Samsung Electronics Indonesia Honored at Global CSR Awards 2017

Samsung Electronics Indonesia was honored with a silver prize at the Global CSR Summit and Awards 2017 in Langkawi, Malaysia on March 31, in recognition of its efforts to advance Indonesian students’ vocational education.

The prestigious award was Samsung’s second win of the evening in the ‘Excellence in the Provision of Literacy and Education’ category, following Samsung Southeast Asia’s silver, and represents Samsung’s continued commitment to enriching the communities in which it operates.

Now in their ninth year, the Global CSR Summit and Awards honor outstanding examples of corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives, which include efforts that drive change and contribute to the improvement of communities.

The program that garnered Samsung its award was the Samsung Tech Institute, which provides opportunities for Indonesia’s bright young minds to develop in-demand vocational skills. The initiative helps students secure work, and ultimately aids the country’s efforts to reduce its unemployment rate.

Samsung Tech Institutes actively collaborate with youth centers and vocational schools to provide learning facilities and develop a training curriculum that will arm students with customer service and electronics skills, such as how to fix mobile phones, air conditioners, TVs, refrigerators and washing machines.

Since opening its doors in 2011, the program has graduated over 2,500 students. Around 600 have gone on to secure jobs, including opportunities at Samsung Service Centers and a Samsung plant in Cikarang. The program has also been recognized by Indonesia’s Ministry of Education and Culture as well as its Ministry of Social Affairs for its contributions to efforts to reduce poverty and unemployment.

To date, seven Samsung Tech Institutes have been established in Indonesia – in Cikarang, Jakarta, Medan, Makassar, Banjarmasin, Kendal and Madiun – and Samsung plans to launch two additional facilities this year. Over 1,000 students are currently enrolled in the program, continuing their higher education and strengthening their technical skills.

“Samsung sees education as the seeds of innovation, and we are working to create programs that support youth education and vocational training through the use of our technology, services and expertise,” said Lee Kanghyun, Vice President of Corporate Affairs at Samsung Electronics Indonesia. “The Global CSR Summit Award 2017 that we have just received is encouragement for us to continue other Samsung corporate citizenship programs that we hope will be beneficial for many people in Indonesia.”