Huawei, one of the leading global Information Communications Providers Tuesday entered an agreement with Makerere University to establish an ICT Academy in Uganda. The academy will offer free certification to students with the aim to improve and cultivate ICT talent, bridge the gap between universities and the corporate world by offering hands-on training, promote ICT industry technology certification, develop ICT industry talent and a strong learning ecosystem.
The event that took place at Makerere Guest House was presided over by Uganda’s ICT and National Guidance Minister Hon. Frank Tumwebaze. The ceremony was attended by the Chinese embassy Charge d ’affairs, Huawei Managing director, the Vice Chancellor of Makerere, and students from different Ugandan universities.
The academy, according to an MOU signed during the event, will run as a non-commercial cooperation project between Huawei and universities, colleges, and other educational institutions all over the world.
Huawei’s Managing Director Mr. Liujiawei stressed that Huawei would cooperate with the various universities of Uganda such as Makerere and those in the countryside to teach ICT courses to over 1,000 students, encourage students to get certified by Huawei and cultivate professionals with practical skills for the world and ICT Chain, without charge.
He also added that, “Huawei has so far cooperated with more than 300 universities around the world and educates more than 10,000 students every year.”
“The Huawei ICT Academy course combines both theories and practical operations since some students hardly have project experience. These range from Enterprise Networks such as Routing and Switching, Advanced Network and Network technology, information technology such as Storage, Cloud computing and big data among others,” Mr. Liujiawei said.
The ICT academy will immediately enroll students in June this year after certifying the lecturers who will teach them. The lecturers are already undergoing training and will soon complete their certificates with Huawei.
Speaking at the ceremony, Hon Frank Tumwebaze commended Huawei for their consistency in skilling and talent nurturing because it is in line with the digital strategy of transforming Uganda into a middle income country.
He affirmed that, “through Huawei’s initiatives such as these, shall cultivate and pool together ICT professionals that are crucial to industry development, thus boosting ICT industry development, driving the development of different sectors and contributing to lower unemployment rates over the long term.”
Makerere University’s Vice Chancellor Professor Barnabas Nawangwe said that they are ready to work with Huawei to ensure that this programme is well implemented.
After Makerere, Huawei notes that they will move to other public universities to establish the same academy. Those include Kyambogo, Lira, Gulu, Muni, Busitema and Mbarara universities, among others.
