• Colombian and Polish elementary students connected in an interactive, multicultural activity using Samsung Smart School solutions
• The initiative was planned by Samsung Electronics’ employees in Colombia and Poland to offer an opportunity to broaden learning horizons in the wake of a global sporting event

Olsztyn, Poland and Bogotá, Colombia are nearly 10,000 kilometers apart. When the school day begins in Colombia, it’s time for students in Poland to go home. But on June 7, a class of elementary school students from each city adjusted their schedules to meet with their counterparts from the other side of the world. Using Samsung’s Smart School solutions, the children connected to share a classroom that fused technology into education.

Students from the San Francisco de Asis Educational Institution (Colombia) and Olsztyn elementary school (Poland) introduce each other using Samsung Smart School solutions

Capitalizing on Opportunities to Share Learning Experiences

As a preamble to one of the most popular sports events worldwide, employees from Samsung Electronics Colombia and Samsung Electronics Poland got a hold of each other and agreed to take this opportunity to broaden the horizon of their Smart School initiatives. Soon, they were able to gather elementary school students from the San Francisco de Asis Educational Institution (Colombia) and their peers from the Olsztyn Elementary School (Poland) to take part in a unique multicultural experience.

Each team of students wore T-shirts in national colors

“The goal of Smart School is to transform education through the use of technology,” said Cesar Muñoz, Senior Manager of Corporate Citizenship at Samsung Electronics Colombia. “At this moment there is much attention with the sports event that is happening and kids find it interesting to connect with their peers from Poland. With this, we demonstrate them that technology opens up all kinds of possibilities and that there are no barriers.”

There had been much interest in each other’s country as Colombia and Poland were set to play each other in an upcoming sports event

Learning about Each Other’s Country

Class began with the greetings and introductions from each side, followed by a virtual tour of the Smart School classrooms and shows of some cultural performances – one of the Colombian students performed a traditional dance to the music played on the harp by her teacher; Polish children shared a song of their own.

“Let’s talk about our countries!” Students from Poland line up to present their drawings

They then proceeded to learn about each other’s country including where they are, what their customs are and also a little bit about Nicolaus Copernicus, the famous Polish astronomer. At the end of the class, students from each side of the Atlantic had even learned a number of words from each other’s language like ‘friendship’ (amistad, Spanish) and ‘goodbye’ (do widzenia, Polish). With tablets and virtual quiz tools, the children were given a chance to check their knowledge on Colombia and Poland.

A Colombian student prepares to perform before her Polish friends across the Atlantic

Expanding the Horizon of Learning

Maria Paula Castillo, a student at the San Francisco de Asis School, shared her excitement saying: “We were very excited to get to know the children of Poland. I had never had the opportunity to talk to someone from another country.”

Colombian elementary school students were excited to meet their Polish peers

“Meetings like this expand horizons, showing that we are similar despite our differences,” said Jolanta Okuniewska, a 2016 finalist of the Global Teacher Prize and leader of the Smart School in Olsztyn, Poland. “They stimulate students’ curiosity in cognitive terms, giving them an example of how important it is to know foreign languages and showing them that anything is possible. I am very happy that my students were able to go on this fascinating journey to Colombia.”

Additional Images

Performance for peers in Colombia – dancing and singing break every barrier

“We were very excited to get to know the children of Poland,” said one of the students at the San Francisco de Asis Educational Institution

With tablets and virtual quiz tools, the children were given a chance to check their knowledge on Colombia and Poland

From STEM to STE-A-M: Incorporating Aesthetic Learning in Technology-Intensive STEM Curricula

Launched in 2017, the STAR UP program aims to inject new educational concepts throughout Taiwan with a focus on aesthetic(美感) education and ‘for-living’ philosophy. It promotes STE-A-M (science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics) education that integrates the aesthetic into the traditional STEM focus on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Since 2014, Samsung Electronics Taiwan has established 15 SMART Schools, and in 2017, further expanded the reach to 3 hospitals.

“Samsung is committed to meaningfully contributing to local education in Taiwan through our unique efforts in education-related citizenship which aim to provide more holistic, accessible, and ultimately impactful learning,” said Jungjoo Lee, President, Samsung Electronics Taiwan. “Through our on- and off-line SMART Schools, and the simultaneous infusion of innovative hardware and software resources, we aim to help educators expand beyond conventional approaches in broadening the horizons of Taiwan’s children.”

