SAP and UNICEF announced a new partnership on Tuesday to provide quality education, life skills and digital skills training to adolescents in disadvantaged communities in Vietnam, preparing them for decent work and active citizenship.

The three-year partnership, joining hands with the Vietnamese government, will focus on enhancing digital and transferable skills for 11,000 secondary school and technical and vocational education and training students in Vietnam in the first year, to allow them to develop to their full potential and support employability.

Special attention will be paid to the inclusion of girls, including those from ethnic minorities as well as adolescents with a disability.

The partnership will look to integrate life skills and digital skills firmly into the national secondary school curriculum, into workforce readiness programs of Vietnam’s National Institute of Vocational Training; and will undertake in-depth research to better inform and connect the private sector with future talents, especially those of the most vulnerable groups.

Globally, more than one in five young people today are neither in employment, education nor training.

Many more are not learning the skills they need to seek decent employment, as today’s rapidly changing economy demands increasingly specialized skills.

“For adolescents, the path to a successful future is underpinned by quality education that equips them – and empowers them – with the skills they need to thrive,” said UNICEF representative Rana Flowers.

“Where memory was crucial in the past, tomorrow’s workers will instead need problem-solving skills, empathy, communication and digital skills.

“Adolescents are some of the country’s most creative and enthusiastic thinkers. We are excited to work with SAP to harness young people’s energy and ideas and help them contribute to their economy and society.”

The collaboration forms part of Generation Unlimited, a global partnership working to prepare young people to become engaged and productive citizens.

Launched one year ago, Generation Unlimited convenes multisector public and private investment in education and employment of youth, while engaging young people in these efforts.

“People are anxious about the opportunity gap in this new economy,” said SAP Vietnam managing director Josephin Galla.

“Businesses need to take meaningful steps to upskill the current and future workforce, regardless of their age or where they live in the world.

“Together with UNICEF, SAP will focus on starting in the classroom where the foundation for every career is built.

“We will increase collaboration with the public sector and focus on the best possible curriculum to prepare future workers.

“This is another example where doing what’s right and doing what’s right for business are in perfect harmony.”

As the Experience Company powered by the Intelligent Enterprise, SAP is the market leader in enterprise application software, helping companies of all sizes and in all industries run at their best.

SAP helps give people and organizations deep business insight and fosters collaboration that helps them stay ahead of their competition.

SAP Vietnam opened its doors to business 11 years ago, and during these 11 years of operations, the company continues to serve over 450 customers in nine industries.

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