Samsung Engineering Academy pioneer class graduates

Samsung Africa graduated 200 technical engineers from its first Samsung Electronics Engineering Academy class in Kenya at a ceremony presided over by the Director of Technology, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology. The graduation is a milestone for Samsung’s broader goal to develop over 10,000 electronic engineers in Africa by the year 2015.

The Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Kenya Kim Chan-Woo hands over the certificate to Fredrick Musau Kimeu the best overall student during the 1st Graduation ceremony of Samsung Engineering Academy. Looking on is Jong Oh Lee, The Managing Director Samsung East Africa.

Developed at a cost of more than Ksh 84 million, the Samsung Electronic Engineering Academy was launched a year ago in Kenya as part of the global Samsung Hope for Children program. Its students are drawn from local technical training colleges such as the Multimedia University College, Kabete Technical Training Institute, PC Kinyanjui Technical Training Institute and the Nairobi Technical training Institute and Technical University of Kenya.

The students have undergone a one-year, fully sponsored training program to supplement the theoretical training received at their respective colleges. The Samsung Electronic Engineering Academic program is geared to raising local technical competence, in line with the Governments vision 2030 blue print to encourage entrepreneurship and self-employment initiatives and the Ministry of Higher Education’s technical and vocational education training bill 2012. The bill seeks to shift technical and vocational education from time-bound curriculum-based training to flexible and competency based training.

“Technical education is a cornerstone of any developing country,” says, Mr Jong Oh-Lee, Samsung Electronics East Africa Managing Director. The Engineering Academy program is a critical part of Samsung’s vision to secure its sustainability on the continent by building a skilled pool of competent technicians.”

The academies, which have also been rolled out in South Africa and Nigeria, play a critical role in developing the technical skills needed to support Samsungs, built for Africa market development strategy, which features flagship products designed for optimal use in regions with erratic power/water supply, high temperatures and humidity. 

Trained to repair and service modern electronic devices and equipment; the technicians are expected to significantly raise Samsung’s local after sales service support capacity. Says Lee: “these graduates have not only been equipped with the world-class skills to build a better future for themselves– but that they will also play an integral part in driving Kenya’s forward.”

Through its Engineering Academy program, Samsung is deliberately developing a pool of skilled technicians and exclusive service experts to handle growing demand, and the academy will see most of the students absorbed into Samsung Electronics East Africa Service Centre and Samsung Service partners as the regional hub for the high-value technological products and skilled manpower. Samsung plans to upscale the initiative to more African countries by 2015.