About 10 to 15% of the global markets account to Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) alone. This industry is currently thriving among developing countries in Asia like Viet Nam, ranking fifth of the twenty emerging markets with the highest potential for BPO growth.
BPOs do not only provide a wide array of solutions for cost reduction and business growth, but also open various employment opportunities for people with basic skills. However, the skills demanded by BPOs are not often harnessed by marginalized groups such as persons with disabilities (PWDs), stay-at-home women, and youth in rural areas. To bridge this gap, ASSIST, in partnership with DIGI-TEXX, a digital services provider in Viet Nam, the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA) and select partner BPO companies, will establish an e-learning platform that will enable remote training for marginalized groups through this project called DIGI-CONNECT. With the help of local vocational schools and training institutions, training modules focused on data processing skills shall be developed. Internet cafes are also tapped to provide access to target beneficiaries who lack equipment to pursue training.
It is estimated that this initiative will reach 10,000 people in rural Viet Nam. By the end of the project around 2,000 trained individuals will be employed by DIGI-TEXX and partner companies, and will be working from their homes instead of travelling to BPO offices located in the cities. As digitalization takes over traditional learning methods, initiatives like DIGICONNECT promote inclusive learning by providing access to opportunities for the underserved sectors.
Contributed by Patricia Catu
