1. Portugal Seeds For The Future - 2015
Diogo André Cardoso Serafim
Telecommunications and Informatics Engineering
Instituto Superior Técnico – TagusPark
diogoserafim.16@gmail.com

2. 1Huawei Seeds For The Future 2015 – Portugal
The Project – A Brief Introduction
In order to help bridge the gap between what
is learned in ICT education and what is
necessary in the industry, Huawei developed
the Seeds for the Future Program which
prepares a country’s most important resource,
its people, to be more competitive in the
information age.
As a leading ICT solutions provider, Huawei’s
mission is to establish an excellent sustainable
management system, operate strictly with integrity and compliance, continuously improve the
communication with stakeholders, promote a harmonious business ecosystem, ensure the
sustainable development of the company and provide benefits to our customers and society.
In order to help bridge the gap between what is learned in IT education and what is necessary in
the industry, Huawei developed the Seeds for the Future Program. The program seeks to develop
local ICT talent, transfer knowledge, promote a greater understanding of, and interest in, the
telecommunications sector and encourage regional building and participation in the digital
community.
Through the program, Huawei:
• Works with universities and other local organizations to provide some training on
communication technologies.
• Provides scholarships and internships for top students.
• Offers a work experience to selected students. The Huawei Undergraduate Work Experience
Program provides ICT students with the opportunity to gain valuable hands-on work experience
at Huawei’s offices inChina, enabling students to be fully immersed in a global business operation,
cross-cultural work practices and Chinese culture.

3. 2Huawei Seeds For The Future 2015 – Portugal
1st Edition of Portugal Seeds for The Future
Huawei selected 12 Portuguese students from three Portuguese universities, Instituto Superior
Técnico, Instituto Politécnico de Leiria and Universidade de Aveiro with focus ICT matters, to
spend 5 days in Beijing, having a cultural immersion course, where students could experience
Traditional Chinese Culture.
The students had also the opportunity to stay for 8 days in Huawei Head Quarters in Shenzhen,
receiving information about Huawei products and solutions, visiting F1 Exhibition Centre, Logistic
Centre and Laboratories, learning about Huawei’s international culture, strategy and values in a
Technological information exchange from some of the finest professionals in the industry.
Figure 1. Portuguese Students from the First Edition of Portugal Seeds For The Future at
Huawei Training Centre

4. 3Huawei Seeds For The Future 2015 – Portugal
My Testimonial
Nǐ hǎo!
17 July 2015, the day of the biggest journey that I’ve experienced in my twenty four years of life.
I have to be honest and say, that I was feeling two types of feelings about this project. Anxiety
and Afraid.
Anxiety to know China and his Culture. Anxiety to know one of the biggest telecommunications
companies in the world. As you can easily understand, I was a little bit scared because I didn’t
know what I would find out in China. A lot of questions in my mind. How will be the Chinese people?
How we will be received? Will be easy to establish communication with them?
In the moment that we met Maria, our guide in
Beijing, the anxiety increased (in a good way) and
the afraid was just a missing word. She was so nice
with us, with a perfect English, putting ourselves so
comfortable, always ready to do everything that
make us feel happy. Since that moment I knew that
everything will be fine.
Upon my arrival in China, I saw a culture that is so
different from mine. The weather, the food, the
way of living of the Chinese people is so different
from Portugal that being there was quite an
experience.
In the first week of the program in Beijing,
i had the opportunity to go to the Great
Wall and visit the Forbidden City.
See a series of fortifications made of stone,
with all of its branches measure out to be
21.196 km, makes me feel so impressed
with his beauty and magnificence.
Figure 2. Photo with Christian Gomes (on left), me
and Maria (on right) at the Great Wall of China
Figure 3. At Forbidden City in Beijing

