Samsung Youth SW Academy 7th Class Graduation... Over 3,000 Employment Success

Completion Ceremony on the 20th... About 760 Participants Nationwide On and Off Campus
3,486 Employed Over 4 Years... Samjeon, IT and Finance Sectors with 840 Companies Hired

Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong poses for a commemorative photo with trainees at the Samsung Youth Software (SW) Academy Gwangju Campus in August 2019. At the time, Chairman Lee encouraged, "Let's all challenge ourselves to realize even bigger dreams." (Photo by Samsung Electronics)

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] It has been revealed that the cumulative number of job placements from Samsung's software (SW) job support program, 'Samsung Youth SW Academy (SSAFY),' has reached 3,486. Graduates have secured employment not only at Samsung Electronics but also at IT and financial companies such as Kakao, Naver, KB Kookmin Bank, and Shinhan Bank.

Samsung announced this on the 20th during the 7th graduation ceremony held at the SSAFY Seoul Campus in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. About 760 people attended the ceremony both online and offline from five campuses nationwide. For the first time, family members of the graduates, including parents, also attended. About 100 people participated offline, including Kwon Ki-seop, Vice Minister of Employment and Labor; Ji Seong-ho, member of the People Power Party; Jeon Yong-gi, member of the Democratic Party; Kang Eun-mi, member of the Justice Party; and Park Seung-hee, President in charge of CR at Samsung Electronics.

Vice Minister Kwon emphasized, "We will expand opportunities for more young people to grow and demonstrate their capabilities through collaboration with companies," adding, "We will actively support young people in provincial areas to have more opportunities like SSAFY." President Park said, "As digital technology becomes part of everyday life, there are more tasks for you as program developers," and urged, "Please strive to create a better world through innovative software development."

Families of the graduates toured the lecture halls, cafeteria, and exhibition spaces. Kwon Young-myeon, a parent of a graduate, said, "I was very worried because my son could not find a job after graduation, but he worked hard for a year at SSAFY and was very happy to be accepted by the company he wanted," adding, "I am proud of all the graduates who did their best and thankful to Samsung for supporting them."

SSAFY is part of Samsung's 'Economic Revitalization and Job Creation Plan' announced in 2018. It is Samsung's flagship CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) program. Samsung closely cooperates with the Ministry of Employment and Labor in all areas, including trainee selection, education operation, and job support.

Over four years, a total of 3,486 graduates from cohorts 1 to 7 have successfully found employment. The cumulative number of graduates is 4,732, with an employment rate of 74%. Among the employed graduates, 36% (1,252 people) were non-software majors. Graduates have been employed at companies including Samsung Electronics, Kakao, Naver, LG Uplus, Shinsegae I&C, Hyundai Mobis, KB Kookmin Bank, Shinhan Bank, and NH Nonghyup Bank. The number of companies hiring graduates is 840. Among them, about 140 companies offer preferential treatment to SSAFY candidates, such as exemption from document screening, additional points in document screening, and exemption from coding tests.

In addition to Seoul, campuses in Daejeon, Gwangju, Gumi, and Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam (Buulkyung) operate to contribute to regional industrial revitalization. For example, Amkor Technology, a semiconductor packaging and testing service provider in Gwangju and Incheon, hired 20 SSAFY graduates. Graduates have also entered companies such as SafeTech Research in Daejeon (ship navigation system development), BNK System in Busan (banking system development), and DGB Daegu Bank.

There has also been an increase in graduates joining startups from Samsung Electronics' startup nurturing program 'C-Lab Outside,' which has been operating since 2018. Seven graduates are currently working at FortyTwoMaru, an AI-based language intelligence development startup supported by Samsung Electronics since 2020. Kim Dong-hwan, CEO of FortyTwoMaru, said, "There are many capable developers in SSAFY," and added, "SSAFY is holding job fairs to recruit trainees."

SSAFY accepts trainees twice a year. About 1,150 trainees are currently enrolled in the 8th cohort, which started in June. Including the 1,150 trainees entering the 9th cohort next month, SSAFY trains about 2,300 young people annually. The program provides intensive education totaling 1,600 hours over one year, with 8 hours daily, including collaborative projects among trainees. It aims to cultivate software developers ready to be immediately deployed in companies. The education is free of charge. All trainees receive a monthly education support stipend of 1 million KRW. Job fairs, company briefings, and a job support center are also operated.

Employees responsible for software development at Samsung Electronics, Samsung Display, Samsung SDI, Samsung SDS, and Samsung Electro-Mechanics also participate as mentors for SSAFY trainees. About 90 Samsung employees serve as mentors, including 12 who are SSAFY alumni. The mentor group provides motivation and shares practical know-how with the trainees.

Samsung stated that it has been striving to expand the national software ecosystem. It operates programs such as the 'SW Membership' (1991) for discovering and nurturing university software students, the establishment of the 'SW job category' for new college graduate recruitment (2011), and 'SCSA' (2013) for nurturing and hiring software talent from humanities backgrounds. Additionally, it launched the 'Samsung Junior SW Academy' (2013) for elementary and middle school students and the 'Samsung Youth SW Academy' (2018) to enhance youth employment competitiveness.

Lee Jae-yong, Vice Chairman who is accelerating 'technology management,' is also very interested in SSAFY. After assuming the chairmanship in October, he visited the SSAFY Gwangju Campus (October) and Buulkyung Campus (November) to check on operations and encourage trainees. He also visited the Gwangju Campus in August 2019.

Under the CSR vision of 'Together to the Future! Enabling People,' Samsung conducts social contribution activities focused on youth education and win-win cooperation. Youth education programs include Samsung Youth SW Academy, Samsung Hope Bridge, Samsung Dream Class, Samsung Junior SW Academy, and Samsung Smart School. From a win-win management perspective, Samsung supports small and medium-sized enterprises' smart factory transitions, operates C-Lab (Inside/Outside), establishes win-win funds and water supply support funds, provides incentives to partner companies, runs the Samsung Future Technology Nurturing Project, and operates sharing kiosks as part of its cooperative programs.