Centres of excellence for vocational education
Title: Reforming technical and vocational training in Viet Nam – field of activity 2: Supporting centres of excellence for vocational training
Commissioning party: German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
Country: Socialist Republic of Viet Nam
Lead executing agency: Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA)
Overall term: 2010 to 2020
Context
Viet Nam is aiming to become an industrialised country by 2020 while following a path of green growth. Vocational education is central to this aspiration, with the demand for skilled workers increasing steadily as the economy continues to grow, new technical challenges emerge and the country pursues regional and international competitiveness.
Viet Nam’s technical and vocational education and training (TVET) system is not yet adequately focused on the country’s economic and social needs. The employment potential in growth sectors cannot be utilised owing to a lack of skilled workers. At the same time, around one million people enter the labour market each year in search of employment to earn a living.
The Government of Viet Nam has therefore put vocational skills training and employment promotion at the heart of its development goals. It aims to raise the proportion of trained workers from 32 per cent at present to 55 per cent by 2020. It also wants to align vocational training more closely with the demands of a green and sustainable economy.
Objective
The training available for the labour force in Viet Nam has improved and has been adapted to meet the needs of a green and sustainable economy.
Approach
The project supports two vocational training institutions, the International Technology College (LILAMA 2) and the Vocational College of Machinery and Irrigation (VCMI), in providing needs-based and practically oriented vocational training courses, and in fulfilling other tasks in the TVET system as centres of excellence.
With support from the project, LILAMA 2 is developing and testing training courses that adhere to German standards and are adapted to the real situation of companies in Viet Nam. The focus is on professions in sectors with especially high growth potential, such as construction mechanics, metalworking (cutting/CNC), mechatronics and industrial electronics. The participation of companies and industry associations ensures that the training programmes take a practical approach and are demand-driven.
The project is assisting LILAMA 2 in planning and implementing its training programme. It offers practical training for teachers and advises the school management on the content of courses at the centre of excellence. To ensure that workshops equipped by KfW Development Bank are used, the project supports the vocational institution’s expert trainers in operating and maintaining the equipment. In future, the centre of excellence aims to offer specialist advanced training to teachers from other vocational training institutions.
VCMI receives advice on its development into a centre of excellence for green vocational training. Support is being provided in various areas, including on the development and testing of a basic course on environmental protection, energy efficiency and resource efficiency; new training courses that focus on the needs of a green economy; and further training measures on the requirements for a green economy. The training institution is also developing the capacities to offer training courses for the teachers and managers of other vocational training institutions, and to act as a regional centre for green vocational training in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Viet Nam.
Results achieved so far
• A fundamental concept for vocational training centres of excellence has been developed together with GIZ’s partner in Viet Nam.
• Professional standards and training programmes have been developed for the four professional fields of construction mechanics, metalworking (cutting/CNC), mechatronics and industrial electronics. This involved inputs from 52 companies, four professional associations, the relevant ministries and the Directorate for Vocational Education and Training at the Ministry of Labour. The participation of the business sector ensures that the training is relevant for the labour market.
• Since 2014, 1,800 students at the LILAMA 2 centre of excellence have benefited from the improved practical orientation thanks to the additional training given to 54 teachers.
• Appropriately trained teaching staff ensure that the new machines, equipment and systems are used and maintained properly, and that occupational safety and environmental protection measures are systematically applied in the vocational training institutions.
• After attending advanced training courses at LILAMA 2, teaching staff of other vocational training institutions have improved their practical technical skills. They now deliver their institutions’ courses with greater practical orientation and employment relevance.
• Marketing activities have enhanced the social recognition of vocational education and training courses at the LILAMA 2 centre of excellence.