Vietnam Aims to Internationalise Vocational Education and Training

The VET Toolbox project, funded by the EU, was launched in September of 2021. 

The project was initiated so that a framework for qualifications, for Vietnamese institutions, could be developed. The hope is that with certificate recognition, Vietnamese students can gain opportunities to work in local as well as international markets. Doors would also open when it comes to higher education opportunities within the UK. 

After the project concluded, the Ministry of Education and Training was provided with recommendations. These recommendations suggest that the Ministry should:

• Consult with important national stakeholders and work with them to set targets regarding internationalisation.
• The timeline for the targets set should be realistic. 
• Geographic areas that are strategic, as well as industry or subject priority areas, should be laid out. 
• Initiatives should be launched that support the efforts toward the internationalisation of the VET sector. 

A Strategy For National-International Education

A nationally driven strategy regarding international education can provide the strategic framework needed to efficiently internationalise the VET sector. Fabrizio Trifiro, Ecctis’ Head of Quality Benchmarking Services,  says that the government should provide support when it comes to internationalisation efforts. 

The developing education strategy should have a clear vision. Both the rationale as well as the key objectives that internationalisation can help achieve should also be carefully considered. Trifiro goes on to suggest that this can help in the identification of specific targets, as well as what strategies should best be employed to reach those targets. 

The July Final Dissemination Workshop

The final dissemination workshop of the project was held in July. During this workshop,
Pham Vu Quoc Binh from the Directorate of Vocational Education And Training discussed the project as well as its findings. Binh said that many opportunities have opened doors to discussion and collaboration between Vietnam and the UK. 

Hoang Van Anh of the British Council Vietnam also added that Vietnam should think about sector-wide schemes as well as resources. This is so that the capacity of VET students to speak foreign languages like English, can be improved. 

Nguyen Quang Viet, the director of VETA said that outreach activities will continue from the Vietnam Vocational Education as well as the Training Accreditation Agency. These outreach activities will be combined with useful strategies that are aligned with national priorities, to enhance the outcome of the project. 

Acumen, a part of the Sannam S4 Group, specialises in helping universities and educational partners to enter into new markets in South and South East Asia. Vietnamese educational institutions that want to prioritize internationalisation can find guidance from Acumen. With experience in helping educational institutions to explore new markets, tap into them as well as establish themselves there, Acumen can provide guidance and expertise to organisational leaders.