READING, Pa. — While some students will be traveling to the shore or the mountains this summer, Penn State junior Caleb Kitchen will spend July 29 to Aug. 12 in China as part of Huawei Seeds for the Future Program 2016. Kitchen, who has a double major in security and risk analysis and Chinese, is one of 20 students participating in the all-expense-paid, two-week program in China for students majoring in STEM fields.
Designed to bridge the gap between information and communications technology instruction at universities and the practical knowledge and skills needed in the workplace, the program combines hands-on training and the opportunity to learn from veterans in the field.
The Huawei Seeds for the Future Program is sponsored by global information and communications technology leader Huawei. Students will spend two weeks in China, gaining firsthand knowledge and technical training at Huawei’s global headquarters and receiving an introduction to Chinese language and culture. By also providing an introduction to Chinese language and culture, the program prepares participants for careers in an increasingly interconnected global marketplace.
“For the first week, I am excited just to have the culture shock and be able to experience China,” said Kitchen, who studied at Penn State Berks and will now take classes at University Park in the fall. “We will be learning about the culture in Beijing, which I am very excited about. I’ll be able to work on improving my Mandarin while there, as well as possibly seeing the Great Wall. While in Shenzhen, outside of Hong Kong, we will be learning more about Huawei and visit their lab. I am particularly interested in how they run an international company and how they are looking to expand.”
To be eligible for the Huawei Seeds for the Future Program, students must be majoring in an information and communications technology, engineering, or any other STEM field at a U.S. college or university and must have completed at least two years of undergraduate study. Students demonstrating particular interest in information and communications technology and/or China are strongly encouraged to apply.
Kitchen was nominated for the program by his professor, Tricia Clark, instructor in information sciences and technology and program coordinator for the information sciences and technology and security and risk analysis degrees at Penn State Berks.
“I want to be able to network with people at Huawei and be able to have the opportunity to continue to ask questions even after the trip is over so that I can continue to grow my knowledge,” said Kitchen. “The trip will be a great learning experience, and I hope that I’ll be able to properly utilize the information I come back with.”
As for the future, Kitchen would like to pursue a career in technology sales or start his own company. “At the moment, it’s up in the air, but I am confident in my abilities to achieve success in any path I choose,” he said.