Hai Duong Vocational School cooperates internationally to improve human resource training

Seize the opportunity

The strategy for vocational education development for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2045, issued by the Government in 2021, clearly states that "vocational education will be developed in an open, flexible, and modern direction, with a focus on investment and promoting international cooperation to develop a number of vocational education institutions, training sectors, and occupations to reach levels equivalent to those in the region and the world."

Hai Duong currently has 33 vocational training institutions and enterprises participating in vocational training activities, many of which tend to cooperate with foreign organizations to train human resources. Typically, Hai Duong Central College of Pharmacy cooperates with the Republic Polytechnic University (RP) of Singapore; College of Construction Mechanics cooperates with Asia Society for Social Improvement and Sustainable Transformation Inc (Philippines non-governmental organization); College of Waterway Transport I cooperates with PUM (Dutch non-governmental organization)...

Hai Duong vocational training institutions mainly cooperate internationally in two forms. Cooperate with international enterprises to train and supply human resources; support schools with facilities and equipment to help attract students and increase employment opportunities for students after graduation. Cooperate with universities, colleges, and international organizations to conduct student exchange courses, train lecturers, transfer technology, support language training; send students to study abroad or work in the host country...

According to Mr. Nguyen Minh Vy, Vice Principal of the College of Waterway Transport I in Nam Dong Ward (Hai Duong City), international cooperation in any form is an opportunity for vocational schools to develop and catch up with the increasingly strong integration trend. This is also the need of learners in the coming time. Last March, the school discussed cooperation with the Harlingen Maritime Institute and the PUM Organization of the Netherlands to develop modern training programs.

Dutch experts will support the school's lecturers in improving their knowledge and skills; helping teachers and students use modern radar and ship control systems and operate ships powered by LNG (liquefied natural gas) to save fuel and transport passengers safely. "This is a great opportunity for the College of Waterway Transport I to develop the profession of inland waterway vehicle control to a new level and become a national key profession, meeting international standards," Mr. Vy shared.

Level Up

International cooperation helps vocational training institutions in Hai Duong receive experience and technology from advanced countries in the world; attracting students. Mr. Vu Xuan Kien, Vice Principal of the College of Tourism and Industry (Cam Giang) affirmed that reality has shown that when the school introduces international cooperation training programs, it creates interest and attracts students, thereby enhancing the prestige and appeal of vocational schools.

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Hai and his son attended the 2024 vocational education and recruitment consultation fair co-organized by the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs on April 9 with the same opinion. Mr. Hai said that when vocational schools introduced majors with specialized foreign training programs and international certificates, he found them much more attractive. By registering for such vocational training, students not only have access to international standard programs but also practice with modern machinery and equipment. The most outstanding advantage is that they can apply for jobs at FDI enterprises and have the opportunity to work abroad.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Huong, Head of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (College of Construction Mechanics in Sao Do Ward, Chi Linh) said that at the end of 2023, the College of Construction Mechanics was one of 20 schools nationwide selected by the Asia Society for Social Improvement and Sustainable Transformation Inc. to implement the "Green Electricity Vocational Training Center" project. To be selected, the school, in addition to meeting training quality standards, also had a suitable team of teachers and facilities that met the requirements. "This organization will directly sponsor equipment for teaching and learning in the field of electricity and electronics, focusing on green electricity and automation, so the school's lecturers and students were also carefully selected to participate in the project," Ms. Huong shared.

When it comes to international cooperation, some vocational training institutions in Hai Duong have realized that language barriers have a significant impact on this orientation. In fact, the foreign language ability of both lecturers and students in Hai Duong is still limited. Many teachers are reluctant to approach new training programs and modern machinery and equipment provided by foreign organizations or included in training programs when cooperating... Only when these basic barriers are removed can international cooperation in training quality human resources in Hai Duong be effective.