Samsung partners with NUL & establishes Samsung Innovation Campus in Lesotho

NUL Students to acquire Coding & Programming skills in Python & Software Development in AI, IoT & Big Data to increase their chances of employability after school

Samsung Electronics and the National University of Lesotho (NUL) have signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to cement a strategic partnership created through Samsung’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes. This ceremony served as the official launch of the Samsung Innovation Campus (SIC) in conjunction with NUL.

The SIC programme is targeted at students in higher learning institutions with the main objective of teaching Coding and Programming (C&P) in Python, Software Development in Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT) and Big Data to increase their chances of employability after school. This programme will provide technical skills that will enable the NUL student community to not only thrive in, but to also lead in Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) with ease.

Prof. Isaac Olusola Fajana, the Vice-Chancellor of NUL, said: “As NUL, we believe that this SIC programme will play a crucial role in helping us achieve our vision of being the leading University – in both teaching and research to provide innovative solutions to societal problems.

“This partnership with Samsung is important as it will also assist the Faculty of Science and Technology in the pursuit of this University’s mandate – taking due cognisance of the overarching University Mission and ensuring that we place science, technology and Innovation as key drivers for the developmental process of the whole Lesotho nation as contained in the National Strategic Development II as extended.”

With the skills learnt in the SIC programme, NUL students will be able to apply the problem-solving techniques that they have learnt to solve real world problems. In addition, this programme may prepare these students for possible opportunities as entrepreneurs in technology.

Hlubi Shivanda, Director of Business Operations, Innovation and Corporate Affairs at Samsung South Africa said: “As Samsung, we are striving to partner with Lesotho to not only help develop it into a major player in 4IR, but to also become a more resilient and inclusive economy which, in turn, creates further opportunities for growth.”

Samsung strongly believes that transformation is everyone’s business. More than ever, empowering the youth with skills needed by the global community as well as work opportunities is essential. This is one of the reasons why we, as a company,  are so committed to expanding our footprint in Lesotho through SIC – one of our Global CSR programmes.

Shivanda adds: “This partnership with NUL and our SIC programme is helping us to achieve our vision for this global youth investment initiative – of enabling the Basotho people for the upliftment of humanity through innovation and digital transformation.”

Samsung proudly supports Busan’s bid for the World Expo 2030.