International seminar on vocational training held in Vietnam

Bringing the Learning Home - annual international seminar organised by the British Council, building international skills partnerships - is being held in Vietnam for the first time from October 25-26.

It is the largest ever seminar with 190 participants from 16 countries worldwide.

The seminar happened simultaneously as Vietnam hosts the 10th ASEAN skills competition in Hanoi with participation of 300 contestants from ASEAN countries.

Multilateral collaborations are formed and progressed between vocational training institutions in developed and developing countries, between industries and education institutions, and between governments, education institutions and industry.

British Council believes that international partnership is the key factor in filling gaps between industries’ demands and current skills provision. Also through partnership, developing countries can speed up procedures for reforming curriculums, program and skills development.

Focusing on building partnerships in skills development, this year’s event brings together major industry representatives, including Microsoft, Rolls-Royce Vietnam, Intel Vietnam, Ford South Africa, IDG Ventures Vietnam and Viglacera. Attending representatives from leading vocational training institutions from UK and the region such as People 1st, ProSkills UK, SEAMEO VOCTECH (The Southeast Asian regional centre for vocational and technical education) will present on their roles in improving the quality of vocational training.

Photo: British Council Vietnam

In addition, national and international vocational training institutions and policy makers are shareing new ideas for skills development and share perspectives on global skills development.

“The development of the skills needed for young people to succeed in a highly competitive employment market is a vitally important factor in ensuring national prosperity and security in the 21st century. This seminar brings together employers, educators and experts in international education, from a diverse range of countries including Egypt, the Philippines, Brunei and South Africa,” said Cherry Gough, Country Director of the British Council Vietnam.

The world economy is now facing an imbalance in supply and demand of skilled labor force. In Vietnam, this challenge is even clearer when the proportion of young population and population of a working age keeps increasing but has limited skills and labor productivity.

According to Dr Duong Duc Lan, Director of General Department of Vocational Training under the Vietnam’s Ministry of Labor, War-Invalids and Social Affairs, skills training and education, assessment and recognition are priority objectives in the national strategy for workforce, educational and vocational development towards 2020. In this context, the seminar will bring opportunities for partners and stakeholders to meet and discuss effective and sustainable cooperation of vocational training and skills development.

Bringing the Learning Home represents the biggest ever international skills partnership global call, with the highest number of partners involved. The fund will open up opportunities with 14 new partners in China, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Libya, Myanmar, Pakistan, South Africa, Tunisia, Vietnam and Yemen.

On this occasion, the General Department of Vocational Training, British Council in Vietnam and online newspaper VNExpress announced winners of the 21st century skills’ photo contest. The contest attracted 253 entries and approximately 10 million viewers with the message "Choose vocational training to develop the country and look towards the future".

(Source: CPV)