New STAR UP Online Courses Focus on Cultivation of Personal Skills

The new STAR UP online multimedia courses are centered around six core focuses to help children cultivate skills related to managing emotions and interpersonal skills; philosophy and critical thinking; and technology and autonomous learning. Other skills include aesthetics and perception; interdisciplinary and problem-solving skills; and life and character. The online courses, hosted by educational experts, will begin being offered from the second quarter of 2018.

“The utilization of new online technologies facilitates the realization of personalized learning and creates opportunities of multidimensional development for children with different backgrounds, abilities, interests, and characteristics,” said Amy Ho, CEO at CommonWealth Education. “We believe that cooperation with Samsung Electronics Taiwan will inject new vitality into Taiwanese education, ensuring that every child derives maximum benefits from education.”

In addition to the new online courses, Samsung Electronics Taiwan plans to continue its cooperation with various education-related partners in Taiwan, through activities including physical workshops and seminars, to inject more resources into enhancing Taiwanese education.

• From left to right: Wang Shufen (writer), Jungjoo Lee (Vice President, Samsung Electronics Taiwan), Amy Ho (CEO, CommonWealth Education), and Chen Chongwen (creative director, Good Design Institute)

• Jungjoo Lee (Vice President, Samsung Electronics Taiwan) and Amy Ho (CEO, CommonWealth Education) pose at an event to announce the two entities’ collaboration for 6 online courses

• Exhibition highlight at the Samsung SMART School, CommonWealth collaboration announcement

Inspired by SENA’s Corporate Citizenship team’s efforts to utilize Samsung technologies to benefit local communities, over the last few years, Daniel has donated his expertise – and more than 100 hours of his spare time – to help equip teachers and students across Sweden with the digital skills they need to succeed.

These efforts – part of Samsung’s Smart School initiative – have seen Daniel travel to schools in remote locations across the country and provide hands-on support for upwards of 80 teachers and 380 students. By helping these individuals learn to use Samsung tablets, mobile devices and services like Knox to enjoy more enriching and interactive learning experiences, Daniel has played an integral role in promoting digital skills in Swedish schools, and in helping more teachers and students realize their full potential.

Daniel’s quest to help Swedish schools foster digital learning has taken him from Upplands Väsby, near Stockholm, all the way down to Kävlinge, at the country’s southern tip.

According to Daniel, the best part of volunteering is his face-to-face interactions with Smart School participants. Witnessing the teachers and students’ excitement and passion firsthand has motivated him to continue his work with the schools, and led him to truly believe in technology’s potential to inspire children to dream big.

To illustrate his point, Daniel recalls his work at one school in particular: Vålbergsskolan, in Vålberg, a rural area near Sweden’s border with Norway. Before participating in the Smart School program, the school had very limited access to digital tools, students’ grades were lower than average, and many students dropped out of school after the ninth grade.

To help address these concerning trends, Daniel worked closely with Vålbergsskolan’s teachers to integrate Samsung technologies into their lessons, and helped students learn how to utilize digital devices and solutions to study more effectively. Now, the headmaster of the school is happy to report that students are thriving in their inclusive and interactive learning environments, have gotten more involved in their lessons, and their performance as a whole has significantly improved.

As Ms. Amelie Wahlström, the headmaster of the school, explained, “Some of these students have had difficulty writing and reading in Swedish. Now, thanks to this project and the new skills that our teachers have acquired, we’ve seen the students flourish. And the opportunity to use devices like tablets in their lessons has made our students excited to practice reading and writing.”

Through his work with Samsung’s Smart School initiative, Daniel Johnsson (seated at center) helps schools in remote locations across Sweden foster immersive and engaging digital learning experiences.

Teachers, too, have greatly appreciated Daniel’s help. The digital skills that Ms. Therese Öberg, a teacher at Runby School in Upplands Väsby, acquired helped her earn a nomination for the 2017 Golden Apple Awards’ Teacher of the Year award, which recognizes educators for excellence in teaching and leadership.

Ms. Öberg guides her class through a fun and engaging lesson powered by Samsung devices.

Daniel’s efforts have earned him the 2017 Samsung Global Citizenship Awards’ Outstanding Volunteer honor, while his dedication and enthusiasm have inspired many of his SENA colleagues to volunteer their own time and talents to support Samsung’s corporate citizenship initiatives. Through their participation, they’ve come to appreciate the tremendous impact that promoting digital learning can have on their community.

Daniel believes that Samsung’s technologies and leadership in innovation can provide invaluable help in addressing social challenges in Sweden and around the globe. He is determined to continue his volunteer work, and hopes to see even more of his colleagues join him in affecting positive change.

See for yourself, in the video below, how incorporating digital learning and Samsung devices into the lesson plan has helped Ms. Öberg’s class study more effectively and have more fun.

