Vietnam and the UK enhance vocational training cooperation

Vietnam and the UK inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in vocational education at a ceremony in Hanoi on April 5 to create a legal framework for cooperation in the field between the two countries.

The signatories were Vietnamese Minister of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs Dao Ngoc Dung on behalf of the Vietnamese Government and British Ambassador to Vietnam Gareth Ward.

Under the MoU, the two sides agreed to share experience in improving the quality of vocational education in Vietnam, encouraging businesses to get involved in vocational training, and promoting the bilateral strategic partnership between Vietnam and the UK in the coming time.

Remarkably, both nations will foster partnership between their vocational training facilities, mutually recognize certificates and training programs and implement language programs in line with job training.

The partnership will also help verify and ensure the quality of vocational training, and develop a database system in the field in Vietnam.

Minister Dao Ngoc Dung (right) and British Ambassador to Vietnam Gareth Ward (left) inked the Memorandum of Understanding. Photo: Giap Tong

Speaking at the event, Minister Dao Ngoc Dung spoke highly of assistance from the UK over the recent years, particularly in professional education via the British Council.

Vietnam is currently home to 1,929 vocational training facilities, Dung said, adding that the cooperation activities include short-term training courses to improve the quality of teachers’ business knowledge, along with developing a quality assurance system at the country's 21 colleges.

The deal is in line with Vietnam’s vocational training development strategy in the 2021-2030 period, with a vision toward 2045, which is aimed at meeting diverse demands of the labor market and higher requirements in human resources qualifications for national development in the new period.

Vietnam will focus on boosting the quality and efficiency of vocational training to meet the demand for skilled laborers for modern industrial production by 2030, while actively engaging in the international manpower training market, Dung stressed.

For his part, British Ambassador to Vietnam Gareth Ward noted that the UK will share professional knowledge on vocational training and experience in improving the quality of professional education, as well as help Vietnam build sustainable vocational training policies.

By 2025, the scale and structure of the sector are expected to meet the demand for socio-economic recovery and development, with some training facilities meeting the standards of top ASEAN countries, Gareth Ward said.

He added that through cooperation, Vietnam can improve the capacity of administration and leadership and teaching skills, increase the application of digital technology to online training and launch a number of language programs.

The same day, Minister Dung held a reception for Graham Stuart, the British Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, who is currently on a visit to Hanoi.

The two sides shared information on a number of cooperation activities related to supporting victims of human trafficking, as well as child care and protection.

Both host and guest agreed that Vietnam and the UK will beef up cooperation in the field of vocational education - a British strength that would help Vietnam improve the quality of its workforce for the future.