Samsung Electronics 'Youth SW Academy' 4th Class Graduates... "68% Employment Success Rate Among Trainees"

Trainees of the 4th Samsung Youth SW Academy Seoul Campus are working together on a project. (Photo by Samsung Electronics)

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] Samsung Electronics announced on the 9th that it held the 'Samsung Youth SW Academy 4th Graduation Ceremony,' a program aimed at enhancing young people's employment competitiveness. Since its inception in 2018, more than 2,000 people have graduated from this program, with 68% of them successfully finding employment.

On this day, Samsung Electronics held the graduation ceremony at the Multicampus Education Center in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, attended by Park Hwajin, Vice Minister of Employment and Labor, and Choi Yoonho, President of Samsung Electronics' Management Support Office. Considering the COVID-19 situation, the number of graduates attending in person was minimized to 25, while about 240 graduates from four regions nationwide?Seoul, Daejeon, Gwangju, and Gumi?participated online.

The Samsung Youth SW Academy is a CSR program launched by Samsung in 2018 as part of its economic revitalization and job creation initiatives. Samsung Electronics and the Ministry of Employment and Labor jointly handle trainee selection, education operation, and employment support. To date, 2,087 people have graduated, with 1,411 employed, achieving a 68% employment rate. Notably, among the successful graduates, 455 (32%) were non-software majors who found new career paths through this program.

Graduates have been employed at various companies in IT and finance sectors, including Samsung Electronics, Shinhan Bank, Kakao, LG CNS, SK㈜ C&C, Naver, Coupang, Shinsegae I&C, NH Nonghyup Bank, KB Kookmin Bank, and Hyundai Motor Company. The number of companies employing these graduates reaches approximately 480. As more graduates work on-site, the number of companies offering preferential hiring has increased. Currently, over 80 companies, including Shinhan Bank, Woori Bank, Hyundai AutoEver, Nongshim NDS, Seegene, and Encar.com, provide benefits such as ▲exemption from document screening ▲exemption from coding tests ▲exclusive recruitment for 'Samsung Youth SW Academy' graduates.

Park Hwajin, Vice Minister of Employment and Labor, stated, "We will spare no support to nurture creative digital talents equipped with problem-solving skills." President Choi Yoonho said, "Graduates are being recognized as practical talents in companies, expanding employment opportunities," and added, "Samsung Electronics will do its best to provide educational opportunities to more young people."

The Samsung Youth SW Academy operates a course that trains software developers capable of being immediately deployed in companies through intensive education totaling 1,600 hours over one year, with 8 hours daily, including collaborative projects among trainees. All trainees receive a monthly education support fund of 1 million KRW. Additionally, the program conducts job fairs, company briefings, and operates an employment support center offering career counseling, interview consulting, and continuous provision of employment information.

Currently, about 750 trainees of the 5th cohort, who enrolled in January this year, are undergoing training, and 900 trainees of the 6th cohort are scheduled to enroll in July. Starting from the 6th cohort, a 'Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam (Buul-gyeong) Campus' will be newly established in addition to the existing campuses in Seoul, Daejeon, Gwangju, and Gumi, with plans to expand to other regions under consideration.