To help introduce interactive digital learning to classrooms across Morocco, Samsung Electronics Maghreb assembled ‘Education Trolleys’, packed with Samsung’s latest mobile innovations.

As part of its commitment to advancing public education and making a difference in more communities, Samsung Electronics Maghreb has partnered with Morocco’s Ministry of Education to deliver Samsung mobile technologies to schools in cities and rural areas across the country through the “Let’s Make Samsung Technology Come to You” initiative.

Each trolley contains 10 Samsung Galaxy Tab As for students’ use, as well as a Galaxy Book 2-in-1 PC to help teachers lead interactive and engaging lessons that allow students to explore the world in a manner that goes beyond the limitations of physical textbooks. The trolleys’ portability makes it easy for teachers to transport the devices from one classroom to another and spread the benefits of immersive digital learning to hundreds of students.

By delivering its latest digital innovations to more classrooms – and more curious minds – Samsung hopes to encourage the children of Morocco to dream big, so that they may enjoy a better tomorrow.

Samsung Electronics Maghreb will announce the 100 schools that will receive their own Education Trolleys in the coming days. Samsung will also conduct a training session for the schools early next year that will show teachers how to utilize the devices and solutions in their lessons to help strengthen students’ digital skills.

While a considerable proportion of the students at the refugee camp attend schools established by the Jordanian government, there are many who receive no formal schooling. The situation of these out-of-school children strikes at the heart of Samsung’s goals to provide equal opportunities in education to underserved communities and easier access to information and technology.

Equipped with cutting-edge technology, the smart schools offer students an engaging and creative approach to learning. The interactive learning environments give students the chance to learn about a variety of technology-related topics which will help them unleash their potential and creativity, including modern languages, social media, photography, filmmaking, art and painting.

The two smart schools are housed within Makani centers, which offer alternative education opportunities to those aged between 5 and 24. Founded by UNICEF, Makani centers emphasize a holistic approach for Syrian children and youths who have struggled with formal education in Jordan, offering learning opportunities, psychosocial support services and life skills training. By reengaging students in their education, Makani centers can provide a bridge back to formal education.

Changsup Lee, Samsung Electronics Levant President remarked, “We have a duty as part of the local community to help improve access to education in the Zaatari Camp. Though considerable effort has already been made to improve education in the Zaatari Camp, there is more work to be done and we are excited for the partnership with Relief International. These fully equipped smart schools will provide them with an engaging educational environment, allowing them to develop valuable life skills, which will ultimately broaden their knowledge and understanding.”

“At Samsung, we believe in what technology can achieve. Technology is a source of inspiration for those kids who need to build a brighter future. The ability to innovate is a valuable tool in building a normal life and will prepare them for a better, more hopeful future.”

“We have already seen children who were disinterested in formal schooling become highly engaged in creative and meaningful projects. Based on that enthusiasm, many have found the desire to further their formal schooling as well, realizing that gives them tools to achieve their dreams,” noted Nancy Wilson, CEO of Relief International. “These smart schools will provide very powerful tools for them to be creative in more ways, increase their collaboration and strive for even bigger dreams. We are proud to be partnering with Samsung on this leadership initiative.”

Established in 2013, Samsung’s Smart School program equips classrooms in underserved communities with cutting-edge educational tools – such as PCs, tablets and electronic blackboards – to create interactive learning environments that allow students to truly thrive. As of this writing, a total of over 3,000 Smart Schools are up and running in over 90 countries around the globe.

As part of an ongoing initiative to provide students around the world with equal access to a quality digital education, Samsung Electronics recently opened a Smart School in Peru that has taken the community-enriching initiative to new heights.

Samsung’s newest Smart School is located high in the Andes Mountains, some 3,399 meters above sea level, at the National College of Sciences and Arts (Colegio Nacional de Ciencias) in Cusco – a city that was once the capital of the Incan Empire and is home to Machu Picchu, a UNESCO World Heritage Site also known as the “Lost City of the Incas.”

The goal for the Smart School is to use technology to help students in the region obtain a deeper understanding of their rich heritage, so that the legacy of the Incan Empire, and the Quechuan language and culture that descended from it, may be preserved for future generations.

Improving Education with Technology

Established in 2013, Samsung’s Smart School program equips classrooms in underserved communities with cutting-edge educational tools – such as PCs, tablets and electronic blackboards – to create interactive learning environments that allow students to truly thrive. As of this writing, a total of over 3,000 Smart Schools are up and running in over 90 countries around the globe.

