Samsung Electronics Co. has opened a computer software programming school for the youth with an aim to foster 10,000 young software engineers over the next five years.

The tech giant said Monday it opened Samsung SW Academy For Youth (SSAFY). The academy designed to offer a one-year program of computer programming courses aims to train young software engineers to the level that they can join the real workplace right after finishing the school, said the company.

SSAFY, which is part of the tech mogul’s ambitious 180 trillion won ($160 billion) investment plan to contribute to boosting employment and areas for future growth in the country, is sponsored by the Ministry of Employment and Labor and run by Samsung Group’s education service unit Multicampus Corp. The company announced the launch of the center in October.

The one-year program is divided into two parts - computer programming courses in the first semester and software development projects in the second semester.

Students will be selected twice a year. The first group of 500 students started the school on Monday and the second group is to be recruited in May next year. All selected students will receive the training free of charge plus a monthly stipend of 1 million won to attend the academy. Students with outstanding achievements will also gain an internship opportunity at Samsung Electronics’ research labs overseas.

By Chun Gyung-woon and Cho Jeehyun

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