Since launching Generation17 in 2020, Samsung and UNDP have supported Young Leaders from across Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and North America, addressing critical issues that span all 17 Global Goals. The partnership has provided these Young Leaders with the latest Samsung Galaxy technology, along with networking and mentorship opportunities, to amplify their stories and advance their work. The newest cohort, focused on advancing solutions in marine conservation, environmental sustainability, gender equality and quality education, reflects Samsung’s continued commitment to a more equitable future for all.

“As we accelerate efforts to achieve the Global Goals, we are proud to welcome the next cohort of Young Leaders to Generation17,” said Stephanie Choi, EVP & Head of Marketing, Mobile eXperience Business, Samsung Electronics. “Their passion, creativity and commitment to addressing global challenges embody the spirit of innovation that fuels meaningful change. We look forward to seeing how these five new Young Leaders will leverage technology for good to inspire action, mobilize communities and create lasting impact for a more sustainable and equitable world.”

Five Global Changemakers

The newest Generation17 Young Leaders were selected from hundreds of applicants and bring new areas of expertise to the initiative, expanding the reach of Generation17. As members of the Generation17 community, they will leverage technology and global platforms to advocate for the issues that matter most to them.

Brigitta Gunawan (Indonesia) – An ocean-climate advocate who has engaged with over 15,000 people in 100+ locations with environmental education and marine conservation opportunities through her organizations 30×30 Indonesia and Diverseas.

“At 17, it struck me that we were nothing but a small speck in a big world that remains largely unexplored—that if we continued as bystanders, we would see this fragile ecosystem cripple within our lifetime—so there I was, ready to co-create a future where people and planet prosper.”

José Francisco Ochoa (Ecuador) – A biologist and co-founder of Academia del Océano, an edtech platform promoting marine conservation, digital tools and sustainability in Spanish-speaking communities, equipping thousands with the tools to protect marine ecosystems.

“The ocean sustains life, yet many don’t realize how deeply connected we are to it. We must embrace innovation, education and collective action to protect our blue planet before it’s too late.”

Renata Koch Alvarenga (Brazil) – Founder and Executive Director of EmpoderaClima, a youth-led organization advocating for climate justice by addressing the disproportionate impact of climate change on women and promoting girls’ climate action.

“Climate disasters are exacerbating gender inequality, but through the Global Goals, we can raise awareness of the need for women’s leadership in climate decision-making and ensure no one is left behind.”

Rahaf Abu Mayyaleh (Jordan) – A climate activist, sustainable technology advocate and founder of IBTKRGO, which develops eco-friendly educational kits using recyclable materials, including e-waste, to empower youth with digital skills.

“Green technology is key to a sustainable future, and young innovators have the power to lead this transformation. Through IBTKRGO, I strive to bridge the gap between technology and sustainability, ensuring solutions that serve both people and the planet.”

Soumya Dabriwal (India) — Co-founder of Project Baala, a social enterprise addressing menstrual hygiene and reproductive health access through innovative solutions, including the sustainable distribution of reusable sanitary products and educational initiatives to de-stigmatize women’s health while generating employment for women.

“Access to Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) is a fundamental human right. Through collective advocacy and innovation, we can break barriers, challenge stigmas, and build a world where everyone has the freedom and resources to make informed choices about their own bodies and futures.”

Elevating Youth Voices for Global Action

Since the launch of Generation17 in 2020, Samsung and UNDP have partnered to empower Young Leaders—helping them amplify their stories and accelerate their efforts to drive meaningful change in communities across the world. Additionally, the initiative provides opportunities for Young Leaders to showcase their impact on a global scale.

In the coming months, these Young Leaders will attend various major global events, where they will engage with policymakers, innovators and fellow changemakers. Through these platforms, they will contribute to international conversations on sustainable development and drive tangible progress toward the Global Goals, ensuring that youth voices play a crucial role in shaping a more sustainable future.

This year, Generation17 alum Tamara Gondo took the stage at Samsung’s Galaxy Tech Forum, highlighting the company’s commitment to sustainability and the power of collaboration with like-minded partners to tackle worldwide challenges. She also shared how the initiative has helped scale her organization’s impact since she joined in 2022.

“Young people are the future of global development, and with fewer than five years left to achieve the Global Goals, the time to act is now,” said Achim Steiner, Administrator of UNDP. “Through our long-standing partnership with Samsung, we are empowering youth to advance solutions that address climate and human rights challenges and to inspire a new generation to join the fight for a more sustainable and just future.”

