Microsoft announces $3 million YouthSpark programme in Vietnam

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 do and achieve more for themselves, their families and their country.

“Vietnam is an important emerging market for Microsoft in Southeast Asia with great growth potential," said César Cernuda, president of Microsoft Asia Pacific. "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 programme.”

The YouthSpark programme in Vietnam will focus on three areas: development of employees, broadening investment to youth across Vietnam and supporting young leaders in the country.

Dang Huy Dong, Deputy Minister for Planning and Investment, said: “As the Vietnamese government moves towards realising its vision of becoming a strong IT-led country in 2020, rapid industrialisation and modernisation will bring about infrastructure, education and skills challenges. 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."

Vietnam is currently home to Microsoft’s Mobile Devices manufacturing business, which houses more than 10,000 employees in the the northern province of Bac Ninh. Part of the $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.

Vu Minh Tri, general director of Microsoft Vietnam, said: “The latest investment is in line with the Vietnamese 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 organisations and non-profit organisations to empower them with the necessary ICT skills to help make this a reality.”

In rolling out its YouthSpark investment, Microsoft will be partnering with the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and VietNet Information Technology and Communicasiton Centre (VietNet-ICT) and the Kenan Institute Asia.

“As Microsoft’s long-time community partner in Vietnam, I would like to recognise 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.

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 localise 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.

The YouthSpark Hub, an online portal containing rich resources and information on free YouthSpark programmes and activities that young people can sign-up for, will be fully localised in the Vietnamese language and can be viewed at www.youthsparkhubVietnam.vn.