Hanoi, Viet Nam, May 13, 2026 – The Mekong-Republic of Korea (ROK) Cooperation is working to enhance the employability and workforce preparedness of young people in the Mekong region by equipping them with digital skills through the READY Project, or the “Responding to Employment Adaptability through Digital-Skilling for Youth in the Mekong Region”. Officially launched on May 13, 2026, with participation from Mekong partner universities, regional stakeholders, and development partners, the READY Project will be implemented by VietHope, Inc. and supported under Call 9 of the Mekong-ROK Cooperation Fund (MKCF).
The project launch and Project Advisory Committee (PAC) Meeting highlighted the growing importance of workforce adaptability and regional cooperation amid rapid digital transformation and evolving labor market demands in Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, and Viet Nam.
At the opening program, Ms. Ha Hyun, Executive Director of VietHope, emphasized that workforce-related challenges are shared across the Mekong region and stressed the importance of establishing sustainable learning platforms rather than relying solely on one-time training programs. She also highlighted the need to build adaptable capacities through collaboration among partner universities and the private sector.
Delivering congratulatory remarks, Mr. Madhurjya Kumar Dutta, Director of the MKCF at the Mekong Institute (MI), highlighted the importance of digital innovation and stronger people-to-people connectivity in regional development. Mr. Dutta also emphasized that the project should contribute to narrowing the digital gap and promoting long-term cooperation through human resource exchange and the co-development of future-ready human capital across the Mekong region.
The READY Project will support the conduct of modular, scalable, and regionally adaptable digital skills program and training of trainers (TOT) activities co-designed by universities, industry experts, and civil society. It will develop the READY Hub, a cloud-based platform for learning, certification, and knowledge sharing.
During the PAC Meeting, participants discussed measures to support effective project implementation, with emphasis on conducting labor market needs assessments aligned with priority sectors and relevant national and regional policy frameworks. Discussions also highlighted the importance of curriculum certification, university collaboration, and private sector engagement to strengthen the practical impact and long-term sustainability of the project.
For more information, please contact:
Mekong Institute
Email: [email protected]
