The Samsung Innovation Campus (SIC) Graduation was held at Lerotholi Polytechnic (LP) in Maseru, Lesotho on 14 November 2025 where 27 C&P (Coding & Programming) and 14 AI (Artificial Intelligence) students were awarded their certificates. Dignitaries who addressed students at the event included representatives from Samsung, strategic education partners and key government officials.

The year 2025 marks the third (3^rd) year that the SIC programme has been in operation in Lesotho with 41 students graduating in this current cohort and cumulatively, a total of 145 students have benefitted from this initiative, including opportunities for employment. This graduation ceremony was a celebration of the beneficial effect of the three-year partnership between Samsung and LP, as well as the remarkable achievements of the current group of students who have completed the SIC programme.

The day’s proceedings were filled with moments of pride and inspiration as graduates received their official SIC certificates. Notably, top three (3) students from AI & C&P were awarded Samsung devices [Galaxy S25’s] as additional recognition for being best performers. In addition, the graduating students had an opportunity to showcase their cutting-edge tech projects in coding, AI and digital solutions designed to address real challenges in their communities. The day’s activities also included some uplifting stories from the beneficiaries as well as a display of cultural performances that reflected the vibrant Basotho spirit.

As part of the significant announcements made during the graduation ceremony, the CEO of Wasco — a Lesotho-based Water and Sewerage company and a strategic partner to LP — Mr Falla Seboko, pledged their support to the SIC programme by officially offering employment to two students from this year’s graduating cohort.

For Samsung, ensuring gender diversity in its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes — particularly within its education and technology skills training efforts — has always been one of the key priorities. In this SIC programme in particular, it was important to ensure that there was equitable gender representation, fostering an environment where everyone had equal access to opportunities and resources.

The ultimate objective of the SIC programme in Lesotho has been to equip young people with practical digital and technological skills that enhance their employability and prepare them for the future workforce. Through training in areas such as coding, AI and problem-solving, the programme has been seeking to empower youth to become creators of innovative solutions that address local and global challenges.

Lefa Makgato, Corporate Social Responsibility Manager for Samsung Electronics in Southern Africa, said: “As Samsung, we are very proud of both the outstanding achievements of the graduating students as well as the overall, positive impact that this three-year milestone has had on the lives of 145 Lesotho students since inception.

“We are pleased to note that 20 alumni students are employed, two (2) have started their own companies and about 40 opted to pursue their postgrad studies. As a socially responsible corporate in the African continent, we feel that by aligning with Lesotho’s education and digital transformation goals, the SIC programme has been able to bridge the skills gap, promote inclusive access to technology education and contribute to the country’s socio-economic development through youth empowerment and innovation.”

In addition, the 2025 version of the SIC programme included the AI Capstone Presentation which was formulated by five (5) groups. Each group had two or three members from the AI 2025 class. They had a month to idealise, code, create a prototype and a presentation for their prototype project. The capstone was of an open theme, thereby allowing students to target multiple sectors to solve their own community problems.

In his speech during the graduation ceremony, the Rector of Lerotholi Polytechnic, Professor Spirit Tlali, expressed the institution’s deepest gratitude to Samsung for its visionary partnership. He said: “Through the SIC programme, you have shown genuine commitment to equipping young people with the essential skills needed to thrive in the 4IR era. This collaboration stands as a model of how academia and industry can join hands to deliver education that is relevant, practical and transformative.

“Our C&P students have learnt to code as well as new ways of thinking. The AI graduates, on the other hand, now understand that it’s not about replacing human intelligence but rather enhancing it, amplifying creativity and solving problems that matter. We have now all learnt that technology, when guided by purpose, can uplift lives. Today, we have not only celebrated the achievements of young, bright minds but also innovation, resilience and the potential of our youth to shape the digital future of our nation and the globe.”

The Honourable Minister of Education, Prof Ntoi Rapapa, commended the graduates for their exceptional commitment and emphasised the transformative power of digital education in Lesotho. He had this to say to the graduates, “You are the pioneers of Digital Lesotho, the generation that will lead us into the future. The skills you have gained in coding, artificial intelligence and innovation are not just technical tools; they are instruments of change. Today’s celebration is a testament to the power of strategic partnerships and the brilliance of young minds transforming classroom knowledge into solutions that improve lives, create jobs and inspire hope. Your achievements embody the future we are building, one driven by innovation, creativity and technological mastery.”