Generation17 reflects the shared commitment of Samsung and UNDP to harness technology for positive impact. Their collaboration began in 2019 with the launch of the Samsung Global Goals App—a mobile platform that educates users about the Goals while enabling them to contribute through everyday use of their Galaxy devices. As detailed in Samsung’s Global Goals Report, as of September 2024, the app has been installed on nearly 300 million Samsung Galaxy devices worldwide—including smartphones, tablets and smartwatches—and has helped generate more than $20 million USD to support UNDP’s global environmental and social initiatives.

To celebrate World Teacher’s Day (25 October), Samsung Electronics Australia has today announced its inaugural STEM Teacher of the Year Awards.

New research commissioned by Samsung shows that 59% of Australians agree that STEM teachers should be getting more recognition than they currently receive[1]. In response, Samsung has launched its nationwide call-out to find Australia’s best STEM teachers and recognise them for their hard work and positive impact on young Aussie minds.

Current and former students, fellow teachers, parents and industry experts will have the chance to nominate the teacher who makes STEM feel less like a subject and more like an adventure and show their appreciation for their dedication and impact on their learning journey. Australians can nominate the teacher they think deserves the title of Australia’s best STEM teacher by sharing in 50 words or less why their teacher should be crowned the STEM Teacher of the Year 2024 via the competition website.

Nominations are open from now until 19 November 2024, and the entries will be judged by a panel of industry experts, including Dr Kirsten Banks, Astrophysicist and STEM advocate.

The judges will select the winners based on how the teacher has positively impacted their students and the industry and on their commitment to and passion for STEM. The winning teacher will receive two Samsung Galaxy Tab S9, one Galaxy Buds3 Pro and a Galaxy Fit3. The runner-up will receive one Galaxy Tab S9 FE and a Galaxy Fit3, and the winning student will receive a Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+.

Phil Gaut, Senior Director and Head of Display at Samsung Electronics Australia, said, “As a global technology leader, Samsung understands the vital role STEM teachers play in shaping the next generation of innovators. Our insights demonstrate that Australians believe STEM teachers deserve more recognition which confirms our assumptions – that these educators are the unsung heroes of the classroom. Through initiatives such as STEM Teacher of the Year Awards, we are committed to shining a spotlight on their tireless efforts and the invaluable contributions they make to help foster the skills that will drive future innovation,”

Dr Kirsten Banks, Astrophysicist and STEM advocate, said, “I know first-hand the meaningful impact STEM teachers have on young thinkers in supporting them to develop important skills in critical thinking, creativity and communication. I strongly encourage anyone who knows of an inspiring STEM teacher to give them well-deserved recognition by nominating them for Samsung’s STEM Teacher of the Year Awards. I’m very excited to see and hear more about some of the great teachers shaping the innovators of tomorrow.”

To nominate your favourite STEM teacher for the competition, see here.

[1] Pure Profile research commissioned by Samsung Electronics Australia surveying 1,003 Australians aged 18+, October 2024

The survey was commissioned to uncover the dynamic and inventive ways Australians aged 14 to 24 years are taking action on the issues that matter most to them; while also revealing the common roadblocks standing in their way when it comes to turning ideas into actions to create positive societal change.

The findings uncover a surprising truth: young Australians, often seen as a vocal generation, feel significantly disempowered in their ability to create meaningful change. The majority (83%) agreed that STEM skills are essential in helping enact positive change, yet three-quarters (75%) felt largely unequipped to take advantage of these skills.

Young Australians are disconnected on how they can have a positive impact on issues that matter to them. Despite wanting to stand up for what they believe in, nearly half (44%) of Gen Z do not feel like it would make a difference, and 39% don’t know how best to take a stand on the social issues they care about. Highlighting a possible way forward for the unsure generation, more than half (53%) of Gen Z think using STEM to create technology or solutions that address the issues they care about is the most effective way to bring about change.

Nearly four million Gen Z Australians[2] could be the next generation of STEM innovators with 83% of those surveyed agreeing that understanding and using technology is key to making positive changes in the world. Despite over half strongly agreeing that STEM enables the opportunities to turn innovative ideas into reality, only one in four (25%) are confident they have the STEM skills to do so. Almost half (49%) say the biggest hurdle is the lack of resources, support network, and monetary support to enable them to do so. These findings indicate that more focus is needed on upskilling young Australians in STEM-related skills to bridge the gap between intentions to create positive change and equipping them with the right skills and resources to do so.