As Fabian Im, Vice President of Samsung Electronics Peru, explained, Cusco’s Smart School will not only provide students with a more interactive and nurturing learning environment, but will also create exciting opportunities for them to explore the world around them and learn more about their unique heritage.

“We designed the Smart School in Cusco to allow kids to experience modern technology, which is something they have not had the chance to do until now, while learning how to maintain their beautiful heritage,” said Im. “We want to use our technology to improve education, support social development in this region, and contribute to preserving the rich Quechuan language and culture.”

Students sketch drawings of Machu Picchu that they made using Samsung tablets. On August 9, Samsung organized a field trip that brought students to the historic site for an immersive lesson on Incan culture and history.

Connecting to a Rich Heritage

Like the region itself, the Smart School’s host institution, the National College of Sciences and Arts, carries great cultural and historical value.

Founded by Simón Bolivar in 1825, the school is the region’s first and oldest public institution. As part of the program, the 2,300 students who currently attend the school will receive an immersive digital education covering subjects including computer literacy as well as Incan history, the Quechuan language, and other aspects of their cultural heritage.

To create fun and interactive learning environment, Samsung outfitted the school with electronic blackboards, tablets, all-in-one printers, PCs and monitors, as well as brand new desks and chairs. Classrooms were also decorated with traditional Incan motifs to create a unique blend of past and present.

In addition, on the eve of the Smart School’s launch, Samsung organized a field trip to Machu Picchu that allowed students to immerse themselves in history through another blend of past and present. Once there, the students took part in an interactive lesson that allowed them to explore the historic site in person, and learn more about the Incan Empire using Samsung tablets.

Smart School students use Samsung tablets to sketch unique drawings of Machu Picchu on the train ride to the historic site.

It was an exciting experience for all involved. Afterward, the enthusiastic students described the trip as both fun and enlightening. “Thanks to Smart School, I’m now more familiar with our ancestors’ culture and way of life,” said one student.

Smart School students use Samsung tablets and the Gear 360 camera to snap photos of their field trip to the breathtaking historic site.

The Cusco Smart School is just one of 144 Smart Schools that Samsung is currently operating in Latin America. Peru is home to a total of 12, which are located across the country and have together offered over 20,000 students an opportunity to learn without limitations.

To help preserve indigenous peoples’ cultural legacy, on March 6, Samsung Electronics Taiwan partnered with the Council of Indigenous Peoples and National Chengchi University to launch a digital learning program that supports conservation through education.

The government organization selected 10 indigenous schools from 8 tribes to take part in the first stage of the project – the latest initiative of Samsung’s Smart School program – and the university contributed resources and expertise, designing a curriculum that leverages Samsung technology to create interactive lessons that immerse students in the rich cultures of their ancestors.

Indigenous languages and traditions are rarely jotted down in textbooks. Rather, they’re preserved by tribal elders, who share their culture’s unique tribal rituals, ceremonies and festivals not in formal classrooms but against the backdrop of nature. The digital learning program allows students to experience these aspects of their heritage virtually, utilizing Samsung mobile devices to foster first-hand educational experiences in similar ‘natural’ settings.

Such digitalization may ultimately allow indigenous knowledge to be better preserved, shared and passed down to future generations.

During the program’s kick-off ceremony, Jaeyub Lee, President of Samsung Electronics Taiwan, described participating in the program as an honor. “We are glad to collaborate with the Council of Indigenous Peoples through the digital learning program – our Samsung Smart School program focusing on indigenous education,” he said. “We look forward to seeing Samsung technology and devices applied in rural tribes and real-world scenarios, and creating fruitful results in indigenous education. It is our privilege to provide children with a friendly learning environment where tradition and technology blend into one, to accelerate indigenous education, digitalization and preservation.”

A Council of Indigenous Peoples representative replied by saying, “We are grateful for Samsung’s support and devotion toward government policy. With digitalization and innovative application, we look forward to seeing breakthroughs in the preservation of indigenous peoples’ cultural legacies and assets.”

A Wish is Heard, and Hope is Sparked

In July 2016, Samsung Electronics Taiwan (SET) received an invitation from the Make-A-Wish Foundation International to donate a Samsung Galaxy S7 to make a courageous child’s wish come true. This led to an introduction with A-Fu, a 15-year-old boy diagnosed with leukemia. Before undergoing challenging medical treatment, A-Fu enjoyed taking pictures of the beauty in everyday life, particularly in the Buddha statues found in temples around Taiwan. Despite hospitalization, A-Fu’s passion for photography has endured. A-Fu yearned to record the bright side of his life in the hospital, but needed a smartphone in order to do so, leading him to make his wish. SET heard of A-Fu’s wish through its partnership with Kaohsiung Medical University Chung-Ho Memorial Hospital. On August 10, much to his surprise and delight, SET gifted A-Fu a Samsung Galaxy S7 to help him capture the beauty he sees in everyday life.

