The World Economic Forum’s 2023 Future of Jobs Report¹ underscores the growing prominence of technology in the job market. As approximately 75% of companies intend to integrate technologies such as big data, cloud computing and artificial intelligence (AI) within the next five years, it’s important for young individuals to familiarize themselves with these tools to stay competitive. What’s more, widespread digitalization significantly impacted commerce and trade, with 86% of companies considering platforms and app adoption. Now more than ever, technology skills are necessary for young job seekers to succeed in today’s evolving business landscape.

Through its global corporate social responsibility programs, Samsung Electronics remains committed to empowering, engaging and nurturing the creativity of young minds who aspire to be the problem solvers of tomorrow. One such program, Samsung Innovation Campus, plays a crucial role in shaping and honing the capabilities of young individuals by providing comprehensive training in information and communications technology (ICT). To date, this initiative has expanded its reach to 35 countries worldwide — successfully impacting 119 thousand talented participants.

Samsung Newsroom takes a deep dive into this global initiative, highlighting how Samsung fulfills its corporate social responsibilities and celebrates the empowerment of youth around the world.

Türkiye: Unlocking the Future With Samsung Innovation Campus — Özge Özkaya

“Through Samsung Innovation Campus, you can find solutions and apply them to areas where they are most needed in society.”

“Draw your future with Samsung Innovation Campus to become an AI engineer, big data analyst or AI researcher — like I did!”

Türkiye is among several nations with a growing demand for ICT specialists in its job market — approximately 18% of Turkish businesses hired an ICT specialist in 2022 compared to 12% in 2020.² Turkish students have an opportunity to stand out from other job applicants through the technical education and hands-on experience offered by Samsung Innovation Campus.

One of these students is Özge Özkaya, whose life took a transformative turn when she participated in Samsung Innovation Campus to fulfill her passion for AI and big data. Now, working at an AI Lab under the United Nations Development Programme, Özge attributes her achievements to the invaluable knowledge gained from the program. By collaborating with her friends, Hale Afra İriş and Gözde Gözütok, Özge developed an AI solution capable of predicting forest fires, an essential asset for building sustainable cities and communities. The team meticulously worked on web scraping, API calls, data cleaning and feature engineering to develop an advanced machine-learning model with an impressive 80% accuracy rate in forecasting potential fires.

This success showcases the real-world impact that Samsung Innovation Campus strives to deliver — offering a beacon of hope to young minds, such as Özge, who aspire to make a positive impact on the world.

“Through Samsung Innovation Campus, you can find solutions and apply them to areas where they are most needed in society,” said Özge. “It’s a worthwhile experience. Draw your future with Samsung Innovation Campus to become an AI engineer, big data analyst or AI researcher — like I did!”

South Africa: Fueling the Dreams of a Young Technologist — Katlego Magoro

“Students now have the necessary skills to make meaningful contributions to society one day.”

“Technology can be a powerful tool for ending social divides, promoting greater equality and extending opportunities to all South Africans.”

Katlego Magoro is one of the recent graduates of Samsung Innovation Campus at Walter Sisulu University in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. After losing his parents at a young age, Katlego was raised by his grandparents. He credits his seamstress grandmother for instilling the value of hard work and attention to detail. Although his lifelong dream was to become a lawyer and fight for underserved communities like his own, fate had other plans for Katlego. When he missed the chance to enroll in law school, he found himself studying Information Technology (IT) at Walter Sisulu University. This is where Katlego discovered his passion for coding and programming despite his initial hesitation.

With the support of university lecturers and Samsung’s program, Katlego excelled in IT and became a skilled software developer. “Samsung Innovation Campus focused on applying our theoretical knowledge to solve real-world problems. This practice equipped us with the relevant tools to stand out as aspiring software developers, data analysts and scientists in this highly competitive industry,” said Katlego. “Thanks to Samsung and the university, students now have the necessary skills to make meaningful contributions to society one day.”

Katlego’s passion for bringing digital strength to South Africa is stronger than ever — where only 22% of households have a computer and a mere 10% have internet access.³ Katlego strives to build the foundation for a brighter future by supporting marginalized communities in his country and granting them access to big data analytics. “Technology can be a powerful tool for ending social divides, promoting greater equality and extending opportunities to all South Africans,” he explained.

Fueled by the belief in technology’s potential for positive change, Katlego and other Samsung Innovation Campus students are determined to pave the way for a more inclusive and connected future.