Dr Kirsten Banks, Astrophysicist, STEM advocate and Samsung Solve for Tomorrow 2024 spokesperson said, “There’s definitely a drive in this generation to enact change but there’s a disconnect between the tools, skills and resources they need to be able to speak out on and action the issues that matter to them most.”

“The opportunity is well and truly there for our innovative young thinkers to create meaningful change with STEM when given the opportunities and support. This is why I’m thrilled to be involved in this year’s Samsung Solve for Tomorrow program, supporting young innovators to use STEM to turn their ideas and dreams into creating real, positive change in their communities”

Young Australians are not just seeing STEM as a way to bring about change. They also see it as a viable career path, with over four in five (83%) agreeing that STEM skills are essential not only to enact positive change, but also for future careers. Additionally, three-quarters (75%) agreed that STEM presents exciting opportunities and career pathways for them in the future.

With the number of STEM jobs growing twice as fast[3] as non-STEM related roles, there has never been a more pertinent time for equipping young Australians to upskill in STEM.

Brett Turnbull, Director of Corporate Marketing at Samsung Electronics Australia said, “Solve for Tomorrow is a great starting point for any young innovator wanting to get involved in STEM and understand how it can empower their community and future career opportunities at the same time.”

“As a global technology leader, Samsung understands the vital importance of STEM education in shaping the innovators of tomorrow. We are dedicated to empowering Australia’s next generation of problem solvers by nurturing their skills and offering opportunities for students to engage with both inside and beyond the classroom. Through initiatives like Solve for Tomorrow, we aim to inspire young minds and equip them with the tools they need to make a real difference in the world.”

What is Solve for Tomorrow and How Do You Enter?

Free to participate for Australians aged 14 to 24, Solve for Tomorrow is designed to empower the next generation of innovators by solving a problem facing their community under one of three categories, Sustainability, Education and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. The major winner will take home $10,000 cash as well as a suite of Samsung products to help make it a reality.

Educators also stand to win in Solve for Tomorrow, as entries that nominate their high school will be considered for the School Prize, a Flip Pro Interactive Display to help promote collaboration and engagement in the classroom. Recognising Gen Z’s passion for using social media for good, one participant will also receive a Samsung Productivity Pack as the Social Amplify Prize for best raising awareness for their cause on social media. To be considered, participants need to tag @SamsungAU and use the hashtag #SFT_AU_2024 across their social posts highlighting their cause.[4]

“I highly encourage any young person in Australia to get involved in Solve for Tomorrow. Building skills in critical thinking, creativity and communication can truly make meaningful change in the future and I can’t wait to see what you come up with” said Dr Kirsten Banks.

For more information on Solve for Tomorrow, visit: https://www.samsung.com/au/solve-for-tomorrow/.

[1] Samsung and Student Edge (2024) “Voices of Tomorrow: overcoming roadblocks to youth action today”.

[2] Statista Research Department (2024) “Distribution of Australian population in Australia as of 2021, by generation” https://www.statista.com/statistics/1359270/australia-distribution-of-population-by-generation/

[3] National Skills Commission (2022) “Projecting employment to 2026” https://www.jobsandskills.gov.au/sites/default/files/2022-03/NSC22-0041_Employ Projections_glossy_FA_ACC.pdf

[4] T&Cs apply. Requires an eligible entry to Solve for Tomorrow and social posts must be publically available to be considered for the Social Amplify Prize. See https://www.samsung.com/au/solve-for-tomorrow/ for full terms & conditions.

Solve for Tomorrow is a national initiative from Samsung designed to engage and inspire the next generation of Australian innovators and problem solvers using STEM[2] skills, as well as creativity, critical thinking, collaboration and communication to create solutions that address issues they are most passionate about.

Free to participate, the competition also supports the aspirations of young Australians considering a future career in STEM, at a time when the government is calling on industry and education to support young Australians to upskill in STEM for Australia’s changing future[3].

Brett Turnbull, Director of Corporate Marketing at Samsung Electronics Australia said, “Young people in Australia are leading the way in innovation, finding new and creative ways to tackle important societal issues, using technology and social media to help generate awareness and start movements. This proactivity and creativity needs to be supported with tangible platforms that can help bring these ideas-for-good to reality.”

