Engineering A Brighter Future For SA Youth

Samsung’s Engineering Academy expands its reach further

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa – 23 August, 2018 – When Samsung relocated their Engineering Academy from Boksburg to Midrand, it sent a clear signal of intent. Samsung is on a mission to develop technicians, technologists and engineers across the country to address the critical technical and engineering skills shortage that exists in the South African job market. The Midrand relaunch ceremony, held on 23 August, was attended by The MEC of Basic Education: The Honourable Mr. Panyaza Lesufi. He was among the first to hear Samsung’s plans to positively impact the lives of matriculants, college students and unemployed youth.

The Samsung Academy, established in 2011, equips unemployed matriculants from low income areas with the latest global technological skills to assist them to compete effectively in the job market. Samsung’s vision is to fast-track youth into the electronics job market, therefore aligning to the government’s Vision 2030 that encourages entrepreneurship and self-employment initiatives.

“We’re on a drive to give the youth of South Africa hope for the future with viable careers in a highly desirable field. Our graduates have all entered the workplace with essential electronic engineering skills, allowing them to support themselves and make a positive impact on their families and communities,” says Hlubi Shivanda, Director of Innovation Group and Corporate Affairs for Samsung South Africa.

Students are taken through an intensive technical training course followed by a month of in-service training. Once this is completed, the young graduates are taught about client service and are then deployed to Samsung Service Centres. By moving one of the six Engineering Academy’s from Boksburg to Midrand, Samsung is able to reach students beyond its initial focus in Ekurhuleni and into greater Johannesburg.

It’s an opportunity of a lifetime. For both the Women Technical Programme and the Boys to Men initiative, there are two intakes every year. Applicants need to have a matric certificate, with mathematics and science on higher grade. There has already been remarkable success with hundreds of students enrolling and graduating every year since inception.

There are six academies that matriculants between the ages of 18 to 25 can apply to. These are: Samsung Academy in Midrand; Refrigeration and Aircon Academy at EEC KwaThema College; Tshwane North College in Hammanskraal; Orbit College in Mogwase; Gerit Sibande College in Standerton; and KwaMashu Coastal College in KwaMashu.

Mr. Sung Yoon, CEO & President Samsung Africa says, “This is another step towards securing the future of the youth marginalised by poverty. We’re here to help give the next generation power – the power to seize control of their own futures. And in doing so, they can contribute to their communities and country.”