Year 4 Project Work Plan for Connecting the Mekong through Education and Training (USAID COMET)

The project is part of the Lower Mekong Initiative (LMI) and focuses on assisting universities and vocational centers in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. The goal is to equip 120,000 youth with the workplace skills demanded by local businesses. The project's first year focused on testing the model, which involves a methodology for revising and creating new curriculum that meets the needs of the workplace. The project initiated a series of pilot activities with businesses, technology partners, and instructors to gather initial data to develop effective and efficient interventions. During the second year, the project established 12 Mekong Learning Centers (MLCs) as a cohort of lead grantees trained on the USAID COMET's curriculum and model, known as the MekongSkills2Work model. The third year continued leadership capacity-building activities with the MLCs through Grant Program Phase 1. The project delivered all key activities and outputs, including the launch of the MekongSkills2Work web portal, implementation of the 2017 Labor Market Assessment Report, and development of online courses to train administrators and instructors. The project also provided ongoing support to the MLCs and conducted a Leadership Development Program at the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) in Singapore. In Year 4, the project will focus on deepening the content of the MekongSkills2Work portal, expanding key strategic partnerships, and providing ongoing support to the MLCs. Key activities for the year include further developing the MekongSkills2Work Network portal, promoting the portal as a resource for students, instructors, and businesses, and continuing to strengthen the leadership capacity of the MLCs. The project will also provide ongoing monitoring and support to the MLCs, organize the 2nd Leadership Summit, and guide the MLCs in institutionalization and expansion of the MekongSkills2Work model. The project aims to achieve several outcomes, including 120,000 vocational school and university students learning skills in STEM+AT fields, 40,000 vocational school instructors and 15,000 university instructors trained in teaching in-demand skills, and 100,000 users actively engaging with the MekongSkills2Work portal and social media sites. The project also aims to better meet the skilled labor needs of training institutions participating in USAID COMET. The project will continue to collaborate with private and public partners to implement project activities, encourage and support the MLCs to implement institutional innovation challenges, and conduct monitoring and evaluation data collection. The project will also conduct communications activities and promotional campaigns to promote the MekongSkills2Work portal and the project's goals.