On June 11, the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and GIZ signed a MoU to pledge joint efforts in supporting the development of VET in Viet Nam.

Speaking at the signing ceremony at the KOICA office in Hanoi as a witness, Dr Nguyen Hong Minh, General Director of the Directorate of Vocational Education and Training (DVET) emphasized: “In recent years, the VET system in Viet Nam experienced very positive developments thanks to the support from KOICA and GIZ. The two organizations provided valuable inputs to enhance the image of VET, Green TVET, build capacity of VET personnel, strengthen industry linkages, improve quality assurance, create new training programmes, and develop the network of high-quality VET institutes”.

The new partnership agreement provides a framework for KOICA and GIZ to jointly add momentum to the promotion of VET in Viet Nam and its integration in the ASEAN region.

Specifically, at the country level, the partnership will focus on the macro legal reform of VET, especially with regard to quality assurance, and on the establishment of Centers of Excellence at Colleges supported by German development cooperation and Korean-Viet Namese colleges. At the ASEAN regional level, the partnership will facilitate regional initiatives and activities, support VET communications through the SEAMEO-VOCTECH platform sea-vet.net, and build capacity for VET personnel in cooperation with HRD Korea. The partnership will continue to promote the positive image of VET through supporting the participation of Viet Nam in World Skills competitions.    

Dr Jasper Abramowski, GIZ Country Director, expressed his confidence that the GIZ’s extensive experience in policy advisory in the VET sector will contribute to the success of the partnership. Representing the KOICA Office in Viet Nam, Mr Kim Jinoh, Country Director, confirmed the partnership’s vision of sustainable development for Viet Nam through the development of a skilled workforce: “The two agencies share the view that development of skilled human resources is a driving force behind Viet Nam’s sustainable development, and one of the strategic breakthroughs to achieve the vision of becoming an industrialized and knowledge-based country.”