Greece: From Student to Samsung’s AI Linguist — Georgia Maniati

“The program’s excellent curriculum surpassed my expectations. Exposure to real-world scenarios and collaboration with like-minded individuals were the most valuable parts for me.”

“We can actively contribute to bridging the gap between skills supply and demand while fostering innovation and driving the industry forward.”

Greece’s tech sector has surged recently, driven by an increase in government and foreign investments around innovation. Thanks to heightened demand, Greece is now actively seeking tech-savvy individuals.⁴

One such example is Georgia Maniati, a language engineer from Greece, who deepened her passion for AI at Samsung Innovation Campus. Following her linguistics and AI studies in the U.K., she returned to Athens to dive deeper into data analytics.

She credits Samsung Innovation Campus for expanding her horizons. “Despite my experience in AI, I had no background in big data or e-commerce,” said Georgia. “The program’s excellent curriculum surpassed my expectations. Exposure to real-world scenarios and collaboration with like-minded individuals were the most valuable parts for me.”

Now, as an AI speech and language research scientist at Samsung, Georgia works on projects like Samsung’s Bixby digital assistant, product launches and updates, and global language endeavors. “As part of the Samsung family, I take pride in the company’s commitment to equipping recent graduates with AI and data analytics skills,” she said. “We can actively contribute to bridging the gap between skills supply and demand while fostering innovation and driving the industry forward.”

Thailand: Clearer Vision Ahead — Sirithorn Pinthong & Jitchaya Phuwanatum

“Samsung Innovation Campus provided me with step-by-step guidance starting from the basics and unwavering support from teachers and mentors.”

“Now, I have a clearer vision of my engineering career path!”

Over the past decade, Thailand has transformed into a tech-driven economy, fostering innovation and attracting funding for new technologies. With a target to invest 2% of its gross domestic product in research and development by 2027, the country is enhancing its appeal as an investment hub and emphasizing education that cultivates innovation, moving beyond traditional industries.⁵

Samsung Innovation Campus plays a pivotal role in line with Thailand’s shift towards innovation. Two high school students from Thailand embarked on their tech journey through the program and built a foundation for their education and careers: Sirithorn Pinthong from Suankularb Wittayalai Rangsit School and Jitchaya Phuwanatum from Princess Chulabhorn Science High School Pathumthani. Both students share a deep interest in data science and had wonderful experiences with the program.

“I lacked solid Python skills and felt unsure about developing them,” Sirithorn explained. “However, Samsung Innovation Campus provided me with step-by-step guidance starting from the basics and unwavering support from teachers and mentors. Now, I have a clearer vision of my engineering career path.”

Jitchaya recommended the program to fellow students who share her interest in data science, emphasizing the increasing relevance of new technologies across all industries. “I am grateful for the opportunity to explore new concepts and subjects through Samsung Innovation Campus,” she said. “The program was rich in knowledge and hands-on activities, greatly enhancing our learning experience.”

Spain: Deeper Into the World of Data Science — Yana Gizdova

“Through immersive training, access to the latest technologies and guidance from industry experts, Samsung Innovation Campus equipped me with the skills I needed for the real world.”

“Samsung Innovation Campus has been a driving force for my growth, leaving me well-prepared and enthusiastic to embrace the exciting challenges of the data-driven world.”

In Spain, companies face challenges in filling job vacancies, particularly in ICT and STEM fields. Data analysts, computer engineers, big data experts, IT security technicians and other renewable energy, business intelligence and data mining roles have become increasingly difficult to fill, especially in 2022.⁶

Amidst this demand for skilled talent, Yana Gizdova, a STEM student from Bulgaria studying computer engineering and business administration in Spain, plans to make a positive impact through data-driven solutions. Discovering Samsung Innovation Campus in 2022 became a game changer for her career.

“Through immersive training, access to the latest technologies and guidance from industry experts, Samsung Innovation Campus equipped me with the skills I needed for the real world,” said Yana.

She had a rewarding experience with Samsung Innovation Campus, working on a capstone project that involved analyzing false social media content by detecting and studying programmed bot users. This opportunity not only improved her data science skills but also emphasized the importance of ethical data handling.

Thanks to the program’s unwavering support, Yana secured an internship in the data field, further preparing her for a promising future in data science. “My goal is to become a skilled data scientist, crafting captivating stories and empowering individuals and organizations to make informed decisions,” described Yana. “Samsung Innovation Campus has been a driving force for my growth, leaving me well-prepared and enthusiastic to embrace the exciting challenges of the data-driven world.”

