Hanoi Times - US Ambassador to Vietnam Michael W. Michalak participated in the launching ceremony of the new Oracle Academy under Hanoi University and Hanoi University of Commerce o­n May 6 in Hanoi.

Representatives of the two universities and Oracle Company signed the Oracle Academy Cooperation Program agreement, aiming to provide students from Hanoi University and Hanoi University of Commerce with real-world learning experiences to prepare them for key technical jobs in the global knowledge economy, such as software developers, database administrators, project managers, business analysts and managers and systems designers.

The program also provides faculty with professional development resources and opportunities to collaborate with peers and share best teaching practices. Oracle is a leading US provider of enterprise software applications.

Ambassador Michalak congratulated the participating institutions o­n addressing the critical developmental need of improving IT education and skills in Vietnam, and noted the leadership that the Vietnamese Government has demonstrated in this area. Earlier this year, the Ambassador launched a US Embassy Education Initiative to enhance educational cooperation between Vietnam and the US. Major goals of the Education Initiative include helping to increase competence and skill in the field of information technology and introducing more American curricula in Vietnam.

Launched in 1997 as o­ne of the most comprehensive academic offerings in the IT industry, the Oracle Academy has partnered with more than 3,400 institutions and supported 397,000 students across 83 countries. The Oracle Academy helps students develop the technology and business skills required for 21st century careers. It grants institutions software, curriculum, and professional development and certification resources valued annually at 2.2 billion US dollars.