Helping More Children in Hospitals

After fulfilling A-Fu’s wish, SET discovered that an average of 500 children are diagnosed with cancer in Taiwan every year. Like A-Fu, they’re in hospitals undergoing challenging treatment, which see many hospitalized for an average of three months. Unfortunately, such medical difficulties make the concept of going to school to learn with their peers more dream than reality. With these children’s pressing educational needs in mind, and in an effort to introduce more fun to help alleviate their pain, SET proposed to build a Samsung Smart School within a hospital, and invited Kaohsiung Medical University Chung-Ho Memorial Hospital to partner in the effort.

Opening Up the First Hospital-Based Smart School

Thus, on January 4, 2017, the first hospital-based Samsung Smart School officially opened at Kaohsiung Medical University Chung-Ho Memorial Hospital. Featuring two spacious classrooms equipped with tablets and TVs, the facility’s design reflects those of other Smart Schools established in Taiwan. Both classrooms have been enhanced to create a motivating and entertaining digital learning environment, and feature tablets pre-installed with educational apps that enable children to learn in convenient and engaging ways.

More Partnerships Bring More Fun to Learning

Having successfully implemented the first-of-its-kind Smart School, SET is now inviting more hospitals, social workers, volunteers, art therapists and other relevant parties to partner in efforts that will provide more children access to diverse and enriching educational resources. Hospitals may utilize tablets as a new means to carry out routine health education initiatives with parents and children. Hospital volunteers may also adopt digital content as an innovative way to promote more learning. Through hospital-based Smart Schools and promising partnerships, Samsung believes more enriching, child-oriented resources may be adopted and more educational content may be delivered. Most importantly, initiatives such as this will help SET achieve its goal of providing hospitalized children equal access to digital learning opportunities in smart and fun ways.

Samsung Electronics has partnered with the Colombian Agency for Reintegration (ACR) to open the first ‘Classroom of Peace’ Smart School, located in Valledupar, in the north of the country.

The specialized Smart School was established in a vulnerable neighborhood populated by individuals who were previously guerillas, members of paramilitary forces and victims of conflicts. Dozens of families with former ties to armed groups are in the process of reintegrating into the community, while also dealing with ever-present social problems such as poverty, violence and drugs.

On August 10, Samsung Colombia and ACR launched the Classroom of Peace in a local school which counts 1,200 students – many of whom come from reintegrating families. The goal of the initiative is to help the children exercise their creativity and problem-solving abilities and develop the digital skills necessary to seize future employment opportunities and create a better future for their community.

“This Smart School allows us to experiment with learning opportunities that make use of new technologies and promote peaceful values,” explains César Muñoz, Corporate Citizenship Manager at Samsung Electronics Colombia. “The best practices that emerge from this experience may be shared to support other communities in the country that are facing similar conditions.”

The Classroom of Peace utilizes fun, tech-driven activities that encourage collaboration while reinforcing the higher values of tolerance, coexistence and respect. The classroom is outfitted with, among other tech, a 60-inch UHD Smart TV, dozens of Samsung tablets and a Gear VR-Galaxy S6 virtual reality set, and was designed to create a nurturing and collaborative environment within which the students may thrive.

Watch in the video below as the students and instructors christen their collaborative classroom with games, performances and lots of smiles.

Lefa had always wanted to explore the wider world, and Samsung’s solar-powered internet school effectively placed it at her fingertips. Part of Samsung’s Smart School initiative, these schools provide educationally marginalized students with equal access to educational resources on the web.

The goal of the initiative is to bridge the IT accessibility gap and improve the quality of students’ education by collaborating with governments and appropriate organizations to provide interactive learning opportunities with digital devices. Since 2013, Samsung’s Smart Schools have supported over 200,000 students in 72 countries.

After her Smart School experience, Lefa began a successful career as a PR-marketer in Johannesburg, where she continues to brighten the days of those around her. Follow her journey as she leads another bright young mind on an eye-opening experience with the help of Samsung’s Smart Schools.

Samsung Electronics today announced the research findings from teachers and 3,000 pupils across the UK who have participated in its Digital Classroom programme over the past three years. Samsung has been supporting education as a global cause since 2013 and the Digital Classroom initiative was launched in order to explore the impact technology has on teaching and learning, helping to address the digital skills gap in the UK.

