Kyle Jackson has his eyes firmly set on an IT career that crosses continents.
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The Federation University student is one of 24 undergraduate IT students from across Australia spending three weeks in China as part of Huawei's Seeds for the Future: China Experience program.
Kyle is currently in Beijing where the group is learning some basic language skills and Chinese culture in the community and business sectors. While there the group will also visit The Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square and the Great Wall of China.
They will then fly to Huawei's Headquarters in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, where they learn about the company's international business culture and values and spend time learning about products and solutions while receiving technical training.
For Kyle, it's the first time he has been overseas but the culture shock hasn't been quite as dramatic as he expected.
"Beijing feels very similar to most cities, especially at the airport. The only thing that's really different are the words and not being unable to understand signs and feeling a bit lost and more disconnected, but it's exciting having more independence and responsibility on you," he said from Beijing.
"But the culture shock wasn't as big as I anticipated and it's more similar to Australia than I expected."
Kyle realises an understanding of different cultures is key to a successful career with big name technology firms.
"I believe the different culture is what will really stand out the most and that is one of the most exciting discoveries that I've been very much looking forward to," he said.
"I really want to understand how business in China works so I can come back and compare it to how business in the western world works so I can get the best of both.
"I'm currently at Fed Uni doing a basic IT course, which means the year after I get an internship with IBM. They've got a very American culture so I'll understand hos their culture influences their business, and with this trip I'll understand more about Huawei and how the Chinese culture influences their business.
"Maybe down the line I'll use that in a management position or create my own business and I'll find that knowledge beneficial."
Kyle has known he was destined for a future in technology since first playing with a computer as a toddler.
"Ever since I was young, just three years old, I found myself on a computer and I've always been around them since," he said.
Kyle is a graduate of the Clontarf Foundation's education program - of which Huawei has been a long-time partner - which helps to improve the education, discipline, life skills, self-esteem and employment prospects of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men.
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