“As a leader in technology and AI, it is our goal to help encourage young minds to envision and realise innovative solutions that can resolve challenges and risks their communities face. With Solve for Tomorrow, we’re proud to facilitate a real-world opportunity to problem solve, as well as inspire a future career path in STEM.”

This year, Samsung has again partnered with Student Edge to connect its network of 1.3 million students to the Solve for Tomorrow competition via ongoing engagement and content on social media and Design Thinking workshops happening in September.

To get involved, young Australians are invited to submit a written application of up to 400 words via the Solve for Tomorrow website that identifies an issue their community is facing and outlines a potential STEM solution to that issue.

A panel of judges will review the submissions and invite all shortlisted entries to attend a Design Thinking workshop to further develop their idea and receive mentoring. From there, the shortlisted entrants will submit a final video pitch for judging, with the announcement of the overall winner and runners-up happening in December.

There are five chances to win across the Solve for Tomorrow competition, including one Major Prize of $10,000 in cash and a Samsung Ultimate Productivity Pack that includes a Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 5G, 32” Smart Monitor M70D UHD and Galaxy Buds2.

For the first time, entries that also nominate their high school will be eligible to be awarded the ‘School Prize’, comprising a 75″ Flip Pro Interactive Display for their school. A ‘Social Amplify Prize’ has also been introduced to recognise an entrant’s creative social content that raises awareness of their STEM solution for their community or societal issue. To be considered, entrants must include the hashtag #SFT_AU_2024 in their content.[4]

Since launching in Australia in 2021, Samsung Solve for Tomorrow has empowered young innovators and reached thousands of students, fostering their passion for STEM and encouraging them to pursue careers in the industry.

For more information on Solve for Tomorrow, how to enter and the upcoming Design Thinking Workshops and full terms and conditions[5], please visit: https://www.samsung.com/au/solve-for-tomorrow/.

[1] Or with the consent of a parent or guardian if under the age of 18.

[2] Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths

[3] Source: Department of Education

[4] Content must also be public and virtually accessible on social media platforms for judging.

[5] T&Cs apply. Entry is limited to Australian residents aged 14 – 24 years old. Initial applications open 12:00PM (AEST) Tuesday, 25 June 2024 and close 11:59PM (AEST) Sunday, 15 September 2024. Full promotion period will run from 12:00PM (AEST), Thursday, 27 June 2024 to 11:59 PM (AEST), Friday, 20 December 2024.

Throughout Samsung’s history, we have made it our mission to devote our talent and technology in creating innovative products and services that contribute to the betterment of global society. As a global leader in technology, we also have a responsibility to leverage our innovations, skill and knowledge to bridge the widening digital divide and give more youths the opportunity to reap the benefits of digitalization.

Within the Southeast Asia and Oceania (SEAO) region, we are seeing rapid growth in the digital economy. This is fueled by factors such as increasing mobile penetration and social media usage, a booming e-commerce market, strong government push towards digitalization, and importantly, a population of young digital natives.

Youths are the future drivers for the region, both as consumers and innovators. As we celebrate Samsung Electronics’ 54^th anniversary globally on November 1^st, we remain committed to empowering our youth to meet the demands of the ever-evolving world, while at the same time, uplifting communities across the SEAO region.

Global programs with local impact

In the spirit of co-prosperity, we are committed to doing our part as a socially and environmentally responsible corporate citizen in the communities that we are in, and as champions of innovation, we continually push ourselves to do better in inspiring the next generation through technology. This year, we are excited to see Solve for Tomorrow (SFT), our global flagship STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) -based student competition, expand to more markets in SEAO, including Indonesia and the Philippines. SFT is also making headway in the Pacific Islands, with Samoa and Tonga kick-starting local editions for the very first time in August this year.

More than 500 students in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, participated in a SFT workshop in June 2023.

The 2023 edition of SFT is still ongoing in several SEAO markets, but we are already seeing massive momentum in the region, with projects covering creative solutions to address real-life challenges in a variety of themes including environment and sustainability, learning and education, wellness, and healthcare, and more. Beyond the technical competition element, our young participants also receive training in soft skills required for the future workforce, including the 4Cs of 21^st Century Skills – Communication, Collaboration, Critical thinking, and Creativity.

We estimate that over 110,000 students and over 1,000 schools are benefiting from this program so far this year, through the competition, online and offline workshops, and other SFT-related activities.

