Samsung JKUAT AI Training equips Kenyan learners with advanced digital skills, boosting talent and expanding inclusive opportunities.
Samsung Electronics East Africa and Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) have signed an MoU officially launching the Samsung Innovation Campus (SIC) in Kenya as a critical move to bridge the AI and digital skills divide, positioning learners for opportunities in the Fourth Industrial Revolution and producing an AI savvy digital talent pipeline in Kenya.
This collaboration is a long-term investment in Kenya’s digital talent pipeline, with JKUAT set to train 80 learners each year in advanced skills in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Coding & Programming. Through this program, students will graduate with practical, job-ready skills and a portfolio of real projects.
Samsung Electronics East Africa President, Mr. Richard Lee, affirmed the company’s commitment to investing in Kenya’s digital talent pipeline: “As Samsung continues to grow in East Africa, we believe our success is intertwined with the well-being of our communities. The Samsung Innovation Campus is a long-term investment in the brilliant minds that will lead Kenya’s digital economy. We are honored to partner with a prestigious institution like JKUAT to provide real opportunities and empower the next generation of innovators,” Mr. Lee affirmed.
This partnership addresses a clear and urgent national need, underscored by recent statistics. Kenya Housing Survey 23/24 reported that only 23.8% Kenyan households report using the internet, with only 10.7% of them with access to computer. Additionally, Kenya’s overall country score for Digital Skills and Values is low with (0. 43 on the Digital Divide Index), reflecting a high divide in the competencies needed for the digital age.
As for AI Readiness, awareness and proficiency in cutting-edge fields remain nascent, with one study indicating that only 32% of Kenyans are aware of Artificial Intelligence. The need for AI proficiency is projected to skyrocket, with AI poised to deliver an additional $13 trillion in global economic activity by 2030 (McKinsey Global Institute). While AI will transform up to 300 million jobs globally, the demand for skills like AI fluency has grown sevenfold in just two years, making them the fastest-rising requirement in the modern job market.
The initiative forms a key pillar of Samsung’s global corporate social responsibility (CSR) vision, “Together for Tomorrow! Enabling People”.The Samsung Innovation Campus (SIC) is Samsung’s flagship global CSR program, providing hands-on training in key areas like AI, IoT, and Big Data. This partnership gives Kenyan students access to a world-class curriculum in cutting-edge fields, and the program ensures sustainability through a Training of Trainers (ToT) component, where Samsung experts will equip JKUAT trainers to deliver the curriculum locally.
JKUAT is a leading public university in Kenya, renowned for its strong focus on science, technology, engineering, and innovation-driven research. The partnership aligns perfectly with the university’s mandate to produce skilled, industry-ready graduates.
JKUAT Vice Chancellor, Prof. Victoria Wambui Ngumi, PhD, EBS, welcomed the partnership, noting its alignment with the University’s mandate:
“JKUAT is honoured to partner with a global technology leader like Samsung. This program aligns perfectly with our mission to produce skilled graduates who can solve real-world problems. The Samsung Innovation Campus will give our students practical access to a world-class AI and Coding & Programming curriculum, bridging the gap between academia and industry and preparing them for the future of work,” says Prof. Ngumi.
The impact of such strategic Industry-Academia collaborations is vital for national innovation. They are proven to enhance the quality of research, promote knowledge and technology transfer, and ensure university curricula produce graduates with the real-world skills needed to thrive. The university’s flagship digital innovation hub, JHUB Africa, will serve as a launchpad where students, researchers, and industry partners co-create, turning research outputs and student projects into market-ready products and startups.
The program is fundamentally designed to promote inclusive digital literacy by targeting young Kenyans, particularly those from underprivileged backgrounds. The partnership directly addresses the gender gap in the technology sector by mandating that 50% of the beneficiaries will be women. This focus ensures that the opportunities created by the advanced training are accessible and empowering to diverse communities.
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