Chinese tech giant Huawei wants Aussie students

A CHINESE technology giant is on the hunt for talented Australian students in a partnership with local universities.

CHINESE technology company Huawei is on the hunt for Australian talent. Huawei has teamed up with the Australian Technology Network of Universities (ATN) for a three-year partnership that will see 30 Australian students embark on a Chinese adventure.

The move is another sign that the company is serious about global engagement as it seeks to increase brand awareness in overseas markets.

The partnership with ATN, which includes the likes of RMIT, the University of Technology Sydney, and Queensland University of Technology, will see 10 students selected each year for the Seeds of the Future program. Participating students will travel to Huawei’s headquarters in Shenzhen, China, visiting facilities including its research and development centre. Students will also spend a week in Beijing at the Beijing Language and Cultural University.

ATN chairman Professor David Lloyd said: “Through this program our students will get multinational experience within the ICT sector, while learning how to be effective in a multicultural business environment.”

Huawei's Consumer Business Group chief executive officer Richard Yu presents his company's new device "Talkband B2" during the Mobile World Congress.

The Seeds for the Future program already runs in countries such as France, Malaysia, Kenya, Uganda, UK, Italy and Germany. More than 2000 students have already gone through the program.

Huawei Australia chairman John Lord said: “We are proud to be working with ATN to identify Australia’s ICT leaders of tomorrow. Designed to bridge the gap between university and work, Seeds for the Future helps develop talent in Australia, promotes a greater understanding of the ICT sector and encourages participation in the international ICT community.”

Three years ago, there was controversy surrounding Huawei and the Australian Government after it was banned from supplying equipment for the National Broadband Network over security concerns from ASIO. The company maintains it has never been presented with evidence from the government for the decision. In an email to staff in 2013, according to The Australian, Mr Lord wrote: “We have nothing to hide, and we have complete confidence in the veracity of our equipment.”

Since then, the company has forged business relationships with all the main telcos including Telstra, and is the major sponsor for NRL team Canberra Raiders and the Tour de Cure.

In 2014, the company experienced double-digit revenue growth in Australia. Meanwhile, its brand awareness locally grew 30 per cent, according to Ipsos.

Originally published as Chinese tech giant Huawei wants Aussie students