London, UK – 8 September 2020: In a year that has seen young people across the UK taking action to address some of the most pressing issues that we currently face, new research shows that nine in ten 18-25-year olds feel that using technology to channel compassion is key to creating a better world for everyone.

Seeing technology as both a vital tool for raising awareness and giving a voice to those affected, six in ten also believe that tech can be used to create innovative solutions that will help with the economy (60%) and sustainability (59%) – the two issues that those asked highlighted as most challenging for them personally and as a generation.

When it comes to other challenges facing their generation, mental health and wellbeing (86%), racial inequality (83%) topped the list with disability rights, gender inequality and LGBTQA+ rights at 68%, 67% and 66% respectively.

Unsurprisingly, 93% of those asked said that education is crucial for addressing inequalities. However, the disruption caused by the pandemic has meant 57% reported even accessing the same education and training opportunities as before is a major barrier, meaning over half feel that they don’t have the opportunity to make a positive impact themselves (68%).

These findings were today released by Samsung as part of its Compassion Nation Report, which coincides with the launch of Not a School, an alternative educational experience co-created with and for 18-25-year olds. Now in its second year, Not a School offers young people the chance to explore how technology can help solve the most significant issues facing young people today and learn skills to bring their creative solutions to life. This year, the course has moved online in partnership with FutureLearn, Europe’s leading online learning platform, to open up money-can’t-buy access to unconventional mentors, activists, entrepreneurs and business leaders to 18-25-year olds across the country for the first time.

Not a School is fronted by British Rapper, Singer and Songwriter Lady Leshurr, Editor-in-Chief of gal-dem, Liv Little and Filmmaker and Climate Activist, Jack Harries. Course contributors include experts in their field including; Andy Middleton – Founder of TYF group, Chloe Pierre – Founder of Thy.Self, Adah Parris – Futurist and Cultural Strategist, Matteo Bergamini- CEO of Shout Out UK and Samia Dumbuya – climate justice activist, to name a few. All course themes have been curated with a Youth Advisory Board comprising of inspiring young leaders including members from the Not a School 2019 alumni.

Lady Leshurr, Not a School 2020 Course Ambassador said: “Even outside of Covid-19, 2020 has been a catalyst for many important issues that are impossible to ignore. It can be difficult to think of yourself as an activist or having the power to have a positive impact on the world in the current climate, but it really starts with being able to engage with these topics that we feel passionate about. That’s what lights the spark that creates change.

Right now, we’re seeing a generation of young voices that have the drive to create a better future for everyone, and technology can give them the platform to innovate and share ideas on a global level. Not a School gives this incredible opportunity to be empowered, to collaborate and be creative on exactly how we can use technology compassionately to solve the issues we’re facing.”

The course will cover four key themes:

• Respecting Our Differences Online: How can difference of opinion bring us closer together online? 
• Turning Climate Anxiety into Positive Action: How can technology unlock activism in everyone?
• Solving Inequality in Education: How can technology allow us all to be ‘educators’? 
• Building Human Connection in a Digital World: How can we use technology to end isolation?

Commenting on the launch, Jessie Soohyun Park, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility at Samsung Electronics UK said: “2020 has been a year like no other. Despite the future looking more uncertain than ever before, the compassion and drive in young people to make the world a better place is just incredible. Our research shows they find immense hope in continuing to learn and sharing knowledge to achieve this and that tech is also key to this picture. Not a School gives them the chance to connect with inspiring peers and mentors from a very diverse range of backgrounds and fields of expertise and we hope this will equip them with the support, skill and know-how to get started on their tech for good journey.

We also understand that access to opportunities like this can be a barrier, particularly in the current environment. Because of this, Not a School will be going online for the first time this year, so everyone – regardless of their ability or background – can have the opportunity to learn and achieve their full potential.”

