Three HIT students in the School of Information Science and Technology recently visited the Huawei Technologies Headquarters in Beijing, China for a two week internship placement under the Zimbabwe "Seeds for the Future" 2017 programme from 12 -23 June 2017.
Rodney Majakwara, a Software Engineering student, Herzel Muenga of Computer Science and John Chakauya studying Information Security were selected for the two week internship placement at the Huawei Technologies Headquarters in Beijing, China to experience first-hand learning opportunities through interactions with Huawei experts and visits to Huawei laboratories.
The students were also afforded opportunities for hands-on practice, witnessing live demonstrations of the latest ICT technologies, and attending workshops where they met Huawei senior executives and experts. They also had work placements in Huawei's different business departments to gain exposure to the company's global business operations and cross-cultural management practices.
Reflecting on this educational visit to Beijing, John Chakauya said the "Seeds for the Future" programme was an exciting and highly educational course which included not only the unforgettable visits to some of the most popular historical sites in China and lessons on Chinese language and culture; but more importantly comprehensive lessons and hands-on training in the latest information and telecommunication technologies; including tours of Huawei's cutting-edge ICT solutions centres.
"The Huawei "Seeds for the Future" programme is undoubtedly of great benefit to the development of ICT talent in Zimbabwe, as it is greatly contributing to the growth and development of our ICT industry. This programme has significantly boosted my ICT skills and widened my ideas of innovative ICT solutions, within just two weeks. Huawei should continue to partner with Zimbabwean universities, particularly the Harare Institute of Technology, to train more ICT students through the Zimbabwe "Seeds for the Future" programme said Chakauya.
The students also visited the Huawei Campus in Shenzhen city; the hub of technology development and innovation. The Huawei campus includes the organizations' head office, university, training centre, hotel and other facilities.
"Here, we got exposed to Huawei's cutting edge technology for all its business units. We also had an intensive 5 days of learning various topics ranging from Internet of Things, 5G, Cloud Computing, 4G Base Station Configuration among others. Everyone had to configure his or her own 4G base station and then test it. It was a very good experience as the knowledge passed to us is key to current technologies and will help us in coming up with great innovations", said Rodney Majakwara.
Another intern in the Seeds for the Future programme, Herzel Muenga was grateful for the learning opportunity; highlighting the positive aspects of Chinese culture.
"I took in as much as l could from the people I met. The Chinese are so punctual, dedicated, friendly, warm and hardworking people. I feel motivated, challenged, driven, inspired and l believe I am now more focused. I have also made long life friends from Norway, China and Namibia", she said.
"Seeds for the Future" is a Huawei global flagship programme seeking to develop local Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) talent, enhance knowledge transfers and improve people's understanding of and interest in the ICT industry. The Programme offers first-hand learning opportunities through interactions with Huawei experts and visits to Huawei laboratories. Programme participants also gain hands-on practice, witness live demonstrations of the latest ICT technologies, and attend workshops where they can meet Huawei senior executives and experts. They will also have work placements in Huawei's different business departments to gain exposure to the company's global business operations and cross-cultural management practices.
Two HIT graduates, Walter Mutembwa and Justin Manyerere from the Computer Science Department participated in the 2016 Huawei Technologies "Zimbabwe Seeds for the Future Programme."
To date, Huawei's Seeds for the Future Programme has been implemented in more than 60 countries across five continents; benefiting over 15 000 students from more than 150 universities.