Samsung is committed to empowering bright young minds worldwide through educational programs that nurture their talents and help them become leaders in their communities. For more inspiring stories about how Samsung is encouraging the problem solvers of tomorrow, stay tuned to Samsung Newsroom.

¹ World Economic Forum, The Future of Jobs Report 2023, May 2023
² Turkish Statistical Institute, Survey on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Usage in Enterprises, September 2022
³ Africa.com, The Digital Divide: Barriers To The Realization Of Digital Rights For Learners In South Africa, March 2023
⁴ Bloomberg, Greece Goes All In On Tech — Now It Needs Skilled Workers, December 2022
⁵ Office of National Higher Education Science Research and Innovation Policy Council, Public Policies and Measures Aim at Boosting R&D Expenditure to 2% GDP by 2027, June 2023
⁶ EURES, Labor Market Information: Spain, March 2023

With its global corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs, Samsung Electronics empowers, engages and stimulates the imaginations of the young people striving to become the problem solvers of tomorrow. Samsung Solve for Tomorrow provides education opportunities and solutions implementation based on Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). The Samsung Innovation Campus (SIC), meanwhile, helps design and nurture innovation capabilities in young people by training them in core information & communications technology (ICT) skills.

The programs have expanded to 33 countries around the world and have included 2.1 million talented participants so far. Today, the Samsung Newsroom is taking a closer look at these different global initiatives to see how Samsung Electronics is fulfilling its corporate social responsibilities across the world and to celebrate the young people participating in International Youth Day.

▲ Together for Tomorrow! Enabling People is Samsung Electronics’ vision for empowering tomorrow’s thinkers and leaders.

Malaysia: Innovating Plastic Alternatives for a Healthier Ocean

In Malaysia, three students learned how ocean pollution from plastic waste threatens the lives of coastal and marine species. They conducted a study to develop plastic alternatives using one of the most easily accessible materials in a country with a long coastline: seaweed. After joining Samsung Solve for Tomorrow, the students learned that STEM is a critical tool in approaching problems and realizing their solutions to them. Building on what they learned throughout the program, they are continuing their study on reducing marine pollution with the hope of contributing to a sustainable future.

Germany: Cutting-Edge Technology Paving the Way for Tomorrow’s Start-ups

Nada Seada, who participated in Samsung Solve for Tomorrow in Germany, designed a new gadget called Ingrid which gives older people more opportunities to connect with others and each other. Exacerbated by the pandemic Loneliness and social isolation are serious problems for our aging society. Ingrid was devised by upcycling an old VR device.

“Samsung Solve for Tomorrow helped me to grow my ideas from seed to fruit and provided me with opportunities to get valuable feedback from mentors and friends,” said Nada.

Katharina Porenta Elisabeth Scholz developed something called an EP-Checkup, which facilitates communication between healthcare professionals and the families of patients. Katharina’s invention was motivated by an experience she had when her grandfather was hospitalized with heart disease. She recalled the anxious hours she spent waiting for updates on his condition. Drawing on this nervousness — and hoping other people might be able to avoid it in the future — was what inspired her efforts.

“I participated in bootcamps, coaching sessions and seminars, and was lucky enough to learn cutting-edge technologies from expert mentors. Now I want to make my own start-up,” she said.

Peru: Innovating for the Benefit of Communities in Different Regions

In Peru, the top Samsung Solve for Tomorrow 2021 prize went to a team that developed an insulated thermal box that could heat water using solar energy. The thermal box heats water then keeps it warm, which is useful in the cool regions where the yearly average temperature ranges from 5 to 15°C. The young innovators’ hope was that the box might be produced by combining traditional Peruvian organic methods with modern scientific approaches and that their invention might serve regions all over Peru.

Brazil: New Methodologies for the Purification of Water

The Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology, located in the northeastern area of Brazil, is an excellent model of how STEM-based approaches can prove invaluable in public education. A team from this institution committed itself to developing a water purifying system using solar radiation and, thanks to both the social utility and the sheer originality of the idea, the team won second prize at the 8^th Brazil Samsung Solve for Tomorrow.

“STEM is a very effective way to explore technologies that students are not given as much exposure to in the conventional education system,” said Mr. Raymond Lima Júnior, the team’s coach and chemistry teacher. “The program has the capacity to bring positive changes to public institutional education by showing the communities it is involved with the important values it holds.”