Justin Cooke, Chief Content and Partnerships Officer at FutureLearn said: “It is hugely inspiring to see that today’s younger generation remain full of hope, despite the huge challenges and increasing uncertainty the global pandemic is throwing at them in their daily lives. We’re extremely proud to be partnering with Samsung to provide the critical online learning capability for Not a School. Our purpose at FutureLearn is to transform access to education for everyone, so that no one gets left behind, and we are incredibly excited about how technology can redefine the ability to educate and upskill people during these uncertain times. By renewing the focus online, young people will have an unprecedented opportunity to enable new and transformational discussions between each other and make their world a better place in the future.”

Not a School forms part of Samsung’s global commitment to educate and empower future innovators to develop their creativity, collaboration and problem-solving skills, empowering them to become the next generation of leaders to pioneer positive social change.

To find out more and sign up to Not a School, visit: www.samsung.com/uk/notaschool 

Notes to editor

The Compassion Nation Report research was carried out by Ketchum Research and Analytics, on behalf of Samsung. A total of 2001 individuals (aged 18-25) were surveyed in the UK from 18th June – 6th July 2020. Fieldwork was conducted by Vitreous World.

About corporate citizenship at Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Samsung is committed to #EnablingPeople by empowering future generations to achieve their full potential through education. The company operates educational programs around the world to create more inclusive, quality learning experiences for young people across society and nurture the next generation to become pioneers driving positive social change. To find out more about UK initiatives, please visit : http://csr.samsung.com/en-gb/localMain.do

London, UK –7 September 2020: Now in its second year, Not a School offers young people the chance to explore how technology can help solve the most significant issues facing young people today and learn skills to bring their creative solutions to life. This year, the course has moved online in partnership with FutureLearn, Europe’s leading online learning platform, to open up money-can’t-buy access to unconventional mentors, activists, entrepreneurs and business leaders to 18-25-year olds across the country for the first time.

Not a School is fronted by British Rapper, Singer and Songwriter Lady Leshurr, Editor-in-Chief of gal-dem, Liv Little and Filmmaker and Climate Activist, Jack Harries. Course contributors include experts in their field including; Andy Middleton – Founder of TYF group, Chloe Pierre – Founder of Thy.Self, Adah Parris – Futurist and Cultural Strategist, Matteo Bergamini- CEO of Shout Out UK and Samia Dumbuya – climate justice activist, to name a few. All course themes have been curated with a Youth Advisory Board comprising of inspiring young leaders including members from the Not a School 2019 alumni.

The course will cover four key themes:

• Respecting Our Differences Online: How can difference of opinion bring us closer together online? 
• Turning Climate Anxiety into Positive Action: How can technology unlock activism in everyone?
• Solving Inequality in Education: How can technology allow us all to be ‘educators’? 
• Building Human Connection in a Digital World: How can we use technology to end isolation?

The launch of Not a School 2020 coincides with the release of Samsung’s Compassion Nation Report which reports that 90% of 18-25-year olds believe that technology is key to achieving a more inclusive, fair and sustainable society with ‘tackling climate change’ and ‘job and economic security’ highlighted as the biggest concerns.

In a year that has seen young people across the UK taking action to address some of the most pressing issues that we currently face, new research shows that nine in ten 18-25-year olds feel that using technology to channel compassion is key to creating a better world for everyone.

Jessie Soohyun Park, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility at Samsung Electronics UK said: “2020 has been a year like no other. Despite the future looking more uncertain than ever before, the compassion and drive in young people to make the world a better place is just incredible. Our research shows they find immense hope in continuing to learn and sharing knowledge to achieve this and that tech is also key to this picture. Not a School gives them the chance to connect with inspiring peers and mentors from a very diverse range of backgrounds and fields of expertise and we hope this will equip them with the support, skill and know-how to get started on their tech for good journey.”

Not a School forms part of Samsung’s global commitment to educate and empower future innovators to develop their creativity, collaboration and problem-solving skills, empowering them to become the next generation of leaders to pioneer positive social change.

To find out more and sign up to Not a School, visit: www.samsung.com/uk/notaschool 

Notes to editor

The Compassion Nation Report research was carried out by Ketchum Research and Analytics, on behalf of Samsung. A total of 2001 individuals (aged 18-25) were surveyed in the UK from 18th June – 6th July 2020. Fieldwork was conducted by Vitreous World.

