role that our company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives have played in the development of 4IR skills in the country’s youth, which in turn contributes to the advancement of local underprivileged communities.”
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