For the 2021 edition of Solve for Tomorrow in Australia, students were encouraged to create fun videos that presented social issues of personal relevance while highlighting STEM-based solutions. Tasmania-based Meg Phillips emerged as the overall winner, driven by her passion for animal conservation, with an RFID-based system to warn animals of approaching cars, with the aim of reducing wildlife casualties, as well as to keep drivers safe.

Recently, Samsung New Zealand announced its SFT 2023 winners. I am especially heartened by the winning submissions that are the embodiment of why we continue to dedicate our efforts for communities through this program. For example, 12-year old Thomas Costar’s hydro turbine mechanism that helps to generate electricity through household drainage systems – the scientific approach that he took is a great example of perseverance and design thinking.   

Samsung Innovation Campus participants in Cambodia working diligently under the guidance of mentors.

Beyond encouraging innovative thinking with SFT, we also want to empower the next generation with practical skills needed for success in an increasingly digital world. This is where Samsung Innovation Campus (SIC) comes into play. Through SIC, we want to help youth develop real-world skills in the areas of AI, IoT, big data, and coding through formalized training programs, alongside other activities like Innovation Hackathons and IoT Bootcamps.

Since first launching in Indonesia and Vietnam in 2019, we continue to ramp up our work in SEAO. This year, we are excited to add Cambodia and Laos to the program roster. To date, we estimate that over 8,000 students are participating in the program from 135 schools across Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam, along with significant interest from a number of national universities too. We are encouraged by the incredibly positive feedback received from students on how the SIC program has helped change their perspectives towards data science, as well as helping them better navigate their education journey.

We are immensely appreciative and humbled by all the cooperation, support, and the sharing of information and learnings from the various governmental agencies and educational organizations who have graciously partnered with us on this journey. These partnerships ensure that the local editions are tailored for the unique education needs of each community, enhancing the learning experience for students, and amplify the program’s impact across the region by increasing awareness of it and supporting its rollout in the markets.

There is no doubt that having passion for education played a significant role in the remarkable success that we have achieved in the spirit of co-creation with initiatives like SFT and SIC.

As an added plus, the activation of programs like SFT and SIC created more opportunities for Samsung to further contribute to local communities and education. For example, this year in Indonesia, we signed two agreements, one is with the Ministry of Religious Affairs of Republic Indonesia to roll out the ‘Samsung Digital for Indonesia’ program in support of the local smart madrasah program, and the other one with the Institute of Technology Bandung for developing digital technology on sustainable environmental conservation.

Looking to the next 54 years and beyond

At Samsung, we passionately believe that doing good is in fact, good business. We are committed to ongoing community engagements and impactful contributions, to continue growing with the SEAO region. At the same time, we look forward to working together with future generations of innovators, encouraging them to be bold and push the boundaries of innovation to shape a brighter future – not just for the next 54 years, but for generations to come.

Established by the United Nations in 2015, the Global Goals provide a shared blueprint of ambitious milestones for a more equitable, just and sustainable world by 2030. The 17 Global Goals promote collaboration and collective action to address inequality, climate change, ecosystem degradation, education and other pressing global challenges. Samsung embarked on delivering innovative solutions in support of the Global Goals and in 2019 by partnering with UNDP to launch the Samsung Global Goals app. The company’s global Galaxy community has since joined the movement by leveraging the app as a simple yet meaningful tool to make a difference in their daily lives.

Taking Collective Action for the Goals

“At Samsung, we know technology plays a crucial role in solving some of the biggest challenges the world is facing right now,” said TM Roh, President and Head of Mobile eXperience Business at Samsung Electronics. “Through our partnership with UNDP and the Samsung Global Goals app, the Galaxy community has been instrumental in advancing the Global Goals. We want to extend our gratitude to our users for making this incredible milestone possible.”

Actions taken on the Samsung Global Goals app support UNDP’s impactful work. This includes meaningfully engaging youth to achieve the SDGs. UNDP implements policies, advances programs, champions youth initiatives in over 100 countries and supports over 900 youth partnerships.

“As we approach the halfway point of the 2030 deadline, this coming year is crucial in our pursuit to advance the Global Goals,” said UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner. “While the world has faced recent setbacks, we are energised by the progress made through this partnership. Together with Samsung we must reinvigorate our combined efforts to achieve the Goals and inspire the next generation to take action with us.”

