Samsung’s Solve for Tomorrow Enters the Home Stretch as Finalists Develop their Prototypes @SamsungSA

Hi Guys, 

The ten finalist schools in Samsung’s Solve for Tomorrow competition are in a race against time to complete their solutions in the third phase of the nationwide challenge. The current phase involves creating prototypes to solve the various societal challenges the learners identified in their respective communities. This leg of the competition is running until the end of September 2023.

The learners were prepared for this phase through purposeful Design Thinking workshops held within their respective regions in May 2023. At these workshops, they were taught invaluable skills on how to best approach and get the most out of their work, think critically, speak and act like designers, and a cognitive and structured process for human-centred, creative problem-solving. They were also encouraged to focus on building strong teams and trained on how to conduct research that could help transform their ideas from mere concepts to workable solutions that would address the identified issues within their communities.

The finalist schools, who hail from the provinces of Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo, now have just over a month until the end of September to work on and complete their prototypes. Following that, they will then present to a panel of judges on the 3rd of October as they vie for the top prize.

The different groups of learners are coming up with exciting and varied solutions for their communities that include an ambitious plan for better roads using sustainable materials; basic needs during load-shedding; alternative solutions for water and electricity; and clean water to name a few.

Grade 11 learner from Mbilwi Secondary School in Venda, Limpopo, Igoline Coelho, shared how her team is determined to blow the opponents out of the water. “Our team has been ready from the get-go to put in the hours and hard work needed to get us over the finish line. Ours is a very simple solution but with the potential for a high impact. The problem affects everyone and we are happy to make a contribution with our solution. We hope it can catch on and be used by many other communities. We are a very competitive team and are determined to win the competition.”

The finalist team from Acornhoek in Mpumalanga, Maphuthaditshaba Secondary School, believes they will be delivering the best solution that will help their community. “Our solution will help households and small enterprises, so it will also have an impact on the local economy. We are going to do our best to win especially because we are the only representative of our province in the competition,” said team member, Keabetswe Malaza (Grade 10).

Amahle Skhosana (Grade 11) from Adams College in Amanzimtoti, KwaZulu-Natal, said they’ve worked hard as a unit up to this point in the competition and discovered that they work well together. “Using science, technology, engineering and maths to solve our community’s problem has excited the entire team because of all the learning opportunities it presents. We are going to do our best to win to make everyone proud, but more importantly, to solve the problem.”

Sbongile Zulu, a grade 10 learner from Buhlebemfundo Secondary School in Tsakane (Gauteng) said her team feels ready to conquer after all the great insights and useful tips they learned from the Samsung mentors allocated to each school. “We are determined to do well in this competition because if we win, the prize is double – we get to solve a problem in our community and also get an awesome prize for our school. There is more than enough motivation.”

The Solve for Tomorrow competition officially launched in South Africa in January this year, and is Samsung’s contribution to youth empowerment and skills development in the information communication technology sector to help advance the country’s Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) agenda. It was designed to increase interest and proficiency in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) among grade 10 and 11 learners from underserved communities.

“As the learners enter this critical stage of the competition, we are getting excited and looking forward to seeing all the solutions they come up with. This bodes well for the future of our country as the youngsters are killing the proverbial two birds with one stone by learning and also improving or solving problems in their communities,” said Hlubi Shivanda, Director for Business Operations, Innovation and Corporate Affairs at Samsung.

The winning school will get a prize of R100 000 worth of STEM equipment for their school, while the second and third positions will get R50 000 and R30 000 worth of STEM equipment for their schools respectively. In addition to the main prizes, each of the learners in the top three teams will be rewarded with a Samsung device.

Aum Namah Shivay!

Till next time...Aashish
Thanks! Cheers!!!
https://linktr.ee/thelifesway

Subscribe to my YOUTUBE Channel for historical tech, new gadgets, stationery, product reviews
and mystery unboxings. #TheLifesWay Link to all social media platforms - https://t.co/gUHjo8DQ7h
Your Lifestyle and Technology Blog for the Last 10.5 Years!

SA Youth Celebrated at Graduation Ceremony of @SamsungSA EEIP EASTC Air-Conditioning & Refrigeration Technician Programme

Hi Guys, 

Apprenticeship to grow skills & address ICT education for unemployed youth in South Africa

Samsung Electronics South Africa and the Ekurhuleni Artisans and Skills Training Centre (EASTC) in collaboration with the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), recently celebrated a group of 40 selected apprentices at the Graduation Ceremony of the Samsung EEIP EASTC, a 24-month SETA accredited Air-Conditioning & Refrigeration Technician Apprenticeship programme.

