Huawei, a leading global Information Communications Provider has entered into partnership 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 establishment will run as a non-commercial cooperation project between Huawei and universities, colleges, and other educational institutions all over the world. The beneficiaries will receive hands-on training, ICT industry technology certification, and have the opportunity to develop their talents in the ICT industry from a strong learning ecosystem.
Mr. Liujiawei, the Managing Director of Huawei stated that the Huawei ICT Academy course combines both theories and practical operations to offer students an extensive project experience during the study time.
The contents of the course will 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.
The event took place at the University, attracting the presence of Uganda’s ICT and National Guidance Minister Hon. Frank Tumwebaze, as well as the Chinese embassy Charge d ’affairs, Huawei Managing director, the Vice Chancellor of Makerere, and students from different Ugandan universities.
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 the institution is ready to work with Huawei to ensure that this program is well implemented. He assured the company that the University has had successful projects with establishments from Chinese firms and the ICT academy will be a significant addition.
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.
