(BNP) – On May 15th, Bac Ninh Provincial People’s Committee and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) jointly held a signing ceremony for the Record of Discussion (RoD) on a vocational training cooperation programme aimed at developing skilled workers and human resources through support for the Vietnam Korea College of Industrial Technology in Bac Giang ward (VK-Tech) of Bac Ninh province.
Scenes of the signing ceremony.
The signing ceremony was attended by Le Xuan Loi, member of the Bac Ninh Provincial Party Standing Committee and Vice Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee; Lee Byung Hwa, Country Director of KOICA Vietnam; representatives from provincial departments and agencies; and the leadership of the College.
The project, funded by KOICA through a grant of USD 7.5 million (equivalent to approximately 9.675 billion Korean won), is scheduled to be implemented from 2026 to the end of 2029 at the Vietnam-Korea College of Technology in Bac Giang.
The project aims to contribute sustainably to the economic and industrial development of Vietnam and Bac Ninh province by strengthening the connection between vocational training and both domestic and international employment opportunities. It is expected to help develop a highly skilled workforce for key industries, enhance labor market cooperation between Vietnam and South Korea, and create greater access to vocational education and suitable job opportunities for disadvantaged groups.
According to the discussion minutes, the project focuses on four key components: developing a platform for training skilled workers for Vietnam’s industrial sector; providing vocational training for skilled workers; supporting job placement for trained workers in both Vietnam and South Korea; and strengthening partnerships to create high-quality employment opportunities.
Mr. Lee Byung Hwa speaks at the signing ceremony.
KOICA plans to dispatch a number of experts in project management, industrial workforce development, welding technology training, mechanical processing, curriculum development, and job placement support. At the same time, the organization will support instructor training programs in South Korea, organize policy workshops, and conduct project launch, mid-term review, and closing ceremonies.
In terms of investment scale, the project earmarks more than USD 2 million for training equipment, nearly USD 870,000 for curriculum development, and almost USD 488,000 for faculty capacity building. In addition, over USD 405,000 will be allocated for scholarships and student living support, alongside funding for recruitment networking and communication activities aimed at enhancing public awareness of vocational education.
Mr. Lee Byung Hwa highly appreciated the proactive and close coordination of the Bac Ninh Provincial People’s Committee, relevant departments and agencies, and the Vietnam-Korea College of Technology in Bac Giang throughout the preparation and completion of procedures for project implementation.
He also affirmed that KOICA will continue to work closely with related stakeholders to effectively implement the signed agreements, thereby contributing to improving the quality of vocational education and developing a highly skilled workforce for Vietnam. The project is also expected to create more sustainable employment opportunities for young people and disadvantaged groups, while further strengthening cooperation between Vietnam and South Korea in labor and vocational education in the coming years.
Vice Chairman Le Xuan Loi delivers a speech at the ceremony.
Speaking at the ceremony, Vice Chairman Le Xuan Loi highly appreciated KOICA’s support for Vietnam and Bac Ninh province in vocational education and human resource development. He emphasized that the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding serves as an important foundation for the project to be officially launched in the near future.
Representatives from Bac Ninh province in collaboration with the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), sign Record of Discussion.
The Vice Chairman affirmed that the Bac Ninh Provincial People’s Committee will work closely with KOICA and relevant agencies to effectively organize, implement, and supervise the project in line with its objectives, timeline, and expected outcomes. He also expressed his hope that KOICA would continue to expand cooperation with Bac Ninh province in areas such as human resource development, digital transformation, high technology, and vocational skills training for young people.
Vice Chairman Le Xuan Loi presents gift to Mr. Lee Byung Hwa.