This programme was started when Samsung became aware of the country’s critical shortage of technicians to service consumer electronics and hand-held devices in the market. The company, therefore, decided to sponsor a 24-month SETA accredited Air-conditioning and Refrigeration apprenticeship programme in partnership with the EASTC. The programme trained 40 selected apprentices to work with mentors to grow their skills and address ICT education for unemployed youth in South Africa.

The ultimate outcome of this apprenticeship programme is not only to develop Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) skills in Artisans Training but also to ensure that there’s a portfolio of practical experience and skills that are transferred to improve the EASTC youth’s employability. This group of selected technicians have graduated and completed all the requirements, including trade testing to be certified by Energy and Water Sector Education and Training Authority (EWSETA) as qualified technicians.

Hlubi Shivanda, Director of Business Operations and Innovation and Corporate Affairs at Samsung South Africa said: “This graduation celebration is one of our proudest moments. Since the launch of our R280-million worth Equity Equivalent Investment Programme (“EEIP”) in 2019, our mission has been to empower the country’s youth in the ICT sector and this programme has now produced incredible results.”

This 24-month SETA-accredited Air-Conditioning & Refrigeration Technician Apprenticeship programme is but one of Samsung’s EEIP initiatives that are harnessing the power of technology to train and inspire young people to pursue their ambitions. This technician apprenticeship is a fully funded bursary programme that provides for tuition, equipment and stipends.

It is a comprehensive skills development investment programme that prioritises the delivery of an integrated holistic package of personal, technical, entrepreneurial and business skills - aligned to meet the needs of the country’s economic development strategies.

Simon Ndukwana EASTC CEO said: “As a college, we are very grateful for the partnership with Samsung and the positive impact that this programme is continuing to have on our students. This programme is very important to our students because it is turning them into qualified and accredited artisans with critical ICT skills needed by the country’s economy. This essentially means that the prospects of employment for our students are now raised even higher.”

Emmanuel Hlopulusa saw a recruitment advert for the programme on social media. Having grown up and attended high school in Ivory Park, Tembisa, he applied to participate in the programme. Hlopulusa found the first few months of the programme very difficult because he had no prior exposure to artisan training. The facilitators have now equipped learners such as Hlopulusa with skills to repair and maintain air conditioners and refrigerators.

Hlopulusa said: “We have learnt a lot throughout the programme, including practical experience during the workplace training phase. I did not know anything about aircon and refrigeration, but now this kind of exposure will help me start my own business or increase my chances of being employed in large companies. I am grateful to EASTC and Samsung for sponsoring me throughout this programme.

“I really appreciate the financial support that we received from this programme because it included a stipend that covered my travel costs to school and money to buy food. I can now proudly call myself a qualified aircon and refrigeration technician and it is all because of Samsung. This programme has improved my chances in life and I really appreciate what this experience has done for me,” concluded Hlopulusa.

With 4IR at the centre of everything that everyone does these days, Samsung is convinced that South Africa now, more than ever, needs to equip the youth to seize the opportunities that lie in the ICT sector. The company’s continued investment efforts in ICT education are ensuring that South Africa’s youth is now gaining artisanal and electronic skills.

Shivanda emphasised: “The success of this apprenticeship programme is an affirmation of our commitment to continue empowering the leaders of tomorrow through educational initiatives that help to change their lives by increasing their prospects for employability or entrepreneurship.”

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

Aum Namah Shivay!

Till next time...Aashish

Thanks! Cheers!!!

https://linktr.ee/thelifesway

Subscribe to my YOUTUBE Channel for historical tech, new gadgets, stationery, product reviews

and mystery unboxings. #TheLifesWay Link to all social media platforms - https://t.co/gUHjo8DQ7h

Your Lifestyle and Technology Blog for the Last 10 Years!

STEM Learners Complete the Solve For Tomorrow Design Thinking Workshops @SamsungSA

Hi Guys, 

Samsung completed the second phase of the Solve for Tomorrow Competition, encompassing the Design Thinking workshops for the ten finalist schools - held in the five provinces (Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo) where the finalist schools are situated.