Central University of Technology (CUT) in partnership with Samsung South Africa have honoured a group of 20 students of the Samsung Innovation Campus (SIC) at an award ceremony, where certificates were handed out as an affirmation of the successful implementation of the CUT- SIC programme.

This award ceremony is a culmination of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) that was signed by Samsung and CUT in November 2022. The SIC partnership remains an important milestone for the university as it is able to empower both the 20 graduates and also the six lecturers that have access to the programme and its specialised content. The group of exceptional students that are graduating from an intense 12-week software development training are now the main beneficiaries and proud products of the SIC programme.

The CUT-SIC programme aims to develop and teach Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) skills including Coding & Programming education in Python, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT) and Big Data to the university’s student community. This global SIC that has been adopted by the Department of Information Technology (IT) at CUT is 60% theory and 40% of it focuses on practical experience. This is referred to as the Samsung Capstone programme – an equivalent of the local work-integrated learning programme. The ultimate objective of this global SIC programme is to contribute to the national imperative of creating work-ready and employable tertiary students.

SIC is a strategic partnership with CUT with a clear intention of developing 4IR skills in the country’s youth to create further opportunities for growth. The programme seeks to provide youth from underserved communities with an opportunity to gain critical skills in basic coding and programming, AI, IOT as well as Big Data education. However, the collective vision of this partnership is not only to enable and empower CUT students with expertise in 4IR, but also to turn them into future technological leaders.

Hlubi Shivanda, Director: Business Operations and Innovation and Corporate Affairs at Samsung South Africa said: “SIC seeks to boost youth employment in the technology sector by empowering them with ICT and 4IR skills, while also encouraging them to consider opportunities as entrepreneurs in information and communications technology. We target and form strategic partnerships with universities of technology in particular, such as CUT that place special emphasis on practical experience and entrepreneurship – this combined with the principles of SIC enables us to provide a low-volume and high-impact approach programme to the country’s youth.”

This partnership with Samsung has ensured that the graduating students from CUT are now empowered to become a generation of problem-solvers. CUT students are now equipped with future-proof skills and practical understanding of the technologies that will shape their future and enrich sustainable growth of the world.

Prof. Alfred Ngowi, Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Innovation & Engagement at CUT said: “During the signing ceremony of the MOA in 2022, we indicated how we aspire to become a key player in the 4IR space through our applied research approach for the benefit of the communities that we serve. The introduction of the SIC programme and more importantly, our partnership with Samsung helps us to achieve one of our main objectives of empowering our students with critical ICT skills that can help address the high levels of unemployment faced by the rural and disadvantaged communities where we operate.”

This collaboration is helping to achieve the common objective of empowering CUT students with software development skills through innovation. Also, these students that are graduating will be offered an additional AI training that is due to start this August with the intention of enhancing their chances to do better for themselves. This group of students will be expected to complete this intense AI training programme in November of this year.

Shivanda adds: “As a company, we always put emphasis on the importance of education through technology. This partnership with CUT provides us with the opportunity to re-affirm our commitment of empowering the leaders of tomorrow and equipping them with the tools they will need to realise meaningful change.”

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

Just before completing his information technology degree (majoring in programming) at the Walter Sisulu University, 25-year old Somagaca had the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to participate in the SIC programme, which was where he expanded his IT skills and knowledge.

From being computer illiterate to developing a huge interest and wanting a career in IT, Somagaca never imagined he would be in this field. Part of the reason for this was the fact that during his primary and high school days he did not have access or exposure to computers and video games. His first choice at university was to study law, however due to limited space, he chose IT as an alternative.

This resilient student immediately thought IT and technology could open many doors for him as his passion grew for programming languages like Java, Visual Basic and Python. The idea of creating something from scratch using a few lines of code was incredibly exciting and motivated him to continue learning more about technology.

Somagaca had this to say about his participation in the program. “The Samsung Innovation Campus initiative introduced me to Python, a widely used programming language that will allow me to perform many different operations and thus increase my skill set in information technology. The programme is easy and fun to use and has shaped the way I think about solving problems. It has added real value to my life and encouraged me even more for my chosen career in programming.”

Somagaca and his two cousins were raised by his grandparents and despite his humble beginnings, he plans to make a success of himself and hopefully be able to inspire others and make a positive contribution. He continued to explain that his experience in the SIC programme was amazing and he knew from the moment he found out about it that he wanted to be part of it especially since it was supported by a big technology brand like Samsung.

