Huawei Nepal has hosted the closing ceremony of its prestigious Seeds for the Future 2022 program at an event in Kathmandu. The program is Huawei’s globally celebrated flagship CSR scheme for undergraduate-level students from ICT-related disciplines.
The initiative first began in 2008 in Thailand. Since then, over 12,000 thousand students from over 130 countries and regions have participated in the flagship scheme. It is the second edition of the program in Nepal.
Huawei says that the second edition of the program in Nepal received 256 applications for participation from all over the country. 7 students were selected on the basis of their GPA, motivation letter, and an interview conducted by Prof. Dr. Shashidhar Ram Joshi, Prof. Timila Yami Thapa, Prof. Dr. Subarna Shakya, and Prof. Dr. Manish Pokharel.
The 7 students who participated in this year’s Seeds for the Future 2022 campaign are:
Nepali students participating in the Huawei Seeds for the Future 2022
| Nirman Khadka | Kathmandu University | B. Tech in AI, 1st year |
| Banshaj Paudel | Madan Bhandari Memorial College | BCA, 1st year |
| Jatin Bhusal | Khwopa Engineering College | Bachelor’s in Computer Engineering, 4th year |
| Reeya Baidya | IoE Pulchowk | Bachelor’s in Computer Engineering, 3rd year |
| Nadika Poudel | IoE Pulchowk | Bachelor’s in Computer Engineering, 3rd year |
| Pragya Mallick | Kathmandu University | Bachelor’s in Electrical and Electronics Engineering – Communication, 4th year |
| Aju Tamang | Amrit Science Campus | Bachelor’s in CSIT, 2nd year |
Since their selection in July, the students received insights into the ICT industry in Nepal via multiple engagements. The participating students have been acquainted with data center business in Nepal, and the process of FTTH internet during their visit to the offices of Dish Home. They also took part in Chinese calligraphy and Chinese paper-cutting workshop at the China Culture Center in Kathmandu.
The students were also engaged by UNESCO as part of the organization’s “The Next 50” campaign.
In addition, the students participated in the first-ever regional onsite program held in Bangkok from Aug 19 – Aug 27. There, they learned about emerging technologies such as Metaverse, 5G, AI, Cloud Computing, Digital Power, etc. They also became familiar with the practical applications of 5G and engaged in cross-cultural learning with 116 students from 16 countries.
Participation in the “Tech4Good” competition was another key segment for the students. The program required the students to derive an original idea to combat real-world environmental or social problems. At the contest, Nepali students demonstrated their idea – Advait, a one-step solution for detecting counterfeit medicines using the cloud, AI, and blockchain technology.
Check out: Huawei launches Tech to Build Your Career in Singapore
Team Nepal was among the winning teams to join the Tech4Good accelerator camp
Team Nepal was one of the 7 winning teams out of 24 to join the Tech4Good accelerator camp held in Singapore from Aug 29 – Sep 2. While in Singapore, the students visited the Huawei office in Singapore. There, they learned about business model development and design thinking at the same time, working with a mentor assigned to them.
The participants were able to reform their ideas and learned how to make their ideas more marketable to investors. Upon their return, the students also visited a Huawei-built base station at Muktinath in late September.
What was said at the Seeds for the Future 2022 Closing Ceremony?
Speaking at the closing event, the chief guest of the program, Mr. Anil Kumar Dutta, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Communications and Information Technology expressed joy at being part of the closing ceremony and being able to meet the talented students. He stressed the importance of investment in youth for the future. He expressed his hope that the participating students would opt to further their careers in Nepal.
The selection committee members also shared their pride in the achievement of students in Thailand. Prof. Dr. Shashidhar Ram Joshi congratulated the students for being selected for the Seeds for the Future program in 2022. He hoped that the knowledge-sharing sessions in Thailand and Singapore have helped them polish their ideas and they can go on to become future entrepreneurs.
Similarly, prof. Timila Yami Thapa called Seeds for the Future a great opportunity for students to enhance students talents and skills. Also read: Nepal has Great Potential for Digital Transformation: Huawei Nepal CEO
Prof. Dr. Subarna Shakya thanked Huawei for focusing on CSR programs such as Seeds for the Future and supporting Nepal. “I hope Huawei will also work with universities for research-based collaboration in the future”, he said.
Likewise, CEO of the Government of Nepal’s E-government Commission, Er. Dipesh Bista said that the students are lucky to get a platform like Huawei’s Seeds for the Future at such an early age. “I wish such a program was started 15 years ago where I could be a participant. I’d like to thank Huawei for trying to make this country better”, he said.
Huawei Nepal CEO Mr. William Zhang expresses commitment to continue offering a platform for Nepali students
Mr. William Zhang, CEO of Huawei Nepal, expressed Huawei’s commitment to offering Nepali students a platform for international exposure and learning.
The closing ceremony of Seeds for the Future 2022 has concluded Huawei’s second edition of its popular flagship CSR program in Nepal. Do you wish such an initiative to continue in the future to uplift the morale of the ICT-career aspiring Nepali youth? Do share your opinion in the comments below.
