University of Technology, Jamaica Receives Huawei Donation of Tablets for Students

Mr. Andy Deng (left), CEO,  Huawei Technologies, Jamaica and Professor Colin Gyles, Acting President, University of Technology, Jamaica  display  a copy of the “Donation Agreement” and “Donation Delivery Acceptance” documents signed by the two organizations at a special handing over ceremony held on October 28, 2020, at the Faculty of Engineering and Computing Conference Room, UTech, Jamaica Papine Campus.

Students of the University of Technology, Jamaica will benefit from greater access to computer devices for remote learning, thanks to a donation of 100 Huawei Mediapad T5 tablets from Huawei Technologies, Jamaica Co. Ltd. The tablets were handed over at a ceremony at the UTech, Jamaica Papine Campus on Wednesday, October 28, 2020. The donation follows from a partnership between the University and Huawei Technologies Jamaica established in 2017 with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding to collaborate through the “Seeds for the Future” program, where high achievers of the Faculty of Engineering and Computing are selected for scholarship opportunities. The awardees visit Huawei’s state-of-the-art technology headquarters in Shenzhen, China where they interact with some of the best professionals in the global ICT industry.  The 2020 program will be hosted virtually.

Speaking at the handing over ceremony, CEO, Huawei Technologies, Jamaica, Mr. Andy Deng, indicated that “Huawei believes that access to education is vital to create opportunities that support fair and sustainable development in all countries around the world.” This, he noted, includes partnership between government authorities, educational institutions and social organizations working together for a continuous support in digital equal education and ICT talent education. Mr. Deng also praised the University as an important ally in the Seeds for the Future Program, noting that the program had successfully trained a number of Jamaican students in the most advanced technologies.

“We hope to continue our cooperation with UTech, Jamaica in projects to promote equal opportunities for students throughout the country,” Mr. Deng said, adding that the company hoped that the Seeds for the Future program and the donation will contribute to a better quality of education for students with the most need in the country.

In welcoming the donation, Professor Colin Gyles, Acting President, UTech, Jamaica noted the significant impact that the pandemic has had on delivery of education, adding that “we have been mindful of this particular challenge for our students and we have been seeking ways of providing assistance through scholarships, grants, and donation of devices such as laptop computers, which has been supported by the private sector.”  He thanked Huawei Technologies, Jamaica for “its generous donation and continued support and commitment to the welfare of our students.”

Professor Gyles congratulated the five students selected for this year’s Huawei Seeds for the Future-SKY 2020 program, School of Computing and Information Technology (SCIT) high achievers Alecia Bailey, Alex Downer, Cassandru Bartley, Chadan Huggup and Dylan Lewis, and encouraged them to “share the new knowledge that they will acquire about the latest trends and technology developments that can ultimately contribute to a brighter future for Jamaica.” 

Professor Sean Thorpe, Head, School of Computing and Information Technology, who chaired the ceremony, also congratulated the scholarship recipients, urging them to make the most of the opportunity, and to contribute in a meaningful way to the education of those who will come after them.

Representatives of UTech, Jamaica and Huawei Technologies, Jamaica pose with Seeds for the Future-SKY 2020 scholarship awardees: front row (l-r) Professor Colin Gyles, Acting President, UTech, Jamaica, Mr. Andy Deng, CEO, Huawei Technologies, Jamaica, Alecia Bailey, and Suiyee Ng, Human Resources Officer, Huawei Technologies, Jamaica.  Back row (l-r) Professor Nilza Aples, Dean, Faculty of Engineering and Computing, Professor Sean Thorpe, Head, School of Computing and Information Technology, Dylan Lewis, Alex Downer, Chadan Huggup and Cassandru Bartley.

High achievers of the School of Computing and Information Technology (SCIT) who were awarded the Huawei Seeds for the Future-SKY 2020 scholarship pose with their Huawei Mediapad T5 tablets. L-R: Dylan Lewis, Alex Downer, Alecia Bailey, Chadan Huggup and Cassandru Bartley.