ICT giant Huawei South Africa announced that it has partnered with the Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services (DTPS) of South Africa for the second year, affording 10 South African university students an opportunity to participate in its global Seeds for the Future program. The 10 students will go to China for a two-week study in China.

The announcement was made at a ceremony held in Johannesburg on October 12. This year, the program will on October 29.

During the two weeks, the students will receive training in cutting-edge technologies such as 5G, LTE, and cloud computing in Huawei's most advanced labs in Beijing and the company's headquarters in Shenzhen, south China's Guangdong Province. The students will also be given the opportunity to explore the local Chinese culture and go to places such as the Great Wall of China during the program.

All of the selected students are studying various subjects in the ICT sector. They are drawn from universities across South Africa including Tshwane University of Technology, North-West University, Durban University of Technology, Central University of Technology and the Nelson Mandela University.

"Huawei sees skills development, transfer and training as critical - this will empower our youth to enter the formal job sector," says Steven Wu, CEO of Huawei South Africa. "The participating students will have the opportunity to gain training alongside global peers in China, a place from where new technology giants are emerging."

Made possible through a longstanding partnership with the DTPS and supported by the Chinese Embassy in South Africa, this is Huawei South Africa's flagship program to fulfill its corporate social responsibility.

Last year, the company invested $5 million in its innovation center and open lab.

This year it has made another $100 million investment in its new regional headquarters in Woodland.

Wu said that through these investments, Huawei seeks to contribute to South Africa's ICT eco-system and leverage its latest technology and solutions to build a better, safer, more efficient and better connected South Africa.

Chinese Ambassador to South Africa Lin Songtian attended the ceremony and extended warm congratulations to collaborating universities and students on behalf of the Chinese Government and Chinese Embassy in South Africa.

"Huawei is one of the largest telecommunication equipment and service providers in the world and a leading multinational company in China and Africa telecommunication cooperation, "said Lin, adding that since entering South Africa in 1998, Huawei has created a lot of successful stories across the continent, with this program being one of them.

The ambassador expressed the hope that the selected students will make full use of the opportunity to study and make friends in China, and contribute to South Africa's ITC development and China-Africa friendship and cooperation on their return.

The Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services Siyabonga Cwele echoed these sentiments, saying that he also hoped the students will contribute to South Africa's ITC sector in the near future.

Initiated by Huawei in 2008, the Seeds for the Future program seeks to develop local ICT talent and enhance knowledge transfer.

A leading global ITC solutions provider, Huawei entered the South African market in 1998. Founded in 1987, Huawei is a private company fully owned by its employees.