34 vocational programmes, including 8 from Malaysia, 12 from Australia and the rest from Germany will be piloted at 45 vocational colleges, starting with 22 programmes in 2016 or 2017. Graduates from these international programmes will receive qualifications awarded by the above respective countries and have opportunity to work in the above three countries as well as other ASEAN members.

The project aims to improve the quality of human resources for the integration into ASEAN Community, which expects to open plenty of labour exchange opportunities among member countries. This is part of the plan to raise Vietnamese colleges to regional and international standards of the General Department of Vocational Training (GDVT). Vocational teachers will receive training to be able to deliver the programmes at international standard.  

In 2015, Vietnam had 1,467 vocational training institutions at colleges, secondary schools, and centre levels, enrolling 1.9 million students. Year 2016 expects to have a total of 2.1 million vocational students at various levels. Additionally, more vocational schools will be set up in the Central Highlands, North-Western and South-Western regions of Vietnam.

According to a recent World Bank report, Vietnam is in severe need of skilled workers while there is high unemployment rate among the youth, especially university graduates. This is the main cause to Vietnam’s low productivity, holding the country at the 11^th place out of 12 ASEAN countries.

The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA) forecasts that, with ASEAN Community coming into being, employment will rise for sales, credit consultancy and customer service towards the end of the year. Fast growing sectors such as construction and industry will be good sources of employment.

Source: Vietnam News