Samsung Electronics introduces “Our Digital Creators: An overview of Samsung’s Corporate Citizenship Programme in Europe 2016.” The brochure is full of stories drawn from Samsung’s most influential and inspiring educational projects, and contains quotes from educational partners, teachers and students across each of the 17 markets that hosted Samsung’s initiatives.

Samsung’s goal over the last three years has been simple: to use technology to transform the educational experience and empower young people to become the innovators of tomorrow. The results of these experiences, and the critical role Samsung has played in incorporating technology into education, are reflected in the observations of participating educators like Jacqueline Willer, Head Teacher at London’s Henwick Primary School.

“I can remember walking past a classroom and seeing the children completely and utterly focused, heads down, completely immersed in their learning,” she recalls. “It was such a marked difference from how I’d seen that class learning the year before.”

A Commitment to Digital Education

This is a time of unprecedented change, and it is Samsung’s belief that technology is a driving force behind this transformation. When used in the right way – generously, and with good intentions – technology can be a powerful force for good.

Samsung’s vision has always been to create shared value, especially through our corporate citizenship programs, where our ambition is: “To devote our human resources and technology to create superior products and services, thereby contributing to a greater global society.”

As outlined throughout the brochure, this commitment has been expressed through years of initiatives spanning employment, digital creation, connected classrooms, museum partnerships and issues of social awareness.

Addressing regional problems with locally relevant technological solutions is the backbone and strength of our citizenship programs. This strategy has enabled us to reach nearly 400,000 direct beneficiaries through over 1,600 Smart Classroom and 80 Digital Classroom programs. In just three years, we have advanced a movement for technology in education with initiatives such as Samsung Campus, Beat the Street and Coding Masters Junior.

Coding Masters Junior has effected changes in the Polish education system that will ultimately help more students develop valuable digital skills. As a result of that project, beginning in September 2017, programming courses will be included in students’ core curriculums from the first grade of primary school on.

Samsung Campus, another enriching initiative, is a free, two-year course open to 18- to 25-year-olds who have a passion for technology but may not have received opportunities to pursue it. The program focuses on developing programming skills to help students secure employment, and welcomed its inaugural class in September of 2014. Since graduation, 68 percent have found employment, and the remaining 32 percent have elected to pursue further training.

In July, in collaboration with German publishing house Cornelsen, Samsung organized a roundtable for developers and educators to discuss integrating VR technology into the classroom. Interactive VR apps were designed and presented, with the winning concepts tested at six select schools. The project yielded the first-ever VR app designed specifically for classroom use, and established prototypes with which to design immersive lessons to cover a variety of school subjects and reach as many students as possible.

With OFF4ADAY, Samsung, in partnership with Moige (the Italian Parents Movement) and the Italian State Police, established the country’s first helpline to support victims of cyberbullying – an issue affecting a third of Italian teenagers. OFF4ADAY has so far helped more than 2,000 teens, and taken measures to raise awareness in schools that have seen cyberbullying-related web searches increase by 60 percent.

Finally, in the Netherlands, where 18 percent of traffic accidents involving youngsters are caused by distractions from smartphones, Samsung teamed up with traffic safety organization Veilig Verkeer Nederland (VVN) to create the ‘Beat the Street’ virtual reality game. The game, which provides crucial lessons on traffic safety and the dangers of distracted smartphone use via immersive VR, has so far reached some 4.5 million citizens.

A New Chapter of Influence

Technology is an ever-evolving field, and Samsung’s citizenship activities are no different. We’re currently on track to meet our pledge, made to the European Commission’s Grand Coalition for Digital Jobs, to reach 400,000 people by December 2016, and we’re now shifting our focus to the future. This brochure closes one chapter of our citizenship story, focused on quantity, and initiates a new vision focused on quality, innovation and partnerships.

Samsung will focus resources on a network of lighthouse schools that will serve as shining examples of the future of education, and enhance its technology and education partnerships by bringing 3D printing and VR technology into more classrooms.

The stories found in the pages of this brochure pay tribute to the countless people – spanning local NGOs, governments and experts in education – who are as passionate and committed to making a difference as we are.

When we work together with shared ambitions and focus, we truly can achieve the incredible. The “Our Digital Creators” report is available in its entirety via the attachment below.

When Rodolphe Laidet was just a young boy, he was introduced to the world of computers. It was through these early interactions that he inadvertently recognized his dream of working in the field of technology. He felt his passion for computers grow throughout the years and, as a teenager, dropped out of school to teach himself more about networks and operating systems.

