Huawei Launches First Authorized Network Academy in Region with TUT
[Pretoria, South Africa, April 29, 2016] Huawei and the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) have jointly launched a Huawei Authorised Information and Network Academy (HAINA) at the university’s Soshanguve Campus today. The HAINA initiative is a global ICT technology education program and this is its first installation in the Eastern and Southern Africa region.
Adopting the increasingly popular university-enterprise cooperation model, the program plans to introduce Huawei’s cooperation with universities in course development, training and certification. Based on Huawei's global leadership and its innovative technologies in the ICT industry, the HAINA program will help accelerate the development of educational tools and promote the development of the local ICT technical workforce.
Unveiling Ceremony with Dr Ezekiel Moraka, Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Student Affairs and Extra Curricular Development (left) and Mr. Alex Du, Managing Director of Huawei Enterprise South Africa (right).
With the advancement of economic globalization as well as the intense competition for high-quality professionals, the in-depth cooperation between industries and universities is a fast-growing trend in talent development, helping to cultivate more ICT professionals. This HAINA project with TUT will feature a joint innovation centre with the latest version of equipment and professional services. Huawei will provide the equipment, software and the most advanced ICT certification courses whilst the university will provide educators to deliver the content to their students.
Initial courses will cover networking or IP certifications and upon completion of this phase, will eventually extend to other popular ICT technologies, including WLAN, security, storage and cloud computing. Training and certification will be provided to instructors for each course direction and course curriculum will be customized based on the university’s requirements. Additionally, TUT HAINA-trained graduates will be given first priority for internships and employment opportunities at Huawei and its partner companies.
“TUT is pleased to partner with Huawei for this program, to assist our senior students with technological challenges and help them gain competitive skills so that they benefit the community,” says Professor Maredi Mphahlele, Executive Dean of the ICT Faculty at the Tshwane University of Technology.
Alex Du, Managing Director of Huawei Enterprise South Africa, said the company is honoured to collaborate with TUT to equip students with up-to-date ICT knowledge and skills that will nurture the next generation of ICT professionals in South Africa.
"As an international ICT innovator, we are committed to sharing knowledge with our academic partners and creating opportunities for individuals, businesses and economies worldwide. Huawei believes that knowledge will create opportunities, and education is of key importance to support effective and sustainable growth. Through the HAINA program, Huawei will contribute support to local ICT education, create more opportunities and build a better ICT talent eco-system." he said.
With an aim to support local ICT education around the world, Huawei has now extended its HAINA program to more than 130 leading universities worldwide. For Africa, Huawei has future plans to expand the program to tertiary education institutions in other countries across the region, such as Kenya. Huawei aims to launch HAINA program to eight universities in South Africa by the end of 2016.
