Samsung R&D Institute Philippines (SRPH) continues to inspire innovation through its flagship corporate citizenship program, SPARK11, now in its third iteration. Collaborating with UP Rural High School (UPRHS), the program empowers aspiring engineers with a curriculum covering agile methodologies, data structures, and problem-solving paradigms. The program culminates in a two-phase structure: a 10-session workshop followed by a four-week mentorship phase, leading to a grand finale where students pitch their projects.

Last May 15, the program concluded with presentations from seven groups, judged on innovativeness, necessity, suitability, and feasibility. The top three winners were recognized for their creative solutions, with a study on Filipino students’ math performance taking first place. Winners received Galaxy Buds3, while all participants took home SPARK11 merchandise.

Mentors like Jerome Cedrick Magtibay praised the students’ creativity and resilience. “I was deeply moved by their motivation to create solutions that benefit their community,” he shared. Despite challenges in balancing schedules and academic pressures, Jerome found the experience rewarding. “Each student has a unique way of communicating,” he noted. “I’m glad my approach resonated with my mentees.”

For students, SPARK11 was transformative, teaching the importance of empathy in addressing real-world challenges. As SPARK11 evolves, SRPH remains committed to nurturing future engineers and innovators, fostering empathy, creativity, and problem-solving skills among young minds. With each iteration, the program reaffirms its mission to ignite curiosity and inspire meaningful change, ensuring the spark of innovation continues to burn brightly for years to come.