Scaling Our Impact

The Samsung Global Goals app is installed on nearly 300 million Galaxy devices worldwide, including smartphones, tablets, and smartwatches. Through the app, Samsung raises awareness for the Global Goals while also empowering users to take small actions that amount to big change. The Samsung Global Goals app enables users to donate directly, use wallpapers to increase ad-earnings, or generate funding by watching advertisements in the app. To maximise impact, Samsung matches all funds generated through users watching in-app advertisements up to $5M per year.[1]

Since launching the Samsung Global Goals app in 2019, Samsung has expanded its partnership with UNDP with Generation17, an initiative that elevates the voices of 14 young leaders making meaningful impacts in their communities around the world. The Generation17 Young Leaders play an essential role in inspiring people to deliver impact for the Global Goals.

Samsung also strives to support the Global Goals through its business operations. The company has aligned its corporate ESG strategy with the Global Goals to identify business priorities and communicate performance according to the Goals. The company is also a signatory of the United Nations Global Compact, an initiative that encourages businesses to adopt sustainable and socially responsible policies.

To learn more about the Global Goals and take action, visit the Samsung Global Goals app here: http://smsng.co/SGG-App.

To view Samsung’s sustainability progress, check out the 2022 Sustainability Report.

[1] Samsung has pledged to match funds generated through ad proceeds through the Global Goals app; up to a maximum of USD 5 million annually.

Samsung Electronics Australia has today announced the launch of Solve for Tomorrow, a nationwide competition challenging Australia’s next generation of innovators to unleash their creativity by using STEM[1] to help solve an issue they are passionate about.

Young Australians aged 18-24, are invited to upload a video to TikTok[2] explaining the social issue that matters most to them and how they would solve it using STEM skills.

Solve for Tomorrow is designed to challenge young Australians to demonstrate their proficiency in STEM and to consider how they can be applied to solve real world issues such as climate change, sustainability or inclusivity. The program is also aimed at encouraging young people’s interest in these subjects to help them consider future career pathways.

STEM and problem-solving skills are predicted to be some of the most important in our future. According to The World Economic Forum[3], 50 percent of all employees will need reskilling by 2025, as adoption of technology increases. Moreover, critical thinking and problem-solving top the list of skills employers believe will grow in prominence in the next five years. It’s also predicted that 75 percent of the fastest growing occupations will require STEM skills and knowledge[4].

“Young Australians are incredibly purpose led and can apply their creativity to challenging the status quo and delivering meaningful change in their communities. We want to harness this creativity with Solve for Tomorrow and encourage the next generation to change the world through STEM,” said Shaneez Johnston, Head of Corporate Affairs, at Samsung Electronics Australia.

“Problem solving and STEM skills are critically important for young people, both with regards to the future workforce and what jobs of the future will require, but also in our ability to overcome significant challenges through critical thinking.”

The competition starts today (November 22) and closes on December 20 with winners to be selected based on a judging criteria that looks at relevance, creativity, feasibility, application of STEM and overall presentation.*

There are five chances to win with one entrant receiving $10,000 in cash to put towards making their Solve For Tomorrow idea a reality. There are also two runners-up prizes of $5,000 and two people’s choice awards. Each winner will also receive a Samsung Tech Pack valued at $4,705, which includes a Smart Monitor M7, Galaxy Z Fold3 smartphone and Galaxy Tab S7 FE tablet.

To accompany the launch, Samsung has launched its Australian TikTok channel @samsungAU.

“Young people have grown up with social media and sharing video content so we wanted the competition mechanic to feel native to this audience. We are asking entrants to submit their ideas via video on either TikTok or our website, which also allows them to showcase their creativity on the platforms and mediums they love most,” said Ms Johnston.

Launched in the U.S. in 2010, Solve for Tomorrow is a global initiative that asks participants to use their knowledge in STEM to unleash their imaginations into tangible solutions that can solve societal problems. The core objective of Solve for Tomorrow is to drive awareness of STEM learning to encourage more young people to consider the subjects that will impact on their future careers.

For more information on Solve for Tomorrow and how to enter please visit: https://www.samsung.com/au/solve-for-tomorrow/.

*T&Cs apply. Entry is limited to Australian residents aged 18 – 24yrs. Entry closes 20 Dec 2021. For full terms and conditions and entry instructions visit: https://www.samsung.com/au/solve-for-tomorrow/terms

[1] Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths

[2] Entries can also be submitted via www.samsung.com/au/solve-for-tomorrow/

[3] World Economic Forum, The Future of Jobs Report 2020

[4] The Australian Industry Group. Progressing STEM Skills in Australia, March 2015

Samsung Electronics Australia (Samsung) has donated $1 million toward efforts to fight and prevent bushfires.