Feedback from the schools participating in the programme reveals that pupils demonstrated high engagement with lessons, were more motivated and showed marked improvement in grade attainment. Teacher confidence also improved and teaching practices changed over time, with children increasingly able to work independently and collaboratively. The three-year initiative has involved establishing Digital Classrooms in 15 primary schools in challenging circumstances across the UK. Students and teachers were equipped with a suite of classroom technology including tablets, Chromebooks, laptops and an interactive whiteboard, as well as providing key training for teachers and ongoing technical support, to create an enhanced learning environment.

The research findings underpin Samsung’s belief that the provision of technology acts as a facilitator for fueling natural curiosity and a desire to learn. Bringing technology into the classroom had a positive influence on pupils’ digital skill development, enhancing their learning experience and increasing pupil collaboration and confidence:

• 89% of pupils believe that the equipment helped them to learn new digital skills, with 81% now finding it easier to do a variety of tasks on computers and 79% saying they work better with their classmates.
• Pupils confidence increased, with nearly 9 in 10 (88%) saying they felt more equipped for their next academic years of study.

Moreover, the findings highlight the great improvements that pupils’ have made in developing their digital skills between the start and the end of the 2015/16 academic year:

• Over half (57%) are writing code more frequently and are finding it easier to write code on a computer or tablet, compared to 28% at the start of the year
• 83% of pupils now find using apps an effective and easy way to learn new things, compared to 64% at the start of the year
• Knowledge of online safety has also improved, with 80% of pupils now more aware of how to stay safe on the internet, compared to 60% at the start of the year
• Over four-fifths (82%) find a computer or tablet helpful when working with other students in a team, compared to 70% at the start of the year

The Digital Classroom also had a disproportionality positive effect on children who needed extra support and motivation. Teachers reported that the Digital Classroom increased flexibility, gave them the capacity to differentiate learning and made lessons far more inclusive. By making work more attractive, this served to boost pupils’ independence, confidence and pride. The use of reading apps has helped children with dyslexia feel equal in the classroom while translation tools have helped those for whom English is a second language.

Bede Community Primary School, in Gateshead, Newcastle, is one of the schools which was selected to become a part of the Digital Classroom programme. Three years on since launching the classroom, teachers have been amazed with how the technology has transformed their lessons.

Andrew Riley from Bede Community Primary School commented: “One of the greatest impacts of the Samsung Digital Classroom has been on pupils’ personal growth and maturity, both in the classroom and outside of school. The programme has helped teachers to cultivate independence and build confidence amongst pupils by encouraging ownership of learning outcomes and self-directed learning. Here at Bede School, we feel there is a very clear relationship between academic achievement and the digital classroom, with every pupil who has taken part in lessons in the classroom progressing by at least two levels. Pupils are now more open and ready to learn in the classroom, which has meant the pace of learning has increased.”

Aleyne Johnson, Head of Government Relations and Citizenship, Samsung UK said: “We are delighted by the fantastic results generated by the Samsung Digital Classroom initiative, with the last three years showing a positive shift in pupil’s attitudes to learning as a result of integrating more technology into lessons. Whilst we have come a long way, it’s not over yet, and we are looking forward to continuing to work with our partners and many educational initiatives, to create innovative digital learning environments across to the UK to support and invest in the workforce of tomorrow.”

Discover the Samsung Digital Classroom at a glance below!

Samsung Electronics Colombia today unveiled the NOMADA Smart School, a portable learning environment which gives the opportunity to Colombian children to use Samsung technology to create, innovate and have fun in different regions of the country in their learning process.

The Samsung Smart School program, in its third year of operation in Colombia, enhances the learning process of students enrolled in public schools by providing new technologies and equipment while making the educational environment more intuitive, interactive and efficient. Its goal is to use technology to influence the learning environment by creating a different dynamic in which teachers and students retain a horizontal relationship rather than a hierarchical one.

“The next step in this experience is to replicate the Smart School environment around the country – in both rural and urban areas,” says César Muñoz, Corporate Citizenship manager at Samsung Electronics Colombia. “If it’s difficult for some children to get to their classrooms, why can’t the classrooms just go and find them?”

NOMADA was created to be a mobile learning environment that is fun, flexible and playful. “With Samsung’s technology,” Muñoz added, “the traditional classroom becomes a two-way learning environment that includes everything that we, in the last three years of research with Smart School, have learned about how to positively develop different learning processes through innovative technology”.

