Multiyear investment to enhance technology education and skills development for the youth in the country
HANOI, VIETNAM, 24 March 2015 – Microsoft today announced that it will invest US$3 million in Vietnam over the next three years as part of the company’s global YouthSpark commitment to empower young people with opportunities for education, employment, and entrepreneurship. The investment will be used to provide technology skills training, along with connections to employment and entrepreneurial opportunities for young people across Vietnam.
This latest announcement cements Microsoft’s long-term commitment to Vietnam’s future – helping to develop its economy, driving innovation and empowering the people of Vietnam to do and achieve more for themselves, their families and their country.
César Cernuda, President of Microsoft Asia Pacific, said: “Vietnam is an important emerging market for Microsoft in Southeast Asia with great growth potential. With its large, young, highly-mobile and socially-engaged population, we believe that the country is poised to fully leverage the power of technology to grow and compete on a global stage. We are making this commitment to empower Vietnam’s digital generation to transform the future and further develop its economy under our YouthSpark program.”
Dang Huy Dong, Vietnam Deputy Minister for Planning and Investment, said: “As the Vietnamese Government moves towards realizing its vision of becoming a strong IT-led country in 2020, rapid industrialization and modernization will bring about infrastructure, education and skills challenges. We thank Microsoft for joining and supporting our efforts to strengthen and develop a solid IT infrastructure and for bringing the YouthSpark program to Vietnam. YouthSpark will be invaluable in helping Vietnamese youth learn more about technology and be equipped with the right skills to firmly set them on a future career path.”
The YouthSpark program in Vietnam will focus on three areas: development of employees, broadening investment to youth across Vietnam and supporting young leaders in the country. Vietnam is currently home to Microsoft’s Mobile Devices manufacturing business, which houses more than 10,000 employees in the Bac Ninh province. Part of the US$3 million investment will be used to provide on-site IT training for factory employees to help them develop new skills and discover new opportunities.
In rolling out its YouthSpark investments, Microsoft will be partnering with local Non-Governmental Organizations: the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry and VietNet Information Technology and Communication Center (VietNet-ICT) and the Kenan Institute Asia.
“As Microsoft’s long-time community partner in Vietnam, I would like to recognize the company’s efforts to improve lives in any country where it operates. YouthSpark is a great initiative that helps create opportunities for young people. We are very excited about our continued partnership with Microsoft to help deploy this program in Vietnam,” said Dr. Pham Thi Thu Hang, General Secretary of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Vu Minh Tri, General Director of Microsoft Vietnam, said: “The latest investment is in line with the government’s efforts to develop the country’s human capital to raise its regional and global competitiveness. This is also another step toward transforming Vietnam’s into an advanced IT nation in 2020 as part of its 10-year ICT development plan, where youths will play a critical role. We look forward to partnering non-governmental organizations and non-profit organizations to empower them with the necessary ICT skills to help make this a reality.”
Microsoft will collaborate with VietNet-ICT to implement the Bac Ninh Province Training Roadshow on Basic Technology Skills and provide training to 1,200 young people. In addition, Microsoft will extend its existing commitment to train underserved youth and in partnership with VietNet-ICT aims to reach 16,500 young people in Bac Ninh, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh over the next three years.
To promote Computer Science, Microsoft will localize its Virtual Academy Learn to Code Videos into Vietnamese and introduce a Coding Roadshow to Universities in Bac Ninh, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Graduate Internships at Microsoft Factory will also be offered to university students and Microsoft will extend its three-year commitment to Small and Medium-sized Enterprises and provide training for 5,000 young start-ups in partnership with VCCI.
Microsoft also plans to deliver a range of technology courses and resources to thousands of youth over the next three years in an effort to help them become future innovators in the transformation of Vietnam. These will include digital literacy skills, coding and computer science classes, as well as internships and scholarships. The YouthSpark Hub, an online portal containing rich resources and information on free YouthSpark programs and activities that young people can sign-up for, will be fully localized in the Vietnamese language and can be viewed at www.youthsparkhubVietnam.vn.
In line with its global YouthSpark initiative, Microsoft will be inviting Ms. Như Quỳnh Nguyễn to join its Global YouthSpark Advisory Council as a representative not just for the Vietnamese youth but for youth across the APAC region. The advisory council consists of young high achievers from across the world and Quynh will share her perspective and help Microsoft create programs, partnerships and resources that continue to meet the needs of youth around the world. Her involvement will be especially important as Microsoft expands technology education to turn the tide of rising youth unemployment. Quynh is completing a master’s degree in Water-Environment-Oceanography at the University of Science and Technology of Hanoi and she founded Pioneer Fish, a volunteer organization that provides career orientation and skills training for students.
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About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services, devices and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
About Microsoft YouthSpark
Microsoft YouthSpark is a global initiative that aims to create opportunities for 300 million youth in more than 100 countries by 2015. This companywide initiative includes Citizenship and other company programs that empower youth to imagine and realize their full potential by connecting them with greater opportunities for education, employment and entrepreneurship. Learn more at www.microsoft.com/youthspark.
