Workers needed for major IT projects

Hanoi Times – Five global IT giants – Intel, Renesas, Campal, Samsung and Foxconn – have invested almost US$ 10 billion in Vietnam to produce cell phones, communication appliance and computers.

Intel Vietnam needs about 4,000 skilled workers, including 1,000 engineers who have majored in electronics, IT and automation.

The company says its demand for labor will increase after 2011.

Renesas wants about 1,000 engineers.

Taiwan’s Foxconn plans to invest US$ 5 billion in Vietnam during the next five years and needs up to 50,000 workers.

Taiwanese laptop and communication appliances maker Campal needs are up to 1,200 skilled workers to send abroad to train managers as well as thousands of less-skilled workers.

IBM needs 2,000 engineers; FPT needs 3,000 while Boeing needs at least 1,000 software engineers for each contract with Vietnam.

Vietnam Software Association General Secretary Pham Tan Cong says the association will need 5,000 software engineers this year.

The Education and Training and the Information and Communications ministries are drafting a master plan for the training of IT personnel toward 2015.

It includes recommendations to improve the skills of teaching staff with o­ne teacher to each 15 students by 2015.

The plan requires 50 percent of tertiary teachers to have MAs and 30 percent Ph.Ds and for the renewal of training methodology and improvement of English studies.

The performance of vocational training schools will be monitored and the ministry will employ experts to analyze and appraise IT training and assess the real requirements of potential IT employees.