Reforming technical and vocational education and training in Viet Nam

Context

Viet Nam’s economy has developed rapidly in the past two decades. Annual growth rates of 7 per cent have made Viet Nam a lower middle-income country. This achievement is being put at risk by the increasing consumption of resources, environmental degradation and a significant shortage of skilled workers, who make up just 23 per cent of the national workforce. The Vietnamese technical and vocational education and training (TVET) system and the skills of graduates do not yet fulfil the requirements of the changing world of work. This is caused by a lack of business sector involvement in TVET, outdated training programmes and insufficient competencies of teaching and training personnel. As a result, vocational training has a negative image and low enrolment. The consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic have clearly demonstrated the need for a more open and flexible TVET system that benefits from the digital transformation and prepares students for Industry 4.0.

Objective

Technical Vocational Education and Training in Viet Nam is better aligned to the changing increasingly green and digital world of work.