Portugal Seeds For The Future - 2015

Diogo André Cardoso Serafim

Telecommunications and Informatics Engineering

Instituto Superior Técnico – TagusPark

diogoserafim.16@gmail.com

1 Huawei Seeds For The Future 2015 – Portugal

The Project – A Brief Introduction

In order to help bridge the gap between what

is learned in ICT education and what is

necessary in the industry, Huawei developed

the Seeds for the Future Program which

prepares a country’s most important resource,

its people, to be more competitive in the

information age.

As a leading ICT solutions provider, Huawei’s mission is to establish an excellent sustainable management system, operate strictly with integrity and compliance, continuously improve the communication with stakeholders, promote a harmonious business ecosystem, ensure the sustainable development of the company and provide benefits to our customers and society.

In order to help bridge the gap between what is learned in IT education and what is necessary in

the industry, Huawei developed the Seeds for the Future Program. The program seeks to develop

local ICT talent, transfer knowledge, promote a greater understanding of, and interest in, the

telecommunications sector and encourage regional building and participation in the digital

community.

Through the program, Huawei:

• Works with universities and other local organizations to provide some training on

communication technologies.

• Provides scholarships and internships for top students.

• Offers a work experience to selected students. The Huawei Undergraduate Work Experience

Program provides ICT students with the opportunity to gain valuable hands-on work experience

at Huawei’s offices in China, enabling students to be fully immersed in a global business operation,

cross-cultural work practices and Chinese culture.

2 Huawei Seeds For The Future 2015 – Portugal

1st Edition of Portugal Seeds for The Future

Huawei selected 12 Portuguese students from three Portuguese universities, Instituto Superior Técnico, Instituto Politécnico de Leiria and Universidade de Aveiro with focus ICT matters, to spend 5 days in Beijing, having a cultural immersion course, where students could experience Traditional Chinese Culture.

The students had also the opportunity to stay for 8 days in Huawei Head Quarters in Shenzhen, receiving information about Huawei products and solutions, visiting F1 Exhibition Centre, Logistic Centre and Laboratories, learning about Huawei’s international culture, strategy and values in a Technological information exchange from some of the finest professionals in the industry.

Figure 1. Portuguese Students from the First Edition of Portugal Seeds For The Future at Huawei Training Centre

3 Huawei Seeds For The Future 2015 – Portugal

My Testimonial

Nǐ hǎo! 17 July 2015, the day of the biggest journey that I’ve experienced in my twenty four years of life. I have to be honest and say, that I was feeling two types of feelings about this project. Anxiety and Afraid. Anxiety to know China and his Culture. Anxiety to know one of the biggest telecommunications companies in the world. As you can easily understand, I was a little bit scared because I didn’t know what I would find out in China. A lot of questions in my mind. How will be the Chinese people? How we will be received? Will be easy to establish communication with them? In the moment that we met Maria, our guide in Beijing, the anxiety increased (in a good way) and the afraid was just a missing word. She was so nice with us, with a perfect English, putting ourselves so comfortable, always ready to do everything that make us feel happy. Since that moment I knew that everything will be fine. Upon my arrival in China, I saw a culture that is so different from mine. The weather, the food, the way of living of the Chinese people is so different from Portugal that being there was quite an experience.

In the first week of the program in Beijing, i had the opportunity to go to the Great Wall and visit the Forbidden City.

See a series of fortifications made of stone, with all of its branches measure out to be 21.196 km, makes me feel so impressed with his beauty and magnificence.

Figure 2. Photo with Christian Gomes (on left), me and Maria (on right) at the Great Wall of China

Figure 3. At Forbidden City in Beijing

4 Huawei Seeds For The Future 2015 – Portugal

I also got the chance to start enjoying the

Chinese food since the first day, like one of their

specialties, hot pot. To be honest it’s not my

favourite dish, but I really enjoyed the

vegetables and mifàn, and the way of preparing

some dishes like chicken.

Under the program, my colleagues and I,

attended a Chinese introduction course at the

Beijing University of Continuing Studies and

that was quite an experience as well!

The teachers were so nice teaching us a

language that is really different from ours that we managed to learn some sentences. Some of

them really helped us in our daily life making the communication with the citizens much easier.

We also had some introduction to Chinese

painting and Calligraphy so, i brought pieces of

my own art with me, as memories of this

experience.

Upon our arrival i also had the great honor to

go to the Exhibition Business Centre of Huawei

and meet the Ambassador of Portugal in

Beijing, Mr. Jorge Torres Pereira, Mrs.

Alexandra Leite from AICEP and Mr. Qu

Wenchu, Senior Vice President of Huawei. That

was a unique experience that i will not forget

so soon.

After this experience we travelled to Shenzhen, to get to Huawei headquarters.

Figure 4. At Hot Pot Restaurant

Figure 5. With Chinese Teachers at Beijing University of Continuing Studies

Figure 6. Arriving at Shenzhen International Airport

5 Huawei Seeds For The Future 2015 – Portugal

Upon my arrival to Shenzhen i found an amazing airport, a modern city, totally different from

Beijing.

The reception in Huawei was amazing. The living environment in Huawei campus was absolutely

great.

During the weekend i had the chance to

visit some shopping areas, in Huang Qian

Bay and the electronic markets and have

dinner in the top floor of the Shangri La

Hotel, with an amazing view over the city.

Sunday was a very special day for me. I had

the opportunity to visit Macao. Macao is

very special to me, as Portuguese i can see

the connection with my culture in a place

so far and yet so familiar to me.

The week started with what brought the Portuguese

students here. Getting to know more about Huawei. In

the training centre we were presented with the key

solutions of Huawei in the ICT areas, and we had

hands-on training in 3G, 4G, GPON.

We also visited the Huawei Exhibition Halls, with the

latest demos and solutions that Huawei has been

developing.

Each day after the official agenda me and my

colleagues had the chance to enjoy the leisure

activities available in the campus, like basketball,

Volleyball and the swimming pool.

Figure 7. At Ruins of St.Paul's in Macao

Figure 8. Portuguese Students from Instituto Superior Técnico at Huawei Head Quarters in Shenzhen

6 Huawei Seeds For The Future 2015 – Portugal

Now, almost four weeks after finished the program, making a reflection about this project, i can

say that it was an unique opportunity to visit this country so far away from Portugal and that

Huawei, somehow, enriched my life, not only from the academic point of view but also opening

my vision of this new world of possibilities, both from cultural and technological perspective.

What makes this program unique is that it also offers first-hand learning opportunities through

interactions with Huawei staff and visits to Huawei laboratories, where program participants can

witness live demonstrations of the latest technology.

Students are able to enhance their ability to adapt in the ICT industry as they gain an

understanding of the most up-to-date technologies and skills, as well as local innovation needs.

By acquiring hands-on skills, students are able to gain confidence, which helps them further excel

in their careers and in multi-cultural business environments.

There is no doubt that Seeds for Future Program exceeded my expectations.

I really enjoyed the experience and it’s now time to say thanks to Huawei for this great

opportunity.

A big thank you to all those who made this experience possible, a special thanks to Huawei

Portugal for giving me this opportunity.

One last word to my dear Vera Lemos that was with us during those two weeks, help us during

our stay, working so hard to ensure that all went well as supposed to be. She’s a person that

became a friend of mine. I’m very proud to have met so amazing people and participated in the

first edition of Portugal Seeds for the Future.

On behalf of one of the Portuguese students attended at the first edition of Portugal Seeds for

the Future,

Thank you very much.

Obrigado. Xiexie

Diogo Cardoso Serafim

29 August 2015