Transporting Knowledge through ‘Maloca’

The portable ‘Maloca’ (hut) classroom, designed by Samsung Electronics, replicates the experience of learning in an established Smart School. It is equipped with a 32″ monitor, tablet PCs, tables, rugs and cushions designed for collaborative work. Emulating the interactions of Colombian nomadic tribe culture, children and young people can gather around in a circle to share knowledge.

The NOMADA structure is transportable in order to share the experience with learners in different locations. The classroom can also record memorable stories from learners that it has previously encountered, allowing students to explore different communities and cultures and have new experiences.

Meeting the Needs of Each Community

Samsung has worked with local partners to identify the communities where the classroom can have a positive impact and developed a strategy and curriculum that will allow NOMADA to adapt to the educational objectives of each community with a touch of fun. Samsung is currently collaborating with the Medellin Public Utilities Company Foundation (EPM Foundation), the Ministry of Science and Innovation (Colciencias) and the Colombian Institute of Family Welfare (ICBF).

Each NOMADA unit travels with a teaching facilitator, who is trained by Samsung.  By the end of 2016, the company plans to have eight NOMADA units traveling to different communities around Colombia.

Speaking at the 2016 Samsung Africa Forum, Abey Tau, Corporate Citizenship and Public Affairs Manager, said: “As a global citizen, we felt it was important to use our technology to give back to society. We do this in four ways: by creating new learning opportunities so that young people can enjoy access to better education; by using our technical expertise to develop and provide access to new healthcare solutions; by supporting youth employment through vocational training and skills development; and by reducing our impact on the environment.”

According to the World Bank, Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for more than 50% of all out-of-school children worldwide, which affects their future employment opportunities. The dire situation faced by many African countries is a result of a number of factors, including civil unrest, cultural beliefs and a lack of schooling infrastructure and resources.

It is against this backdrop that Samsung Electronics Africa has adopted an attitude of innovation by introducing technology where it previously has not existed. The aim is to make sure that every African child has access to education no matter where they are on the continent, using state-of-the-art digital technology enjoyed by children in developed countries.

Education as Seed of Innovation

Samsung believes that digital technology can completely transform the learning process, as well as the nature of teaching and learning, to create inclusive environments for everyone. Its Solar Powered Internet Schools, Smart Schools and E-Learning Academies provide solutions that deliver on this vision and improve the quality of learning, enhance teaching effectiveness and allow administrators to run institutions more effectively.

The company works with educators around the world to improve learning experiences through the use of technology, facilitating a classroom environment that is limitless and gives students access to a world of knowledge from their desks or on the go.

Through these education initiatives, Samsung hopes to instill a love of learning in students so that they may have equal access to opportunities and go on to become active participants in the economy. This can help to reduce the number of out-of-school children, giving them a chance to succeed.

Earlier this month, Nigerian president, Muhammadu Buhari, attended the launch of a Smart School in the state of Ogun.
Samsung will continue to drive access to education by launching a number of education initiatives in Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and DRC in 2016.

Skills of the Future

However, it takes more than simply providing access to education. As a result of the work Samsung continues to do across the continent, alongside governments, private sector partners and communities, it has come to light that many graduates leave institutions of higher learning with strong theoretical knowledge but lack the practical skills needed by industry.

Samsung’s Engineering Academy and Air-conditioning and Refrigeration Academy aim to change this by providing free, intensive, hands-on training to graduates. The Academies seek to develop skilled young African leaders who are adequately prepared for the world of employment. The programme forms a core part of Samsung’s vision to fast-track the entry of African youths into the electronics job market and to reduce the shortage of scarce skills in the IT industry. Zimbabwe will be a recipient of one of these academies this year.

“Investing in the skills of the youth also benefits Samsung – the more young people we can develop with skills in the electronics industry, the more we can be assured of our ability to provide excellent service to our customers,” says Tau.

Access to Quality Healthcare

According to the World Bank, more than 60% of people in Sub-Saharan Africa live in rural areas and are unable to access clinics for proactive medical care.

To help alleviate this, Samsung Electronics Africa has put initiatives in place through public-private partnerships.

In 2013, Samsung introduced the Solar Powered Health Centre, a solution housed in a shipping container fitted with the most advanced medical equipment and Samsung solar panels. Patients can be screened at the centre to diagnose conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, tooth decay and cataracts. They can also access information on health issues.

Samsung’s Mobile Health Centre, which uses technology to remotely connect to specialist doctors anywhere in the world to get expert opinion and diagnoses, communities quick access to primary healthcare, screening, mother and child facilities, dental care, eye testing and emergency care This year, Samsung will be establishing a Mobile Health Centre in Togo.

Samsung’s Digital Village, which focuses on the challenges in underserved and rural communities, provides access to new experiences by bringing advanced Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) to under-resourced areas. This helps to bridge the digital divide and serves as a catalyst for local business and government service delivery.

