The 2025 edition of Samsung Innovation Campus (sic) provides young professionals with skills increasingly demanded by the labor market, particularly AI, programming, and problem-solving. The program aims to participants aged 18-29 and integrates technical and soft skills training to prepare graduates for evolving job requirements.
“At Samsung Innovation Campus, we aim to open the path and transform knowledge into opportunities for everyone,” said Lorena De Lima, senior manager of corporate citizenship at Samsung Electronics Mexico at MBN. She adds that the program will adapt the curriculum from Korea to local contexts, highlighting practical, project-based learning that meets industry needs.
Since 2021, SIC has trained over 1,000 young people. The program, originally focused on the Internet of Things, shifted to AI after employers showed increasingly that candidates were expecting AI to apply, even if employers were increasingly expecting candidates to apply AI, and even if employers didn't explicitly list it. Industry analysis confirms this trend. Less than 1% of Mexican design and technology lists formally mention AI despite widespread adoption across the organization.
The program also addresses gender disparities in STEM. Cultural expectations often limit women's access to technology training, so SIC expanded eligibility to ages 18-25 to 18-29, including women who gained greater independence. “Women are just as capable as men. In many cases, they simply lack opportunities and encouragement,” says de Lima.
Ceneval plays an important role in strengthening the program's focus on soft skills. “At Ceneval, we believe that assessments are aware of and recognize development,” Ceneval Director Carmen Rodríguez tells MBN. “We participated in Samsung Innovation Campus to combine education and technology to change our lives. By proofing soft skills along with technical knowledge, we help participants become not only skilled professionals, but also conscious and responsible citizens.”
Participants complete a 20-hour soft skills training, after which Ceneval issues microcredinences based on practical, real-world assessments. “Our assessments are made up of cases and circumstances in which participants can demonstrate their ability to apply learning skills in a specialized environment,” says Rodriguez. “This includes leadership, teamwork, empathy and other abilities that are essential to the workplace.”
Official microcredinance provides verifiable evidence of participants' abilities. “In technical areas where innovation requires both technical proficiency and collaborative skills, these accreditations enhance employability and competitiveness, and give the alumni the benefits they want inclusive profiles,” says Rodriguez.
Ceneval certification also contributes to measurable and sustainable advances in filling the gap between gender and STEM opportunities. “The use of objective assessments and microcredentials allows us to track the skill development of all participants, including women and underrepresented groups,” says Rodriguez. “This data will help identify areas of improvement and guide strategies to ensure inclusion and equity over time.” The diverse technical committees examine the assessments and ensure that they reflect the rich diversity of Mexico's academic and social landscapes.
Beyond SIC, Rodriguez sees standardized soft skills certification as a driver for national talent development. “In emerging sectors such as AI where technology is rapidly evolving, human capabilities such as leadership, critical thinking, and collaboration are the differentiators. Formal recognition of these skills prepares young people to innovate, develop future excellence and foster challenges.
This timing reflects broader global concerns about workforce transformation. A 2025 report by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and Poland's NASK found that 25% of jobs around the world are exposed to generation AI, the most impact in high-income countries, with significant exposure to women and in the role of customer service. Most roles are expected to evolve rather than disappear, creating an urgent demand for increasing analytical thinking, resilience, leadership and technical literacy.
SIC aims to address these needs directly. Alumni have improved their technical capabilities, confidence and leadership skills, allowing them to navigate AI-driven changes in the labor market.
