- Empowering futures: Samsung Innovation Campus graduates transform into future tech leaders - October 2, 2024
- DA condemns mayoral vehicle worth a whooping R700k - August 28, 2024
- Welkom residents live in fear after double shooting tragedy - August 18, 2024
By Samsung South Africa
Samsung celebrated a remarkable achievement in gender representation, with a balanced 50/50 gender split among graduates from the Samsung Innovation Campus (SIC) programme, hosted in collaboration with the Central University of Technology (CUT).
This milestone reflected Samsung’s commitment to corporate social responsibility, focusing on equipping students with vital skills tailored to the local economy.
Recently, Samsung engaged with five dynamic female graduates from CUT’s second cohort of 26 students to understand the transformative impact of the SIC programme on their personal and professional development.
Their inspiring stories highlight how the programme has not only enhanced their technical knowledge in coding, programming, and AI but also empowered them to explore new career paths and entrepreneurial ventures with confidence.
The electronics giant has gone a step further and had genuine conversations with five female beneficiaries out of the group of 26 students that graduated in the second cohort of the CUT-SIC programme, in an effort to ascertain its impact on their lives, both personally and career wise.
These female students confirmed what is in the Samsung report and attested to the fact that the CUT-SIC programme has indeed enhanced their knowledge of coding, programming and AI. Also, they elaborated on how this experience has broadened their minds, increased their skills relevance and facilitated the opportunity to even start their own businesses.
Below is what this group of enthusiastic graduates had to say when they were given an opportunity to share their experience in the CUT-SIC programme:
Divine Ripfumelo Mhlongo who hails from Polokwane in Limpopo – is a third year Computer Networking student at CUT that is located in the Free State. She secured a place into the SIC programme after passing the selection test. Mhlongo said that was the beginning of her journey and it has been nothing but amazing.
“I have now learnt a new programming language and I’ve had an opportunity to dive deep into AI and machine learning, which I have been curious about for a very long time. My life was focused on Computer Networking because it is all I knew and I wanted to start my career in that field. However, when I was part of the SIC programme – I started to understand how big the technology world is and loved the idea of venturing into something new. I’ve also gained some much needed, advanced problem-solving skills.”
Mhlongo is now convinced that her life has changed for the better since joining this programme. Combined with her keen dedication for learning, she feels that she has learnt a lot of things which include skills in Python, AI and Machine Learning. Also, she believes that there are more job opportunities that she can now venture into.
Originally from Kroonstad, Victoria Nthabiseng Nketu – apostgraduate masters’ student in information technology at CUT that is focusing on AI – saw the SIC programme advertised. She registered, wrote an entry test and was accepted. Before the SIC programme, she said that she had little knowledge about Python but has now acquired knowledge about this high-level programming language as well as how and where to apply it.
She added: “The programme has helped me a lot in my studies as I have now applied some of the skills I have learnt from SIC to my system – Natural Processing Language. Also, as a Masters’ student with AI as my main topic – this programme has definitely made my academic life easier. As much as I’m required to read articles to research about my topic, the SIC programme has taught me how to apply the knowledge I’ve gained into the system that I’m developing.”
Also, Nketu believes that with AI experts needed globally, there are now many job opportunities, as the world is slowly but surely changing into using AI systems in everyday life. She is therefore advising young people to invest in skills such as Python as it is the common language used in AI, so that they can have more opportunities in the industry. She is convinced that with these kinds of skills, our youth will also be able to open their own businesses and make an impact in the world.
Lenechia Cloete, also from CUT, reflected, “Before joining the SIC programme, I lacked practical experience and confidence. Now, I feel well-prepared for the job market, having received encouraging feedback from companies about potential internships.”
Maneo Ntseliseng Ramahlosi, a CUT graduate currently finalizing her Master’s dissertation, noted that the programme ignited her interest in AI, making her more competitive in her field.
Lerato Motsabi, another final-year student from CUT, emphasized, “The SIC programme sharpened my innovative thinking and provided me with a clearer direction for my future. It’s an incredible opportunity that can change lives.”
As these talented graduates from CUT embark on their professional journeys, they exemplify the power of the Samsung Innovation Campus programme to inspire and empower the next generation of female leaders in technology.