His decision to take the road less traveled was met with much criticism. Facing social prejudice, he came to doubt his abilities, his decisions and even his future. But then he heard about Samsung Campus, a program that was established to cultivate a young and talented workforce and spur job creation through hands-on IT job training. It was here that Rodolphe finally got the opportunity to delve into computer programming in a formal learning environment.

Armed with a broad knowledge, and through the guidance of his mentors, Rodolphe was able to land a job as an engineer. Now, he uses the skills he learned at Samsung Campus to develop new concepts, paradigms and patterns in computer programming to help improve people’s lives. Rodolphe is the perfect example of how hard work and a willingness to overcome challenges can truly make dreams come true.

Samsung Electronics believes that technology has great potential to make lives better. Through strengths in innovation and technology, Samsung will play their part in solving some of the global challenges and to contributing to a better society.

This is why Samsung has established 1,300 Smart Classrooms, 65 Digital Academies, as well as numerous other partnership programmes across Europe. These programmes are about more than just providing physical hardware. Teachers are trained and connected to a community which inspires curriculum enrichment. Students are empowered to learn important digital skills through coding, website and app development and enhance their learning through technology.

Samsung believes in creating the classrooms of tomorrow. In Europe there is a growing digital skills gap so all Samsung citizenship programmes aim to inspire the next generation of innovators and teach them 21st century skills. This will prepare students for the jobs of the future.

Digital skills for all ages

The programmes are also designed to activate digital learning at all ages.

Samsung Smart Classrooms teach the fundamentals of digital skills during the core developmental years, 6-16 years old; whilst Samsung Digital Academies are aimed at young people aged 16-24 who need digital skills to boost their employability.

Evelyn Nicola (Sustainability & Citizenship Manager, Samsung Europe) speaking at the IFA 2016 press conference about Citizenship programmes in Europe.

One example of a Digital Academy is the Samsung Campus in Paris. France’s top IT school EPITECH and non-profit ZUP CO offer intensive training for young people not currently in education. The programme inspires young people to re-join the job market with new skills.

Christophe, 26, is about to complete his training at the Samsung Campus in fall;

“The training at Samsung Campus has allowed me to develop sought-after digital skills and I have now secured a permanent contract for after I complete my training. I can enter the job market with confidence!”

In addition to Smart Classrooms and Tech Institutes, Samsung has worked tirelessly to develop partnerships with some of the world’s leading organisations to reach more people together.

In the United Kingdom, Samsung has been working with the British Museum since 2009; sponsoring an engaging and innovative digital learning programme and education space. The Museum’s Samsung Digital Discovery Centre (SDDC) offers free digital sessions for schools, families and teens.  Since opening the SDDC has welcomed over 80,000 visitors and technology is one of the top reasons teachers choose to book a session. Students are able to discover the Museum’s unparalleled collection in creative and educational ways, using Samsung’s latest technology. Visitors have even been taken back to the Bronze Age to see objects in their original settings, using Samsung Gear VR headsets. The use of virtual reality technology has proved to very popular with the Museum’s visitors, with one participant remarking:

“It made me feel as if I was actually there and gave me a sense of how things actually were in the Bronze Age”

New MakerBot Partnership

At IFA 2016, Samsung Electronics Europe announced its latest partnership with MakerBot EMEA, a global leader in 3D printing technology.

Andreas Langfeld (General Manager of MakerBot EMEA) speaking at the IFA 2016 press conference about the Samsung and MakerBot partnership.

The programme will launch its first phase in schools, colleges and museums within five key European markets: Germany, Italy, Spain, UK & Sweden. 3D printers and a full set of solutions will be allocated within the already established network of Samsung programmes.

This partnership aims to inspire creativity by combining design and coding classes with 3D printing so students can experience the full design cycle as a way to develop ideas and innovate. This will equip the next generation of architects, engineers, product designers and innovators are needed to keep up with the fast pace of technological advancement.

The future of Citizenship

The Samsung Electronics Corporate Citizenship team will continue to partner with like-minded companies that share the same ambitions in digital education and bring something unique to our network. Next steps will be to develop a network of excellence centres who can share their content. Samsung wants young people to tell their stories, and inspire others across Europe.

In the words of Evelyn Nicola, Samsung Europe’s Sustainability & Citizenship Manager;

“Along with MakerBot, we call on other brands at IFA to join us, as we prepare the young people of today for the jobs of the future”

Students may now apply to join Samsung Campus by filling their application for the third session of the Samsung Campus “Web & Apps Coding” training course. Young people between the ages of 18 and 25, with no high school diploma and passionate about computing, have until midnight on September 18^th to register on www.samsungcampus.fr. Preselected applicants will enter a three-week initial session on October 3, to gain the foundations they need for the training and to assess their motivation before entering the Samsung Campus.

