APAC digital talent summit discusses youth empowerment

A commitment to youth empowerment for a connected, digital and intelligent future was made at the recent Asia Pacific Digital Talent Summit 2024 held in Nanning, China, co-hosted by Huawei, ASEAN Foundation and the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organisation (SEAMEO).

Emphasising the vital role played by digital talent in driving the region’s growth and innovation, the Secretary-General of ASEAN, Kao Kim Hourn said: “The collaboration between Huawei and the ASEAN Foundation, which has made this event possible, exemplifies the profound impact of public-private partnerships in enhancing digital skills among our youths across the Asia-Pacific region.”

This programme offers more than 130 young talents from the region an opportunity to have an enriching one-week tour of China, where they will engage in a journey of learning and cultural exchange.

“As they embark on this exciting experience, I am confident they will make meaningful contributions to unlocking the region’s digital potential, driving forward innovation, and steering us toward a sustainable and inclusive digital future,” the Secretary-General said.

He added that the ASEAN region is actively developing policies to facilitate digital talent mobility among its member states, enable mutual recognition of qualifications, and encourage collaboration on talent development.

“ASEAN countries also have much to gain from China’s approach to enhancing digital skills among its youth. China’s integration of digital education into school curricula, with a focus on subjects like coding and AI, serves as a model.

“Key initiatives such as the New Generation Artificial Intelligence Development Plan and collaborations with tech giants like Huawei - providing training and internships - are central to this endeavour,” Hourn said.

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The summit brought together government leaders, industry experts, professionals from academia and more than 130 young talents from 18 countries across the region to foster collaboration, innovation, and digital growth for a connected, digital and intelligent future.

Providing crucial platform

The event provided a crucial platform to discuss the future of digital talent development in the rapidly evolving regional digital economy.

Huawei Asia Pacific President, Simon Lin, said the company’s digital talent programme in the Asia Pacific region is built on three key pillars: Partnership, Commitment, and Youth Empowerment.

“These principles have driven us to develop over 200,000 digital talents through initiatives like Huawei ICT Academy in more than 310 universities, Tech4City competition, and this Digital Talent Summit.

“We are committed to fostering future leaders of the Asia Pacific digital economy and, together with our partners, we will continue building a bigger stage for young talent to thrive with technology,” Lin said.

The SEAMEO Director, Habibah Abdul Rahim and the Chair of the ASEAN Foundation Board of Trustees, H. E. M. I. Derry Aman, also shared their perspectives on the importance of shaping a brighter digital future in ASEAN countries during the event.

“Investing in youth is key to unlocking the digital potential of not only ASEAN and the Asia-Pacific region but also the world”, Derry said.

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He appreciated the collaboration between the ASEAN Foundation and Huawei in co-hosting this programme, which “has a profound impact on youth development by equipping participants with vital digital and cultural skills”.

Regional perspectives

During the event, government representatives from across the region shared updates on their vision and progress in cultivating digital talent.

Cambodia’s Minister of Post and Telecommunications, Chea Vandeth, noted that the summit was a significant step towards enhancing collaboration in digital skills development among member countries and shared about Cambodia’s efforts at developing digital talent.

Brunei Darussalam’s Permanent Secretary for Higher Education, Haji Azman Bin Ahmad, said: “The future prosperity of our region depends not only on our ability to create new technologies but to equip our people with the skills they need to thrive with those technologies.”

During the summit, Huawei, in collaboration with Prince of Songkla University (PSU), launched the PSU ICT talent development and innovation centre, which is the first of its kind in APAC and will benefit students and the broader community by driving digital transformation in the education sector and beyond.

Certified engineers

The Huawei Asia Pacific Region Learning & Certification Services Department Director Zhou Jinjun said Huawei APAC aims to have 80,000 certified engineers over the next five years and create 1500 Huawei Certified ICT Experts (HCIEs).

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The summit concluded with 17 groups of students showcasing their cultural heritage at a programme during the departure ceremony.

After the summit, the students will embark on an immersive tour of Huawei’s campuses in Shenzhen and Dongguan, where they will participate in digital learning classes and study ICT technologies and applications.

They will also compete in the Tech4Good regional semi-final, with the top two winners advancing to the 2025 global final in China, receiving sponsorship opportunities, a trip to China, and one-on-one discussions with local Huawei executives.