iCare helps students access higher education
iCare helps students access higher education
iCare Benefits, a for-profit enterprise which targets lower income workers, is continuing to work with its partner Pakpasak Technical College to help improve accessibility to higher education in areas such as technical training and scholarships.
iCare Benefits, which is a subsidiary of Mobivi Vietnam, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Pakpasak Technical College last Friday, witnessed by representatives from the Ministry of Education and Sports.
The MOU was signed by iCare Benefits CEO Ms Toomkham Phoungmachan and Director of Pakpasak Technical College, Mr Saikham Phanthavong, aiming to help bridge the gap between cost and accessibility to acquiring a higher education or training for many low-income families who cannot afford the costs.
Ms Toomkham said iCare is dedicated to improving the lives of factory workers and their families by providing access to social benefits, healthcare, scholarships, education and training.
So, she added, the MOU would be an important stepping-stone for both parties to help implement the education plans, services, and deliver quality education and training.
In return, iCare currently welcomes students at Pakpasak College to participate in various internships at the iCare office in Vientiane.
This unique opportunity would allow students to gain practical skills and experience working at a social enterprise company.
Every year iCare administers between five to 10 scholarships to children of members who have difficulties accessing quality education and training. iCare will be the main facilitator for children of low-income families to access education programmes at Pakpasak College for 6 month terms.
Ms Toomkham added this would encourage young people to start their careers and help to decrease the burden of tuition costs to their families; in turn this will increase enrolment at Pakpasak College and advertise programmes and courses.
Mr Saikham stressed that the MOU will play an important role to boost training in both the short and long term and aid the college's efforts to serve the country's labour growth needs through iCare's education loans.