Mr W.J. Song, President, Samsung, said: “The devastation caused by the Australian bushfires has been felt across Samsung offices globally and our hearts go out to everyone that has been impacted. It has been incredibly humbling to see the Australian community rally together and offer any support they can during this time.

“Samsung has made this $1 million donation to the New South Wales Rural Fire Service and we are committed to leveraging the power of our technology to address the challenging reality that bushfires present to Australia.”

In 2020, Samsung will evolve its ongoing corporate citizenship program to inspire young people and entrepreneurs to tackle this issue.

Samsung Electronics Australia, in partnership with Social Ventures Australia (SVA), will host students from regional South Australia for the students’ first trip to the ‘Harbour City’ to see the magic of Vivid Sydney.

This will be the first time on an airplane for the majority of the 24 students who are from Mount Burr Primary School, Nangwarry Primary School and Glencoe Central Primary School, making it a trip they’ll never forget even before they land and take in the iconic sights of the ‘Big Smoke’.

The schools are among 15 other schools included in the STEM Learning Hub, an initiative co-created by Samsung and SVA in 2017 which endeavors to bridge Australia’s STEM skill gap by providing students and teachers from low-socioeconomic communities access to Samsung technology and resources that they would otherwise not have had access to.

Currently, a disproportionate number of school children in Australia’s low socio-economic communities do not have access to same resources as their peers from metro cities. As a result, by the age of 15 students can be up to five times more likely to be low performers than a student in a higher socio-economic area[i].
These children are also less likely to develop their talent in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM), where as many as 75 per cent of the fastest growing jobs will require these skills and knowledge[ii].

Josh Grace, Chief Marketing Officer, Samsung Electronics Australia, said: “Breaking barriers and enabling new experiences through technology is at the heart of the Samsung brand. Samsung is committed to helping students realise their potential and achieve their dreams.

“Through our partnership with SVA we want to provide innovative educational experiences that use technology to complement traditional classroom practices and enable the next generation of thinkers with the skills required for the future of work. We are excited to have the Mount Burr students here in Sydney and hope they learn a lot and just as importantly, have a lot of fun!”

The South Australian school was selected by Samsung and SVA for the Vivid experience after demonstrating excellence in their STEM studies. To help the students prepare for Vivid they participated in a photography tour around Circular Quay with well-known photographer, Rob Mullaly. During the tour the students learnt how to take pictures on the Samsung Galaxy A-series smartphone so that they could capture Vivid Sydney in all its glory.

Anne-Marie Fitzgerald, Principal, Mount Burr Primary School said, “Whilst we very much value the benefits of our small school and community we also understand the importance of providing our students with learning opportunities beyond our local area to broaden their experiences. The Samsung Vivid Sydney experience provides an exciting opportunity for our students to engage in purposeful learning beyond Mount Burr.”

Suzanne Cridge, Director, Education, Bright Spots Schools Connection, SVA said, “We want to see all children in Australia, no matter where they grow up, have access to great technology to support their learning. We are delighted that Samsung supports SVA’s STEM Learning Hub, which is helping create inspiring learning experiences for young people across the country.”

The STEM Learning Hub is part of a wider network of 42 schools which are included in SVA’s Bright Spots School Connection. Since the commencement of the Hub, more than 790 teachers and 8,000 students have participated in the program.

All of the schools involved in the STEM Learning Hub have access to professional development, STEM-specific training and Samsung technology to advance their students’ knowledge, and respond to their changing education demands, equipping them with the STEM skills needed for future prosperity.

Samsung is a partner of Vivid Sydney and has two technology-enabled experiences at this year’s festival including the Samsung Electric Playground and Samsung Galaxy Studio. Samsung’s experiences have proven to be among the most popular installations at Vivid Sydney, welcoming more than 60,000 visitors since it opened on May 24, 2019.

See here for more information about Samsung Australia’s CSR program and the STEM Learning Hub.

^[i] OECD 2016. Low-Performing Students: Why They Fall Behind and How to Help Them Succeed

^[ii] PWC, Future-proofing Australia’s workforce by growing skills in science, technology, engineering and maths, http://www.pwc.com.au/stem.html , 2015