On January 16, KONE, a global leader in the elevator and escalator industry, and the University of Transport and Communications officially opened an on-campus KONE Academy in Hanoi. The result of cooperation between KONE and the University to boost elevator and escalator maintenance in northern Vietnam, the opening was witnessed by Mr. Touko Piiparinen, Deputy Ambassador of the Republic of Finland to Vietnam and Laos.

The new training center - KONE’s first in Hanoi - will play an important role in helping improve the elevator and escalator industry’s technical proficiency, safety, and service excellence across northern Vietnam. Through apprenticeships and in-house training programs, undergraduate and postgraduate students will gain hands-on technical experience and practical insights into elevators and escalators. Even visitors, including students taking non-related courses as well as KONE customers and partners, can look forward to a host of interactive activities and exhibits on the world of vertical transport.

Mr. King Cheng, Managing Director for Vietnam at KONE, said it is leading the way in the elevator and escalator industry, particularly with digital and sustainable solutions, to improve the flow of urban life. “This cooperative endeavor with the University of Transport and Communications further reflects our commitment to nurturing young talent from northern Vietnam in elevator and escalator installation, operations, and maintenance,” he said. “We look forward to cooperating with more industry partners to continue growing a strong pipeline of future-ready workers and to support Vietnam’s ambition of creating smarter and more sustainable cities by 2030.”

“The school is very interested in investing in and focusing on international cooperation in training and research and development in science and technology,” Associate Professor Nguyen Thanh Chuong, Vice President of the University of Transport and Communications, told the ceremony. “This program not only aims to train staff and students for the school and the transportation industry, but also to help reputable companies and corporations in the world perfect technology and penetrate into and develop in Vietnam. I believe that the KONE Academy in Hanoi will contribute to helping KONE’s brand and reputation grow through high-quality trained human resources.”

For over 20 years, KONE has pioneered innovative and sustainable solutions in Vietnam to improve the flow of urban life. It has been instrumental in delivering key real estate projects in the country, including Masteri Centre Point, LUMIÈRE Riverside, and Lancaster Legacy in Ho Chi Minh City, the JW Marriott Hotel, Lancaster Luminaire, and My Dinh Pearl in Hanoi, and Techcombank Towers in both Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. The company has also been recognized for its commitment to environmental sustainability and social responsibility. In 2023, KONE was conferred both the prestigious Sao Khue Award and the “Best Building Materials Supplier” accolade at the Vietnam Outstanding Property Awards for its KONE 24/7 Connected Services innovation. It also bagged the Vietnam Smart City Award 2022 for its world-first digitally-connected KONE DX Class elevator.