The company forms strategic partnerships with higher learning institutions to provide this low-volume and high-impact approach programme with courses that include Coding and Programming, Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI) and/or Big Data. To date, Samsung has partnered with Walter Sisulu University in Eastern Cape and, Central University of Technology in Free State. The institutions identified students for the programme and delivered their training and assessment in line with the content provided by the global brand.

Other skills Somagaca gained through the SIC include collaboration, data analysis and critical thinking. “I developed a strong understanding of computer applications such as Microsoft Office. I also gained a better understanding of business processes, how to use technology to come up with solutions to some issues, as well as research and communication skills that will assist me in my professional career,” he added.

Somagaca, who is currently completing an advanced diploma in IT, said over and above the programming skills he learned from his university course, the SIC also played a huge role in enhancing some of those skills. He has learned more practical skills that he is certain will be of great use in the field of work. “The SIC gave me new skills, opened my mind and made me think thoroughly in my work as I go about coming up with great solutions to problems. Thanks to the programme, I’ve learned the value of teamwork and collaboration,” he added.

“This programme has given me the ability to solve complex problems and analyse data from different sources – skills that are vital for any career in today’s digital world. I can use the knowledge and skills that I have to assist organisations become more efficient and productive by improving their existing systems. Technology can be used to create many new jobs and industries, as well as help existing businesses increase productivity or reach more customers, and the SIC massively contributes to that by empowering us the youth,” he concluded.

Unlike some information technology (IT) students, 24-year-old Magoro never saw himself in the field since he had a passion for social justice. He had always thought he would study law at varsity, which could afford him the opportunity to bring justice and fight for people from previously underserved communities, similar to his hometown. He applied for a law degree and was accepted at the University of Pretoria, but his space was given to someone else after failing to register in time. As a result, he was introduced to IT, particularly coding and programming, when he had to find an alternative course to study and, this was how he discovered his other passion for IT.

He enrolled for a Diploma in Information Communication Technology (ICT) specialising in Application Development at Walter Sisulu University (WSU). He fell in love with IT, despite the minor challenges he experienced in the beginning. The lecturers at WSU were supportive, which helped him gain a proper understanding of his course in his new-found passion. During his studies, he was part of a team that won a hackathon competition and he later joined the SIC programme to further enrich his IT knowledge.

Through the SIC programme, Samsung seeks to boost youth employment in the technology sector by empowering them with ICT and Fourth Industrial Revolution skills, while also encouraging them to consider opportunities as entrepreneurs in Information Communication Technology. The company forms partnerships with higher learning institutions to provide this low-volume and high-impact approach programme with courses that include Coding and Programming, Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence and Big Data. The institutions identify the students and oversee their training and assessment in line with the content provided by Samsung.

Among other key skills offered in the programme, Magoro learned about the importance of collaborating, sharing ideas, and teamwork to produce great results. An additional skill he acquired was Data Analytics, which was not part of his main university curriculum.

“The Samsung Innovation Campus was focused on how to apply our theoretical knowledge in practice by solving real-world problems. We learned about the basics of Python programming language and how you can use it to solve any problems from data management to software development. This equipped us with the relevant tools to stand out as software developers and aspiring data analysts/scientists in this highly competitive industry. Thanks to WSU and the SIC, we now have practical skills that will enable us to make a meaningful contribution to society one day,” said Magoro.

After completing his IT diploma and the SIC programme, Magoro feels confident that he is now ready for the workplace, owing to all the scenarios and projects obtained from the programme that immensely contributed towards his readiness. He has since completed his internship at a global engineering, technology and consulting company and is now employed as a software developer in Gauteng, while also completing an advanced ICT diploma with the University of South Africa.

Much like Samsung, Magoro is deeply passionate about the potential of technology to drive positive change in the world, and further believes that particularly in South Africa, with our history of socio-economic inequality, technology can help bridge the digital divide and promote inclusion for all.

Magoro wants to use his skills in technology to help small businesses in townships across South Africa. He wants to provide these businesses with access to Big Data analytics tools and insights that can help them make informed decisions about their operations and strategies. He believes that by empowering small businesses in areas like Moloto, Mdantsane, Soweto and the like, we can help to promote greater and sustainable economic and social stability throughout the country. “Ultimately, I believe that technology can be a powerful tool for ending social divides and promoting greater equality and opportunities for all South Africans,” he added.