The Digital Village is a hub where community members can access educational and health solutions.

Within a Digital Village set-up, Samsung also offers a Mother and Child Unit, which is equipped to offer comprehensive pre- and post-natal screening, care and education in an effort to reduce Africa’s high infant mortality rate.

In 2016, Samsung will be launching Digital Villages in Kenya, Ethiopia and Tanzania.

“These multi-purpose offerings provide a sustainable solution to challenges faced by African people, while improving their standards of living. The model addresses one of Africa’s largest economic challenges – electrification. The scarcity of electricity results in limited access to education, healthcare and connectivity – all of which are key to socio-economic development,” adds Tau.

Corporate Citizenship that Makes a Real Impact

“Collaboration with communities is key to finding the correct remedies to societal challenges,” says Tau. “At Samsung, we have a vested interest in the communities we operate in and, as a result, we have come up with solutions that directly address the everyday challenges most people encounter. Over the years, our collaborative efforts – guided by our strategic focus in the areas of education, health, the environment, and skills and employability – have seen us collaborate with different communities, NGOs and governments. These collaborations have given us insights that we have used when designing the solutions we have installed in the different communities across the African continent. 2016 is another year we build on these progressive partnerships and ensure that we positively impact the lives of more people.”

[Students learning essential skills required in the digital age at one of the Smart Learning Centres in Thailand]

Samsung Electronics was named the Top Community Care Company in Asia at the Asia Corporate Excellence and Sustainability (ACES) Awards 2015. This award is a testament of Samsung’s efforts and commitment in using its global network and innovation to create positive change for people everywhere, helping them to live a better life that is full of possibilities.

“We are honoured to be named the Top Community Care Company in Asia. This award bears testimony to the community work that Samsung is driving in local communities where we operate in. Samsung is committed to create positive change for people everywhere, creating possibilities for them by using our technology to tackle key problems in education, employment and healthcare areas,” said Irene Ng, Vice President, Corporate Marketing, Samsung Electronics Southeast Asia & Oceania.

The Asia Corporate Excellence & Sustainability Awards (ACES) recognizes successful companies and individuals in Asia across two domains including leadership and corporate social responsibility. The Top Community Care Award is presented to companies who have enriched communities through various outreach initiatives. Award recipients epitomize the mission and values of an organization that cares for the community and demonstrates exemplary active citizenship in promoting the well being of society at large.

She continued, “One of the key areas that Samsung focuses on in our Citizenship efforts is education, as we want to help create a better future for disadvantaged youth by providing quality learning environments and access to technology. Using our know-how and technology expertise, we have established over 170 Smart Schools and Libraries, and Tech Institutes across the region. Through these programs, we hope to help close the education and digital gap, and equip youth with the skills they need to find a job in today’s digital economy.”

Samsung’s Community Efforts in Education

Across Southeast Asia and Oceania, Samsung supports a total of 165 Smart Schools and Libraries in nine countries including New Zealand, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, Thailand, Indonesia Philippines and Vietnam. Working with various government bodies, local non-government organizations (NGOs) and educational institutes, Samsung has established Smart Schools and Libraries that feature interactive and immersive learning environment through the use of technology such as tablets and smart televisions, and tailored educational programs that offer enrichment and infotainment content.

To help provide youth with opportunities for a better future and address the industry shortage of technical talents, Samsung has established the Tech Institute, a vocational training institution where young people can learn fundamental IT and engineering skills. Regionally, Samsung supports a total of 14 Tech Institutes across seven countries Malaysia, Singapore, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, Philippines and Indonesia. In Samsung Tech Institutes, youth are given the best-in-class training environment and practical lessons that equip them with both broad and deep skills that prepare them for the workforce.

Other Citizenship Initiatives in Southeast Asia & Oceania

Beyond education, Samsung has also launched healthcare initiatives in Southeast Asia to support communities that lack sufficient medical technologies and trained staff which may lead to problems such as high infant and maternal mortality rates. In Samsung SONO Schools in Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Philippines, Samsung works closely with hospitals and medical facilities, to provide equipment such as ultrasound systems, educational devices, electronic boards and large-format displays (LFD). It also partners local medical associations and institutions to design a strong curriculum and operate courses for medical professionals in the area of ultrasound diagnosis, obstetrics and gynaecology.

As Samsung explores new business areas including healthcare, wearable devices, biotechnology, education, the Internet of Things and Smart Home, it continues to be committed to being a responsible global citizen to create positive change in the communities where it operates in.