5. 4Huawei Seeds For The Future 2015 – Portugal
I also got the chance to start enjoying the
Chinese food since the first day, like one of their
specialties, hot pot. To be honest it’s not my
favourite dish, but I really enjoyed the
vegetables and mifàn, and the way of preparing
some dishes like chicken.
Under the program, my colleagues and I,
attended a Chinese introduction course at the
Beijing University of Continuing Studies and
that was quite an experience as well!
The teachers were so nice teaching us a
language that is really different from ours that we managed to learn some sentences. Some of
them really helped us in our daily life making the communication with the citizens much easier.
We also had some introduction to Chinese
painting and Calligraphy so, i brought pieces of
my own art with me, as memories of this
experience.
Upon our arrival i also had the great honor to
go to the Exhibition Business Centre of Huawei
and meet the Ambassador of Portugal in
Beijing, Mr. Jorge Torres Pereira, Mrs.
Alexandra Leite from AICEP and Mr. Qu
Wenchu, Senior Vice President of Huawei. That
was a unique experience that i will not forget
so soon.
After this experience we travelled to Shenzhen, to get to Huawei headquarters.
Figure 4. At Hot Pot Restaurant
Figure 5. With Chinese Teachers at Beijing University of
Continuing Studies
Figure 6. Arriving at Shenzhen International Airport

6. 5Huawei Seeds For The Future 2015 – Portugal
Upon my arrival to Shenzhen i found an amazing airport, a modern city, totally different from
Beijing.
The reception in Huawei was amazing. The living environment in Huawei campus was absolutely
great.
During the weekend i had the chance to
visit some shopping areas, in Huang Qian
Bay and the electronic markets and have
dinner in the top floor of the Shangri La
Hotel, with an amazing view over the city.
Sunday was a very special day for me. I had
the opportunity to visit Macao. Macao is
very special to me, as Portuguese i can see
the connection with my culture in a place
so far and yet so familiar to me.
The week started with what brought the Portuguese
students here. Getting to know more about Huawei. In
the training centre we were presented with the key
solutions of Huawei in the ICT areas, and we had
hands-on training in 3G, 4G, GPON.
We also visited the Huawei Exhibition Halls, with the
latest demos and solutions that Huawei has been
developing.
Each day after the official agenda me and my
colleagues had the chance to enjoy the leisure
activities available in the campus, like basketball,
Volleyball and the swimming pool.
Figure 7. At Ruins of St.Paul's in Macao
Figure 8. Portuguese Students from Instituto
Superior Técnico at Huawei Head Quarters in
Shenzhen

7. 6Huawei Seeds For The Future 2015 – Portugal
Now, almost four weeks after finished the program, making a reflection about this project, i can
say that it was an unique opportunity to visit this country so far away from Portugal and that
Huawei, somehow, enriched my life, not only from the academic point of view but also opening
my vision of this new world of possibilities, both from cultural and technological perspective.
What makes this program unique is that it also offers first-hand learning opportunities through
interactions with Huawei staff and visits to Huawei laboratories, where program participants can
witness live demonstrations of the latest technology.
Students are able to enhance their ability to adapt in the ICT industry as they gain an
understanding of the most up-to-date technologies and skills, as well as local innovation needs.
By acquiring hands-on skills, students are able to gain confidence, which helps them further excel
in their careers and in multi-cultural business environments.
There is no doubt that Seeds for Future Program exceeded my expectations.
I really enjoyed the experience and it’s now time to say thanks to Huawei for this great
opportunity.
A big thank you to all those who made this experience possible, a special thanks to Huawei
Portugal for giving me this opportunity.
One last word to my dear Vera Lemos that was with us during those two weeks, help us during
our stay, working so hard to ensure that all went well as supposed to be. She’s a person that
became a friend of mine. I’m very proud to have met so amazing people and participated in the
first edition of Portugal Seeds for the Future.
On behalf of one of the Portuguese students attended at the first edition of Portugal Seeds for
the Future,
Thank you very much.
Obrigado. Xiexie
Diogo Cardoso Serafim
29 August 2015