About corporate citizenship at Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Samsung is committed to #EnablingPeople by empowering future generations to achieve their full potential through education. The company operates educational programs around the world to create more inclusive, quality learning experiences for young people across society and nurture the next generation to become pioneers driving positive social change. To find out more about UK initiatives, please visit : http://csr.samsung.com/en-gb/localMain.do

Young people no longer just aspire to be train drivers, lawyers and accountants. The careers that really push young people’s buttons are tech roles that barely existed a few years ago, according to new research released today.

Drone pilots, social media influencers and 3D prop designers are among the roles that get teenagers’ digital pulses racing as they gear up for careers beyond their parents’ imaginations. Over half (55%) believe traditional careers such as law, teaching and engineering are outdated and would prefer a more tech focused job path such as software development or smart home design.

The findings are contained in a new report commissioned by Samsung as hundreds of thousands of school leavers prepare to make decisions about their futures and reveal 71% of British teenagers are not considering following a traditional job role like their parents, with over 4 in 5 (85%) saying they’d consider a career in the tech sector.

The new report launches Samsung’s Alternative Careers Guide which aims to inspire young people about the opportunities available as they come to a crossroads, making the leap from school to higher education, apprenticeships or entering the job market.

The research team audited 3,000 16 to 18 year-olds on their career aspirations to inform the new digital resource developed for young people around new career opportunities. The results demonstrate a shifting focus on alternative tech-based careers with top choices including creating content for online platforms such as Tik Tok and Instagram, while app development and video game design also highly ranked.

The top 10 alternative careers:
1. Social Media Influencer
2. App Developer
3. Video Game Developer
4. Smart Home Designer
5. 3D Prop Designer
6. Software Developer
7. Vaccine Developer
8. Drone Operator
9. Social Media Manager
10. Forensic Computer Analyst

The Samsung report also shines a light on the attitudes young people have towards the world of work and their own immediate goals following the Covid-19 pandemic. Over two thirds (73%) said they have changed their education plans because of the pandemic, with 41% revealing they’re no longer going to university and over half (64%) admitting they’re rethinking their career choice completely as a result of the changes brought about by Covid-19.

The majority of British teens (72%) are worried they’ll end up a lost generation following Covid-19 with over 4 in 5 (81%) concerned about mass unemployment and a lack of job opportunities after the pandemic and 78% revealing they feel uncertain and worried about their future.

Almost every British teenager polled (91%) say they see the idea of having just one career as the stuff of yesteryear and they fully expect to have a portfolio of different careers during their lifetimes.

The majority (65%) think the traditional nine to five working patterns be a thing of the past in the space of five years. And, as many people have shown that working from home is a realistic option, over half (55%) of those in the survey say they wouldn’t even consider working for a company that had strict 9 to 5 working hours, whilst 48% said they wouldn’t choose a job If they couldn’t work from home. A more flexible working style is so important to teens that 78% went as far as saying they would choose a job based on work/life balance over one with a high salary.

As part of its Alternative Careers Guide, Samsung has prepared a digital prospectus to give young people ideas about emerging career paths in technology. The prospectus features a series of interviews, fronted by radio and TV presenter, Roman Kemp in which he explores some of the roles available to young people by interviewing a selection of individuals spearheading their chosen career path.

Guests to the series include Drone Operator and founder of SkyBound Rescuer, Gemma Alcock, Tech Entrepreneur and Cashmere App Developer, Urenna Okonkwo, 3D Prop Designer Keith Thomson and Samsung Technical Product Graduate, Mantas Navickas.

Roman Kemp says: “Like many people I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do when I left school, I didn’t know what kind of career I wanted when I was 18- my first job was actually cleaning the toilets at my local gym! I ended up falling into radio presenting by accident. I was working in a studio when one day the presenter was off sick and they asked me to fill in for them, and it snowballed from there. Any young people who are feeling unsure about their next step should check out Samsung’s Alternative Careers Guide, it’s a great resource for learning more about tech leading careers you may not have thought about.”