The workshops were developed to encourage learners to think, speak and act like designers, to build strong teams and gain research insights that could transform their ideas from the conceptual stage to a solution that addresses concerns within their communities. The competition officially launched in South Africa in January this year and is now in its second phase where the teachers, learners and mentors need to research and develop their prototypes in preparation for the finale.

The workshops assisted the learners to understand a cognitive and structured process for human-centred, creative problem-solving. They were also aimed to help them foster creative and critical thinking, collaboration and communication skills through project-based learning, as well as learn and practice key activities of the Design Thinking process including preparing for interviews, identifying a point of view, brainstorming and making a paper prototype. The learners were also taught and encouraged to immerse themselves in the work by doing it themselves to get a first-hand experience and thus the necessary skills to apply towards their creative solutions.

“This unique competition is our contribution to youth empowerment and skills creation in the information communication technology sector to help the country play a meaningful role in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). It was designed to increase interest and proficiency in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM), gives grade 10 and 11 learners from underserved communities an opportunity to gain invaluable skills while solving some of their communities’ challenges,” said Hlubi Shivanda, Director: Business Operations and Innovation and Corporate Affairs at Samsung.

The Top 10 schools are: School Name - Province

• Mbilwi Secondary School - Limpopo
• Moyaneng Secondary School - Limpopo
• Phendukani High School - Kwa-Zulu Natal
• Adams College - Kwa-Zulu Natal
• Umlazi Comprehensive Tech - Kwa-Zulu Natal
• Rebatlathuto High school - Free State
• Lekgarietsi High School - Free State
• Maphuthaditshaba Secondary School - Mpumalanga
• Phomolong Secondary School - Gauteng
• Buhle Bemfundo Secondary School - Gauteng

The finalists will have until the end of September 2023 to work on and complete their prototypes. Following that, they will then present to a panel of judges at the beginning of October as they vie for the top prize. The winning school will get a prize of R100 000 worth of STEM equipment for their school, while second and third positions will get R50 000 and R30 000 worth of STEM equipment for their schools respectively. In addition to the main prizes, each of the learners in the top three teams will be rewarded with a Samsung device.

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

Aum Namah Shivay!

Till next time...Aashish

Thanks! Cheers!!!

https://linktr.ee/thelifesway

Subscribe to my YOUTUBE Channel for historical tech, new gadgets, stationery, product reviews

and mystery unboxings. #TheLifesWay Link to all social media platforms - https://t.co/gUHjo8DQ7h

Your Lifestyle and Technology Blog for the Last 10 Years!

@SamsungSA Receives Top Employer Certification in #SouthAfrica

Hi Friends,

 

Samsung Electronics South Africa has successfully attained the prestigious Top Employer 2019 Certification for a consecutive 5 years in a row, Top Employers Institute has named Samsung as one of the South African companies that create the best employment conditions for its staff. The prestigious global awards seek to honour companies that have demonstrated high standards in human resources practices over the last year.

Top Employers Institute is a global organisation dedicated to enriching the workplace. Organisations certified as Top Employers dedicate themselves to providing the very best working environment for employees through their progressive “people-first" HR practices.

“We are proud and delighted to have received this Certification. Samsung takes pride in the creativity and diversity of our talented people and strives to create an environment that provides the opportunity for growth, which is testament to our corporate philosophy that ‘a company is its people’,” said Hlubi Shivanda, Director of Corporate Affairs and BOI at Samsung Africa.

The Top Employers Institute assesses companies on a comprehensive range of employment practices, from the extent of internal training opportunities to mentorship programmes. Companies need to apply to be assessed by the strict criteria used to adjudge the award. The corporations are judged on specific measures. For example, those that offer international exchange programmes, peer coaching and online work portals, score better. The certification provides employers with an important quality metric for attracting and retaining top talent. They also assess the compensation and benefits offerings as compared to competitors in the industry

Top Employers hosted its annual Certification Dinner on Thursday, 4 October, providing the opportunity for recipients to celebrate their accomplishment and to meet other Top Employers during a memorable gala event.

“Samsung is dedicated to the continuous development of its employee offerings and will on an ongoing basis reinforce its employee value proposition. We will endeavour to strive to maintain and improve our ranking as a Top Employer in South Africa,” concludes Shivanda. 

 

Cheers!!!

Contact me at thelifesway@gmail.com to collaborate on your products, events, and services. #TheLifesWay #PhotoYatra!