“We can’t wait to see what the future holds!”

On August 24 (local time), the 10th anniversary and 8th graduation ceremonies of ‘LG-KOICA Hope TVET College’ (hereinafter referred to as Hope TVET College) were held in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia. Hope TVET College is a two-year IT technology education institution established by KOICA and LG Electronics in 2014. It is a free educational facility that provides education, employment, and entrepreneurship opportunities to local youth who wish to pursue a career in the IT field. All 83 graduates of 2024 who gathered that day have already chosen to pursue careers in the IT field through employment or entrepreneurship. The graduates who attended the event expressed their joy, saying, “The future, once daunting, is now beginning to take concrete shape.”

Bemenet Tedes (21), a graduate who shared that his goal was to become a software program developer, said, “Graduating from here is something I am very proud of, and I will continue to progress without forgetting the support of my teachers and friends,” expressing his love for his alma mater and sharing his determination for the future.   

The event was attended by 16 key figures, including Solomon Soka, State Minister for Labour and Skills; Thirahun Woku, Head of the Addis Ababa Mayor’s Office; Jung Kang, Korean Ambassador to Ethiopia; Kim Yong-woo, President of World Together; and Lee Il-hwan, LG Electronics’ Regional Representative for the Middle East and Africa.

The reason Hope TVET College is attracting attention is that the Ethiopian government is addressing the pressing issue of youth unemployment through it. Ethiopia has experienced rapid growth, with an average annual growth rate of 11% over the past 10 years, but faces a contradictory situation with an unemployment rate of 18%. The problem of youth unemployment is particularly serious. For Ethiopia, a ‘young country’ with the working-age population aged 15 to 64 accounting for 51.5% of the total population, which is one of its biggest growth engines, the issue of youth unemployment is highlighted as a serious risk.

The Ethiopian government identifies the cause of the problem as the ‘lack of technical manpower.’ As the economy grows, the demand for skilled professionals with IT skills, rather than simple labor, increases. However, most local young people remain unskilled and work as simple laborers. This is because it has been difficult to rapidly develop a technical workforce in Ethiopia, a country that has long struggled with conflict and poverty.

To solve this problem, Ethiopia has set ‘Digital Ethiopia 2025’ as its national growth strategy starting from 2020 and is making significant efforts to build IT technology infrastructure and nurture human resources. Other vocational schools are also actively working in cooperation with various countries such as China and those in Europe to address the problem of youth unemployment, but not many have achieved significant results.

Hope TVET College has produced a total of 541 graduates so far and boasts a ‘100% employment rate,’ as all graduates have secured jobs, including employment and entrepreneurship opportunities. There have been cases of employment at LG Electronics’ local subsidiaries or partner companies, as well as instances of successful employment abroad. Tariku G/Medhin, Dean of LG-KOICA Hope TVET College, said, “Hope TVET College has been recognized by the Ethiopian government as an excellent vocational training school,” adding, “Many of the TVET schools have an employment rate of less than 50%.” 

Hope TVET College began as LG Electronics’ commitment to social contribution, aimed at supporting the descendants of Korean War veterans. By aligning with KOICA’s IBS (Inclusive Business Solution) to achieve sustainable development cooperation results, this project has started to produce remarkable outcomes. As KOICA used its expertise in international development cooperation to lay the foundation for the business in coordination with the Ethiopian government, LG Electronics provided the latest IT equipment and technical training in line with current trends, training students to become professionals ready to enter the global IT industry upon graduation. In addition, World Together, a non-profit organization specializing in international development cooperation and an incorporated association with extensive experience in assisting the descendants of war veterans in Ethiopia, has managed the project in a stable manner in accordance with the local culture and circumstances.

The true value of the ‘fully tailored to local needs’ project is also reflected in the details of the school’s operation. Over the past 10 years, the school has established itself and implemented completely free education, allowing early graduates to focus on securing stable employment. Shuttle buses and meals were provided so that vulnerable youth could participate without any burden. With 541 graduates working in the IT field both at home and abroad, a strong network has naturally formed among them.

Iyob Digape (21), who graduated from Hope TVET College this year, said, “I knew I could live a better life by learning IT skills, but as a student with no income, transportation and food expenses were burdensome, so I could only dream,” adding, “I was able to attend with peace of mind because they provided a shuttle bus to my house and lunch.” Currently, he is preparing to start a business in the IT field.  

Hope TVET College is expanding its role as a startup incubator, providing not only employment support but also technology, networks and funding to graduates who want to start a business. To strengthen the capabilities of teachers, overseas training in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, is provided to learn the latest technology and improve the curriculum. In addition to technical skills, students are also taught business etiquette, document writing, Korean language, and global business manners.

Urqu Tadele (24), who is employed at LG Electronics in Dubai after graduating from Hope TVET College, gave a thumbs up, saying, “The biggest advantage of the school is that you can ask any question and challenge anything.” He said, “I dropped out while studying electrical engineering at a university in Ethiopia, but I couldn’t let go of my regrets. So I looked into several vocational training schools but couldn’t find the right one, which caused me a lot of worry,” adding, “However, I had no reason to worry at Hope TVET College because I could freely learn the latest technology with the latest equipment.”