Opened in Saint-Ouen, France in September 2014, Samsung Campus is a socially engaged training center that offers a free training course to develop digital skills for approximatively 50 young people per year. Graduates thus acquire valuable professional expertise in a very dynamic sector.

An educational team ensures individual follow-up of students throughout their training, while the incentive to work together and help each other strengthens group cohesion. To facilitate their future integration in business, students who are interested may also join a mentoring program in place with employees of Samsung Electronics France.

A Training Offering Genuine Job Opportunities

“Web & Apps Coding” is a two-year training course in web and mobile application* development, which includes apprenticeship during the second year. Designed to address the shortage of web developers in France, this training is operated by ZUP de CO and EPITECH.

ZUP de CO, an NGO which works to promote equal opportunity for disadvantaged young people, is in charge of recruiting and supporting students. EPITECH, the leading French school in IT and innovation, is in charge of the learning aspects.

This intensive training (1,600 hours the first year, and 455 hours during the work-study year) covers up to fifteen recognized coding technologies, as well as emerging technologies in web and mobile application development.

It also includes a marketing awareness module taught by ESSEC, and professional speakers to give students a thorough understanding of the business environment in which they will be evolving. “This course gives motivated young people the opportunity to develop skills that are sought after in a fast growing industry, and offers them genuine job opportunities,” says Florence Catel, corporate citizenship director at Samsung Electronics France.

As an indicator of the quality of the program, students who are currently in the second year regularly receive job offers: “My employment opportunities have completely changed,” says Pauline, age 25. “Now I’m contacted every week for jobs I haven’t even applied for!” Samir, age 23, reports a similar experience: “There’s everything we need to help us build our future. Now I’m regularly contacted for projects or permanent jobs. It’s both reassuring and motivating.”

A Training Course Approved by the “Grande École du Numérique”

 The Samsung Campus “Web & Apps Coding” program is part of the first training courses to be approved by the “Grande École du Numérique” (GEN) that was launched by the French President in September 2015. The Grande École du Numérique seeks to support the professional integration of young people without qualifications by offering them training in the digital fields.

For many of them, joining the Samsung Campus is a fresh chance: “I felt I shared the experience of some students who were motivated but had seen all doors close on them because they had no diploma. Samsung Campus is a real opportunity for me,” says Housama, age 23.

Marie, age 24, adds that coding is also a women’s job: “I’ve always loved computing, but my teachers didn’t support me in this choice,” she explains. “I never would have thought I could pursue a career in a field that is still viewed as very masculine! Today I’m finally doing what I love.”

A Mentoring Program with Samsung Employees

Samsung Campus students can also benefit from the volunteer involvement of Samsung Electronics France employees, in the form of a mentoring program based on experience-sharing and discussion, which is part of a socially responsible company approach: “I don’t know which of us got the most out of the mentoring,” says Alexandre, Allan’s Samsung mentor, with a smile.  “What motivated me at first was to be able to help a young person get ready to enter the job market. I hope I was up to the task. What’s certain today is that Allan has gained new confidence about his future. And that’s wonderful!”

To learn more about Samsung Campus: http://www.samsungcampus.fr

About ZUP de CO

ZUP de CO is an NGO which works to promote equal opportunity for disadvantaged young people. Empowering young people in a difficult situation to become key players in tomorrow’s society and prove that dropping out is not inevitable, such is the ambition of ZUP CO. www.zupdeco.org

About Epitech

Epitech has been training 5200 students every year for over 17 years. Epitech is neither a technical college nor an engineering school. Its innovative teaching model is rooted in project-based learning. The model designed by Epitech has proven popular with companies and has been rolled out by a consistent international network: Epitech therefore exists in 12 French cities and has over 40 worldwide partners.

Epitech’s network of exceptional international partners enables it to provide all its students with the opportunity to spend a year studying abroad (in 4th year) to experience another culture, build contacts and prepare for a potential international career.Epitech has 12 innovation hubs putting it on the cutting edge of new IT and digital technologies and able to build quality connections with its ecosystem. Students at Epitech can thus create close bonds with the business world throughout their academic life.At the end of their 5 year course, Epitech students are independent, responsible IT experts who can easily adapt to the business world. They have excellent technical skills, the ability to design and pool ideas and technologies as well as surround themselves with the best partners to handle their projects. In an ever-changing world where innovation reigns supreme, they have everything they need to succeed.It will therefore come as no surprise that Epitech alumni include Alexandre Malsch, Meltygroup founder and Solomon Hyckes, Docker founder.