Samsung SW·AI Academy for Youth
SW education & employment support for youth
The Samsung Youth SW·AI Academy (SSAFY) is a program that supports job seekers in achieving employment success by providing SW·AI competency enhancement education and various job placement services, leveraging Samsung's SW·AI education experience and the Ministry of Employment and Labor's job support expertise. Launched in December 2018, SSAFY has welcomed a total of 11,750 participants from its first to 13th cohorts, with 85% of graduates from the first to 11th cohorts securing employment (as of June 2025). Additionally, starting in 2025, SSAFY has been upgraded to 'SSAFY 2.0' by introducing eight new AI courses to cultivate SW developers with AI capabilities.
Top-tier,
self-directed learning
Through SSAFY, trainees not only gain algorithm-based coding skills but also execute business-based projects to become practical SW developers.
- Immersive coding-focused education
- Offer practice-based, intensive coding training
- Increase education immersion by applying game-based level-up learning methods (il-ta SSAFY, battle SSAFY, SSAFY race)
- Practical self-directed learning
- Enable trainees to improve collaboration skills and problem-solving capabilities by carrying out hands-on projects
- Encourage mutual learning, including peer code review and pair programming
- Performance-based education
- Provide opportunities to evaluate personal competence regularly through contests and software tests
- Utilize GitHub in all projects, where project performance becomes a trainee’s personal portfolio
Trainees can enhance basic knowledge of AI and algorithm-based coding skills, as well as explore key technologies including web, mobile, embedded systems, embedded robotics and data. In addition, software projects using AI enable trainees to strengthen workplace adaptability and enhance employment competitiveness.
Personalized employment support
Through practical training and individual career counseling services, we provide optimal job information tailored to each participant. Additionally, we support successful employment by organizing job fairs, recruitment exhibitions and company briefing sessions.
Giving Forward
See the impact this training has made
SSAFY, Beyond Learning, Practicing the Cycle of Giving
Se-jun Park, a graduate of SSAFY Class 10 at the Seoul Campus, despite being a software major, felt he lacked expertise in the software field. To build a solid foundation in software skills and gain practical project experience, he joined SSAFY. Se-jun diligently participated in SSAFY’s software education and job placement programs and secured a position as a software design engineer for automotive control systems at a company specializing in electronic components. “Through SSAFY’s robust curriculum, the support of consultants and job seminars, I’ve felt significant personal growth over the past year,” he said. “Looking back, every moment has been a continuous expression of gratitude.”
Upon securing his job, Se-jun decided to donate to SSAFY and its future students. Realizing the value of the support he had received, he took the initiative to give back, creating a virtuous cycle of giving to ensure that future students could also benefit from such opportunities. "While I may not be able to fully repay what I’ve received, I wanted to express at least a fraction of my gratitude. Donating provided me with a wonderful opportunity to do so. I’ve come to realize that gratitude not only brings joy to the recipient but also to the giver. In the future, I hope to actively participate in skills-based volunteering to benefit future students."
Stories of People
How enabling people can inspire change