Tess Smillie, VP People Team at Samsung Europe HQ, UK & Ireland said: “There is a lot to think about when furthering your studies or planning your first career move, and the current uncertainty we are all facing makes it all the more challenging. At Samsung we approach everything we do with the spirit of a ‘relentless pioneer’- daring to defy barriers. At the heart of our business is the pursuit of excellence and bringing innovation to everyone. We realise it’s our people who really make this possible and we are proud to be able to offer students [Placement and Graduate] opportunities via our Emerging Talent programme.”

Today’s job market has changed beyond all recognition from the one which existed 25 years ago and there is a wealth of new technology-based roles that many people don’t even know exist. Samsung is at the forefront of technological change and we believe it is our responsibility to guide young people through the new opportunities that are out there.”

The report precedes the second year of Samsung’s ‘Not a School’ programme which aims to bring together young people in order to help equip them with vital skills in preparation for the workplace of the future as innovations in technology rapidly advance. The full Samsung report and alternative careers web series can be accessed at: https://www.samsung.com/uk/explore/kings-cross/

LONDON, UK –5^th December 2019 – Following the success of its 2019 Not a School programme, Samsung Electronics Ltd. is now inviting young people throughout the nation to register their interest for the 2020 initiative and be the first to hear when applications are live.

Not a School brought together young people to help equip them with vital skills in preparation for the workplace of the future, which will be impacted greatly by rapid innovations in technology.

During the four-week course, students explored some of the most pressing issues facing today’s society, with themes including: making the world more compassionate; making sustainability personal; humanising technology; and building an inclusive London.

Co-designed with young people, the four themes enabled students to develop skills that resonated with their passions and values. This opened conversations and debates around subjects such as how to make the online world kinder; exploring the opportunities of AI; and innovative ways to re-use technology packaging.

This year’s students came together at the 2019 Not a School Graduation ceremony in November to celebrate their achievements and development during the four-weeks. Feedback from the graduates has included:

“I didn’t do that well in school. This was the school that I never had, but always needed.”

“The best week of 2019 for me, it has made us better people and hopefully the world a better place. Go Samsung.”

Throughout the graduation ceremony, leaders and mentors of the Not a School course shared their experience in helping prepare young people for their future careers through the Not a School course, including: Charlie Dark: DJ, creative influencer, poet and founder of the running community ‘Run Dem Crew’; comedian, Reuben Christian; and photographer Andriana Lagoudes.

Speaking about the success of this year’s programme, Course Leader and Creative Influencer Charlie Dark noted: “It’s been incredible to see the impact that Not a School has had on the young people involved in the course. In just a week their confidence has grown so much, and they’ve developed skills that will empower them for their future endeavors.

“Not a School has offered young people exactly what they need to work together to bring about positive change and help build a better tomorrow. It’s our responsibility to give them the drive to be innovative and challenge the status quo, and moving forwards, it’s important that all education invests in a curriculum that fosters this future talent and considers rapid transformations in the progressive digital era.”

Francis Chun, President & CEO of Samsung UK and Ireland said: “Not a School is an education experience like no other, and we are incredibly proud of the powerful impact it’s had in just the first year of launch.

“In the past decade, we’ve seen technology entirely transform our society and this programme is a prominent step in helping young people to prosper. We look forward to welcoming and inspiring even more students in 2020.”

The UK initiative forms a part of Samsung’s global commitment^[1] to education and citizenship efforts; helping equip the next generation of innovators with the skills needed to pioneer positive social change. The free, four-week program was designed for 18 to 25-year-old school graduates and been co-created with a collective of inspiring young people. It featured a diverse group of unorthodox teachers, whose areas of expertise range from art to activism, and from comedy to inclusion.

Pre-registration for the 2020 course is live now at: www.samsung.com/uk/kings-cross/not-a-school/sign-up

[1] In 2018, Samsung Electronics invested over KRW 409 billion or about US$34 million in global citizenship efforts of ‘Enabling People’ and commitment to Education for Future Generations.