Canada: Environmental Innovation Unlocked Through Unexpected Materials

Students from Mount Allison University won the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow challenge hosted by Samsung Canada. The team tried to address the orange peel waste problem in their university’s local area. Over the course of Project Enviroot, as they called it, the students developed an environmentally-conscious, non-toxic alternative adhesive product made using orange peels dried in Samsung ovens. The adhesive alternative is now widely used in soft boards across the campus.

“It was such a meaningful opportunity to interact with other student environmentalists and community activists,” the young environmental enthusiasts said.

Indonesia: Harnessing Technology To Help the Visually Impaired

The SIC held in Indonesia was not exclusive to students majoring in STEM.

“I am not a programming major, so SIC was a great challenge for me,” said a student who learned how to develop independent IT solutions at SIC.

This student developed something they called Eyeroom solutions. This technology — implemented through theories picked up during the bootcamp – enables the elderly and the visually impaired to distinguish between their prescription drugs.

“I learned so many things from my mentors and friends at SIC. I studied things that I had never encountered before and now my dream is to someday develop solutions to achieve a better future.”

Armenia: Climbing the Programming Ladder

SIC Armenia delivered lectures to students from all around Armenia at United World College (UWC) Dilijan, one of 18 such colleges worldwide. The SIC program included lessons in ICT skills and capacity building classes for students searching for jobs.

“After taking classes at SIC, I am determined to begin my career in the programming sector,” said Narek, an undergraduate student who participated in the program. “I hope I will be able to contribute to the future of our country by designing drone software or artificial intelligence negotiation systems for the industry. SIC is an excellent opportunity for both improving your technical ability and sampling a variety of new classes and practices.”

Korea: Samsung Smart Schools Helping Dreams Come True

A school of only 50 students in Chungyang, Korea, makes up for its small size in its digital capabilities: Samsung Smart School is an active tool for the school in providing digital classrooms. Teachers and parents of Chungsong Elementary School have long been thinking of ways to maximize the potential of the children and minimize the educational gap between urban and rural districts. Together they found the answer to this important yet complex question with Samsung Smart School.

“I got interested in rockets and how they work when I happened to see them in action on my tablet PC,” said Myung-Gu Kang, a 6^th grader from Chungsong Elementary School. “Now I am interested in other areas of science too and I study these other subjects diligently,” Myung-Gu explained that he can search for information using the tablet PC any time he runs into a question, and that the bigger display size of Samsung Flip makes study more fun and enjoyable than ever.

India: Samsung Smart Schools Closing the Gap in Marginalized Communities

Since January this year, Samsung India has been supporting 10 schools with Samsung Smart School, which provides state-of-the-art educational environments utilizing digital devices and technologies. Aarohi Kumari, a student from one of these 10 schools — Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya — dreams of becoming a doctor. Aarohi’s father makes living as a driver in Varanasi.

“My background gives me no advantages over the other students, but my father always gives me hope,” Aarohi said. “Samsung Smart School let me experience digital education and helped my studying of my favorite subject become more enjoyable. I hope to qualify as a doctor in the future and make my father proud.”

“I was delighted to see scenes of young people unleashing their full potential through this cutting-edge educational environment,” said Shilaja Pathania, who is in charge of Samsung India’s CSR activities. “We intend to create more educational opportunities for young people who have been marginalized in education and care, so that they can acquire knowledge and cultivate the skills they need to become the next generation of leaders.”

▲ Samsung Electronics regional offices are spreading their efforts in CSR to young people around the world.

Samsung Electronics’ Together for Tomorrow! Enabling People vision is committed to providing education to young people around the world to empower the leaders of tomorrow. More stories on Samsung Electronics’ CSR efforts are available at Samsung Electronics’ CSR webpage (csr.samsung.com).

Well aware of the great importance of education, Samsung Electronics works to equip young people with the skills and knowledge they will need to build a better world. Firm in its belief that every young person deserves a quality education regardless of their background, gender, ability, or personal circumstances, Samsung has empowered a countless number of young people to slowly but steadily contribute to positive changes in their societies.

To celebrate the United Nations’ International Youth Day on August 12, Samsung has gathered stories of young students from different countries who are creating a better future for all by participating in Samsung’s corporate citizenship programs. Read on to hear about their experiences.