Programs of Google Career Certificate and Google for Startups - Startup Academy Vietnam were officially launched today. They are aimed at supporting Vietnam's digital transformation by providing digital skills training that can lead to careers in tech and help Vietnamese start-ups grow.

Delegates attend the launching ceremony. Photo: Phi Nhat

The launching ceremony was jointly organized by the Ministry of Planning and Investment, Google and the Vietnam Innovation Center (VNIC) at the "Grow together for a better future" event in Hanoi.

Under the program, Google will provide 20,000 certificate scholarships to student learners and mid-career professionals. It will be working closely with VNIC and in collaboration with over 40 local universities and vocational institutions to allocate the scholarships. Among them, some 3,000 will be available on the website: nhataiso.nic.gov.vn for candidates who are either individuals or from businesses and organizations to sign up.

According to AlphaBeta’s latest report on “Unlocking the Vietnam Digital Potential”, if leveraged fully, digital transformation in Vietnam could create US$74 billion in annual economic value by 2030. Two of the key pillars of action the report identifies to fully harness the growth potential are the development of the local tech ecosystem and the need to train workers and students with digital skills. 

When the Covid-19 pandemic hit, more businesses in Vietnam quickly faced the need to work, sell, and communicate with their customers online. In 2021, the country recorded 5,600 new technology businesses, which led to high demand for digitally skilled workers in areas of IT roles & Data Analytics.

However, education and training programs in the IT sector haven’t been able to keep up with the surging need for digital talent, which has resulted in a growing digital skills gap in the job market. The two programs will help close the skills gap by providing more learning and growth opportunities for local talents and start-ups in Vietnam. 

The curriculum is created by Google's in-house experts and designed to equip students with fundamental skills through hands-on learning, allowing them to progress at their own pace while studying or working. 

Stephanie Davis, Google's Vice President for Southeast Asia (SEA) & South Asia Frontier said: “We are committed to accelerating the nation's digital transformation and supporting the government’s efforts to build a strong digital talent pool and helping local start-ups thrive. Google Career Certificates and Google for Startups, Startup Academy Vietnam aim to unlock opportunities for more people by creating pathways to digital jobs and supporting Vietnamese entrepreneurs on their journeys.”  

Vietnam’s innovative ecosystem is now entering the critical development phase that needs a lot of investment and in-depth support to develop innovative start-ups and form a high-quality and internationally recognized talent pool, Tran Quoc Phuong, Vice Minister of Investment and Planning said.

“This is also one of the coordinating activities between the Vietnam Ministry of Planning and Investment and big corporations to maximize the resources and international support to develop innovative ecosystems and startups for Vietnam,” the Vice Minister added.

Phuong said he believed that the program will achieve its objectives, contribute to improving the quality of human resources, support start-ups, develop technology solutions to create positive change, and spread the spirit of innovation in Vietnam.

The initiatives are inspired by the past success of similar programs, including Google Developers Launchpad Accelerators which helped local startups like Elsa Speak go global, as well as Accelerate Vietnam Digital 4.0, which trained 650,000 small business workers, including the founder of banh Chung nuong bac who pivoted to selling online during the pandemic.