The importance of cutting-edge technology and cultural understanding cannot be overstated in an increasingly interconnected world. Recognising this, and with the goal of providing the opportunity to learn cutting-edge ICT technologies, Huawei’s Seeds for the Future Program 2023 selected a group of four undergraduates from Sri Lanka, who were chosen by the Education Ministry, to embark on a study trip to Huawei Headquarters in Shenzhen, China.
Six students from Sri Lanka and the Maldives visited Huawei Library as part of the Seeds for the Future 2023 program
The four students traveled to China as part of the Seeds for the Future tour, which included 91 Seeds from 19 Asia Pacific countries.
The program provides an important platform for understanding industry innovation, experiencing cross-cultural exchanges, and cultivating an entrepreneurial spirit by selecting young talents from Sri Lanka to participate in short-term trainings and global competitions. The program’s core values are national diversity and inclusivity, and it has committed to a participation rate of at least one-third for female students.
The ‘Seeds for the Future’ program was launched in Sri Lanka with the goal of developing local ICT talent and facilitating ICT knowledge transfer to assist Sri Lanka in becoming a digitally empowered nation. To select outstanding students for the program, Huawei worked closely with ministries, state departments, universities, and authorities.
Four students from Sri Lanka and two from the Maldives participated in the Seeds for the Future 2023 program
In collaboration with the Ministry of Telecommunications and Digital Infrastructure, Huawei launched the program in 2016. At that time, Huawei fully funded ten Sri Lankan university students’ study trips to China.
The program recently welcomed its eighth batch, which included four students from the Universities of Kelaniya, Jaffna, and Colombo.
The four students witnessed the most recent advancements in artificial intelligence, robotics, and the Internet of Things (IoT), and they had the opportunity to interact with experts who explained the potential impact of these technologies on various industries, fostering students’ curiosity and inspiration.
The tour began with an exciting tech talk with Dr. Bo Bai, Information Theory Scientist and Director of Theory Lab Huawei. Students learned about classic and post-Shannon information theory, B5G/6G mobile networking, and graph informatics.
Students from Sri Lanka and the Maldives, as well as other seeds, participate in a Tech Talk on Information Theory with Dr. Bo Bai
The students then visited the Xilliu Beipo Village – Huawei Dongguan R&D Base, the Huawei South Factory – Solar PV, and the Huawei University and Library. They saw how Huawei works actively with grid operators and other partners to provide safe and dependable energy solutions.
Knowing other cultures, including Chinese culture, is important for everyone, regardless of nationality or background.
The students were taken to the Shenzhen Splendid China Folk Culture Village and the Shekou Sea World. A presentation on Chinese culture was given to students, which included a brief history, art, traditional music, and a taste of Chinese cuisine.
