Tech giant Samsung Electronics recently announced a partnership with Rwanda Coding Academy that will, among others, pave the way for the exchange of the latest technologies to improve the quality of skills delivered at the campus.

The partnership followed last week’s visit by the Samsung officials to the northern province-based campus.

"We are really excited about this project because the potential is immeasurable, the impact on the community and the leaders of tomorrow is astonishing,” said Hhulbi Shivanda, the Director of Operations, Innovation and Head of Corporate Affairs at Samsung, East Africa.

He disclosed that this was the beginning of many years of partnership with the academy.

Rwanda has taken the lead in ensuring that ICT is at the centre of development, he said, citing the country’s access to broadband and power connectivity as an impressive example.

"The first thing for us was finding the institutions that are in the space where the world is going in software skills, coding, robotics, etc. This is where the world is going,” Shivanda said.

Huge impact

Samsung also equipped the innovation lab of Rwanda Coding Academy with computers, an interactive e-board, and a server room among other facilities.

"It is a strong server and it speeds up whatever students are doing in the lab. Also, students’ computers were slow and some couldn’t accommodate some software, but with these new high-tech computers, students will learn easily,” said Papias Niyigena, the Director of Rwanda Coding Academy.

Niyigena challenged the students to utilize the technology for innovative solutions.

Following the global trend

Paul Umukunzi, Director General of Rwanda TVET Board (RTB), pointed out that it was commendable to have one of the leading global tech companies working with the newly established Coding Academy.

"Samsung understands where the world is heading technologically, with this aspect, it is important to partner with them, our students are trained to see far and move with latest technologies, it is a pleasure,” Umukunzi said.

So far, 180 students have been admitted to the academy. The academy plans to plans to double the number of students.

"We shall keep increasing the number of students in this academy and our wish is to have every student own a high-tech computer, which is important for this partnership with Samsung,” he added.