Hope TVET College’s achievements go beyond creating a better life for local youth. It fosters a virtuous cycle by providing quality talent to Korean companies, including LG Electronics. Graduate Neway Silesi (24) said, “After graduation, I worked at Alta Computec, a local IT company in Ethiopia, and recently received an acceptance letter from a company called ‘Dragon Electronics’ in Mauritius, East Africa. Dragon Electronics is LG’s official distributor in Mauritius, and the fact that he understands LG Electronics’ technology, operating policies, and even business culture has been helpful in his job change.

The end point of the project is the ‘sustainability’ of the school. The ultimate goal is to ensure the sustainable operation of the school while producing its own talent, including systematizing the school management system and covering part of the operating budget within the school. KOICA plans to provide technology, administrative support, and networking to help Hope TVET College become self-sustaining. Kim Hye-won, head of KOICA’s Corporate Cooperation Business Team, said, “KOICA will help Hope TVET College go beyond the role of a simple educational institution and become a cradle of social innovation that contributes to the long-term development of Ethiopia, where new technologies and challenges begin.” 

 Q  Is there any particular reason why LG Electronics has been actively supporting Korean War veterans in Ethiopia, even before the establishment of Hope TVET College?

The primary purpose of establishing LG Electronics Ethiopia Office was social contribution rather than business. In addition to educational projects, the LG Electronics Ethiopia Office is also engaged in social contribution activities, such as building LG Hope Village and providing vaccines. The former Chairman of LG Corporation established the LG Electronics Ethiopia Office with the message, “Ethiopia is a country that helped us during our most difficult times, so let’s find a way to give back.” Just as Ethiopia sent its carefully nurtured young people to support Korea during the Korean War, the LG Electronics Ethiopia Office believed that by sharing the advanced technology it had developed over the years, it could help lay a foundation for Ethiopia’s self-reliance and sustainable growth. That’s why LG Electronics partnered with KOICA, which has expertise in providing grant aid, from the very beginning.

 Q  As for the technical training, couldn’t it have been possible with LG Electronics alone?

LG Electronics wanted to be genuinely helpful, not just convey technology and show off. Money and technology don’t solve everything. LG Electronics needed a partner who could work smoothly with the local community, someone who understood what was needed and how to help. This is why it joined hands with KOICA.

 Q  What skills are taught at Hope TVET College?

The main curriculum includes information and communications technology, as well as electrical and electronic technologies. Hope TVET College also teaches document writing and business etiquette to prepare students for the global business market. There is also a system to help students advance into LG Electronics and affiliated companies around the world through internships, which provide education on the Korean language, Korean culture, and LG Electronics products and technology.

 Q  They say that Hope TVET College uses the latest equipment for training.

Students can become skilled workers with meaningful expertise by learning the latest technology using the latest equipment. Thankfully, LG Electronics Middle East and Africa regional headquarters has been donating its latest products.

 Q  Is it true that a 100% employment rate has been achieved?

Yes, while focusing on quality education, LG Electronics also paid attention to administrative support. When students reach their graduation year, they are asked to choose their desired career path between employment and starting a business, and a tailored curriculum is provided to suit their choice. For students seeking employment, LG Electronics utilizes its network to provide support, such as internships and job placement, for outstanding students. We also encourage employment abroad, such as in Saudi Arabia and Mauritius. If they want to start a business, we help them learn management skills needed outside of technology, such as law and accounting, and assist them in finding office space at a low cost. We also provide support with necessary tools and supplies. Thanks to this, the companies that hire or collaborate with them are highly satisfied, and we are discovering that there is an unexpected virtuous cycle within LG Electronics.

 Q  Please explain in detail the ‘virtuous cycle’ you mentioned.

When global companies, including those from Korea, do business in developing countries such as Africa, they face significant difficulty in recruiting good talent and finding reliable partners. This is not a matter of technical proficiency, but of the differences in manners and culture that prevail in global business. However, Hope TVET College teaches the Korean language, Korean culture, and business manners along with technology, providing a solution to the problem of recruiting quality local talent. In addition, as these students and their families increase their affinity for LG Electronics and Korea, there is even a marketing effect, such as the creation of ‘die-hard fans.’ LG Electronics has simply tried to return the favor, but it has ended up receiving help from them in business.

 Q  What is the goal you want to achieve?

The goal is to make Hope TVET College the most prestigious school in Ethiopia, producing talented individuals with outstanding abilities and warm hearts. Another goal is to expand the field to include Korean language education, B2B education, and management and accounting, in addition to technical positions, in the future. With the cooperation of the Ethiopian government, the aim is to transform it into a school that offers formal degrees. Another goal is to expand the field of education to include management and accounting, in addition to Korean language, B2B education, and technologies, in the future, as well as to turn it into a school that offers formal degrees with the cooperation of the Ethiopian government. LG Electronics plans to create a larger trend in which good deeds lead to business opportunities and mutual development.