Saudi ICT Students Head to China for a Training Trip

In collaboration with the Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC), National Committee for Information Society (NCIS), and Huawei Tech Investment Saudi Arabia began the third cycle of its global CSR program, ‘Seeds for the Future’, in the Kingdom.

The departure ceremony for the 17 top students taking part in the program’s latest iteration was held at Headquarters of CITC in Riyadh. In attendance were CITC officials headed by Dr.Dhaifallah Al-Zahrani, Acting Governor of the Commission; the Economic and Commercial Counselor of China's Embassy in KSA, Mr.Zhao Liuqing; and Mr.Dennis Zhang CEO of Huawei Tech Investment Saudi Arabia.  

The latest batch of participants in the program includes students from 17 Saudi universities across the Kingdom. The ‘Seeds for the Future’ program was launched in Saudi in 2015, as part of Huawei’s commitment to Saudi Arabia. The flagship global CSR program is aimed at cultivating local ICT talent, promoting knowledge transfer, improving people's interest in and understanding of the ICT industry, and encouraging countries and regions to participate in the building of digital communities.

During the two-week trip, students will receive hands-on training at the company’s state-of-the-art facilities and laboratories, where they will learn about the latest developments in the ICT sector. Students will also experience first-hand Huawei’s advanced solutions and offering, including intelligent network, cloud and devices.  

Dr. Dhaifallah Al Zahrani, Acting Governor of the Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC), “Started by Thanking Huawei for its efforts in serving the community and there keenness on upgrading the ICT sector in the Kingdom. He also encouraged the students to benefit from the experience in expanding their knowledge and linking theoretical concepts with practical reality.”

Mr.Zhao Liuqing, the Economic and Commercial Counselor of China's Embassy in KSA said: Huawei-CITC Seeds for the Future program offers its best to accommodate this objective. So far, in the framework of this program, which has been held for two years in a row, a total of 34 excellent university students from Saudi Arabia have set their feet in China for onsite study visit. They had a taste of the cutting

Edge ICT technology in China as well as the splendid Chinese culture. Most

Importantly, they took the friendship of the Chinese people back to Saudi

Arabia. As far as I learned, the Program has received so much favorable comment

From Saudi Ministry of Information and Communication, CITC, universities and students community. It’s firmly believed that the program will be meaningful for cultural exchange and future cooperation between the two countries.”

"Seeds for the future’’ is an excellent example of cooperation between Saudi Arabia and China. Over the last two years, 34 of the top Saudi university students have visited China and experienced the latest information and communications technology and immersed themselves in the splendid Chinese culture.”

“As a leading global ICT solutions provider and a responsible member of the community, our ‘Seeds for the Future’ program enables us to transfer ICT knowledge among the Saudi youth, nurture skills and make more contributions towards the socio-economic development of Saudi Arabia,” Mr.Dennis Zhang, CEO of Huawei Tech Investment Saudi Arabia. “Saudi Arabia continues to be a strategic market for Huawei and by investing in its youth, we are able to accelerate the Kingdom’s diversification plans”.

As a responsible player in the Saudi market, Huawei had collaborated with a number of entities across the Kingdom to provide training and technical skills to Saudis over the years, including training centers, the King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM) and the Technical Vocational Training Corporation (TVTC). In addition, Huawei had launched a Joint Innovation Center with Saudi Aramco and KFUPM; and established the ‘Knowledge Gift’ program with Saudi Aramco.

The company’s commitment to developing Saudi talent goes back over a decade with the establishment of the Huawei Training Center in Riyadh in 2006. The Center has grown steadily over the years to meet the Kingdom’s growing ICT educational and training requirements, and is recognized today as a major center of excellence for telecom industry training in the region.