On 8 August, another step has been taken to bring the Cooperative Training implementation on its way in Dong Nai and Ba Ria – Vung Tau provinces. The “Workshop on Cooperative Training Implementation for Metal Cutting-CNC, Construction Mechanics, Mechatronics and Industrial Electronics”, targeted at participating companies, took place at LILAMA 2 International Technology College (LILAMA 2) in the Dong Nai province. Representatives from the three participating companies’ (Advanced Multitech, Ishikawa Seiko and Viglacera Ceramics) management, Human Resources (HR) and technical departments as well as LILAMA 2 teachers and management participated. The objective of the workshop was to agree on the training plans for the second year in-company practical training phases, to nominate in-company trainers and company coordinators as well as to discuss the next steps for the in-company practical training phases.

In the opening speech, Mr Nguyen Khanh Cuong, rector of LILAMA 2, emphasised that a close cooperation between LILAMA 2 and the companies is the prerequisite for a successful and joint implementation of the in-company practical training phases in the second year of training of the four pilot classes.

The discussion with the company representatives focused on how the coordination and management of the in-company practical training phases could look like and which personnel would ideally be required. The positions of in-company trainers, company coordinators and college coordinators (LILAMA 2 focal points) were introduced. In the following group work, the participating companies, together with the respective LILAMA 2 college coordinators (focal points, one per supported occupation) as well as LILAMA 2 teachers, discussed the training plans, nominated company coordinators and potential in-company trainers and started discussing further steps such as agreeing on additional meetings to finalise tasks ahead in organising the in-company practical training phases.

The workshop was characterised by a high commitment of the participating companies as well as an open and constructive atmosphere allowing for challenges to be discussed and specific results to be achieved. Both, the participating companies as well as LILAMA 2, reassured their willingness to cooperate and work closely together to successfully and jointly implement the in-company practical training phases. Mr Cuong summarised the workshop by stating that “an event like this allows us, the companies and the college, to really speak with a common voice”.

The workshop was held within the field of activity “Support of Centres of Excellence (CoEs)” as part of the Vietnamese-German Programme Reform of TVET in Viet Nam. The programme is implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development.