The UK initiative forms a part of Samsung’s global commitment to education and citizenship efforts¹; helping equip the next generation of innovators with the skills needed to pioneer positive social change. The free, four-week program is designed for 18 to 25-year-old school graduates and has been co-created with a collective of inspiring young people. It features a diverse group of unorthodox teachers, whose areas of expertise range from art to activism, and from comedy to inclusion.

The program will be overseen by award-winning course leader, Charlie Dark: DJ, creative influencer, poet and founder of the running community ‘Run Dem Crew’. Course mentors, experts and speakers include comedian, Reuben Christian; photographer, Andriana Lagoudes; film maker, Lawrence Lartley and writer, Jodi A Bickley.

Course leader, Charlie Dark said, “I’m proud to be leading a truly eclectic and inspiring group of people – from writers, podcasters and photographers, to entrepreneurs and entertainers. A feast of inspiration and learning lies ahead for our students and I can’t wait to hear what they really care about and how they can be practically supported to do something about that. Taking action always needs a little spark to get you going, and I hope Samsung’s Not a School can provide that. I’m excited to see how our young people respond and what they can create, be it a piece of music or artwork they think can change the world, or a solution that uses technology in a new way.”

Each week, Not a School will take on a new theme: making the world more compassionate; making sustainability personal; humanising technology; and building an inclusive London.

The themes have been co-designed with young people to ensure those taking part are learning and applying skills to issues that resonate with their passions and which they believe will become most important in the future. They might find themselves debating the ethics and opportunities of AI, thinking up new creative ways to re-use tech packaging or figuring out how to make the online world kinder.

Current estimates suggest 2 out of 3 of today’s schoolchildren will have a job in the future which doesn’t exist today, while 1 in 4 adults already feel that the skills they have today do not match the skills they really need for their job².

Additional new data from Samsung reveals that just 4 in 10 (40%) of Gen Z believe their formal education at school or university has fully prepared them for the future workplace and more than three quarters (77%) believe technology companies have a role to play in education, helping equip them for the future³.

The first 40 young people set to take part in this innovative program secured their spaces based on their community efforts, goals and creative applications, and will begin their experience today at Samsung’s new showcase space, Samsung KX, a dynamic community hub in London’s King’s Cross that brings together culture, learning and innovation.

Speaking of the program, Kate Beaumont, Director Innovation, Technology & Services Strategy at Samsung, said: “In an age defined by rapid technological innovation and change, the ability to solve problems in new ways will be critical for the next generation, not only to adapt and survive, but to thrive and excel as global citizens. Our formal educational institutions do a brilliant job, so we want Not A School to add something extra and different. We want it to make a major contribution to the way the world thinks about education and provide the skills young people need to succeed in the next 50 years. The Samsung KX launch is just the beginning:  our ambition in 2020 is that we can invite young people from across the UK to take part in Not a school.”

Tess Smillie,VP People Team, Samsung UK&I, added: “We truly believe in the remarkable potential of the next generation to reach new heights of innovation, and to develop society-changing solutions, and we’re committed to helping them achieve this through education and programmes like Not a School. As a business and as a sector we need to invest in nurturing future talent who feel empowered to challenge the status quo and are driven by a desire to push the boundaries, innovate, bring about positive change and to help build a better world.”

Not a School has been created with guidance from its Youth Advisory Board and is supported by youth, culture and education groups, including: Camden People’s Theatre; White Hat; London Borough of Culture; Camden Giving; Roundhouse; and IntoUniversity.

For further information, visit: www.samsung.com/uk/notaschool

¹In 2018, Samsung Electronics invested over KRW 409 billion or about US$34 million in global citizenship efforts of ‘Enabling People’ and commitment to Education for Future Generations.

²The Future of Jobs Report: World Economic Forum

³Samsung commissioned independent market research company Censuswide to survey a nationally representative sample of 2,000 UK adults aged between 18 and 25.