Technological breakthroughs in areas such as the Internet of Things change automation and production processes worldwide. This presents a chance for Vietnam’s economy and a challenge to the TVET system. The conference “Integrating Requirements of Industry 4.0 / Digitalisation in TVET” with representatives of the Government, industry, civil society, TVET institutes and international organisations put a focus on the impact of Industry 4.0 and digitalisation on the skills requirements for the labour force in Vietnam. The conference took place in Ho Chi Minh City and Dong Nai Province on 18 – 19 September 2018.

Prof Dr Le Quan, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Labor – Invalids and Social Affairs emphasised during his speech: “MoLISA is currently developing strategies on how to integrate Industry 4.0 and digitalisation in the reform of the TVET system. Therefore, we are looking forward to the results and recommendations of today’s conference.” The conference was organised in the context of a Development Partnership between Bosch Vietnam, the Directorate of Vocational Education and Training (DVET), LILAMA 2 International Technology College and the German-Vietnamese Programme “Reform of TVET in Vietnam”. This partnership is supported by the develoPPP-Programme of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

International experiences enriched the discussion: Changing vocational competencies in the metal and electro sector in Germany were portrayed by Prof Dr Georg Spöttl, Director of the Steinbeis Transfer Centre InnoVET, who recommended to reshape occupational profiles and curricula to adopt new didactical concepts and to focus on the qualification of TVET staff. Mr Peter Gorzyza, Director of the Drive & Control Academy of Bosch Rexroth AG, focused on the needs of the business sector by giving insights into specific skill requirements and potential solutions.

Dr Wendy Cunningham, Lead Economist in the World Bank’s Social Protection and Labor Practice, presented the result of a recent study on the labour market in Vietnam concluding that autonomy of TVET institutes will give them the needed flexibility to react to the needs of the business sector. Dr Harry Stolte, Head of Section, GIZ Academy for International Cooperation / UNEVOC Centre Magdeburg, gave insights into the German dual TVET system and its current changes due to Industry 4.0. He emphasised that investing in qualified teachers and trainers will be decisive for a successful preparation for coming technological changes.

In the afternoon, participants split into three working groups to develop concrete recommendations for the policy level, the business sector, and TVET institutes. Inputs inspiring the discussion were given by Dr Vu Xuan Hung, Director of the Formal Training Department of DVET, Mr Vo Quang Hue, Deputy CEO of Vingroup JSC, and Mr Nguyen Khanh Cuong, Rector of LILAMA 2. The main recommendations of all three groups were shared afterwards on stage and discussed with the audiences.

On September 19, attendees visited the demonstration room on Industry 4.0 of Bosch Rexroth at LILAMA 2. This Industry 4.0 Lab will be used within the development partnership to train teachers and in-company trainers and to implement newly developed training programmes. It features didactic equipment in drive and control technology and training materials including technical books, manuals, training software, eLearning, videos and animations. “A highly skilled workforce plays a pivotal role in the digitalisation era. The training programmes will have to keep pace with industrial trends and developments in order to stay competitive in the future. As one of the global specialists in drive and control technology, Bosch Rexroth has a unique level of technological expertise. We are keen to pass on this knowledge to apprentices and students in the most comprehensive and practical way possible” said Mr Nikolay Kurnosov, Director of Bosch Rexroth Vietnam and Cambodia.

Results of the development partnership also have a significance for the entire TVET system in Viet Nam, since lessons learnt and recommendations related to Industry 4.0 can be integrated into the regulatory framework of vocational education and training. The conference finished with the signing ceremony of a cooperation agreement between LILAMA 2 and nine other TVET institutes which specifies that the results of the partnership, such as the Industry 4.0 training module, will be transferred to TVET institutes throughout the country.

Please click here, for more photos on the conference:  https://goo.gl/wRb5po

Media coverage:

Một số phóng sự và bài viết đưa tin về Hội nghị:

Dong Nai provincial channel: http://dnrtv.org.vn/tin-tuc-n26294/thoi-su-toi-19092018.html

VITV: http://vitv.vn/tin-video/18-09-2018/ban-tin-hop-tin-viet-nam-18h-phat-song-1800-18-09-2018/209623

VietnamNews: https://vietnamnews.vn/economy/466054/vn-needs-to-adapt-to-digitisation.html#zhALiQQofglFqsvz.97

Vietnamnet: https://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/business/208719/vn-needs-to-adapt-to-digitisation.html

VOV: http://vovworld.vn/vi-VN/xa-hoi-doi-song/doi-moi-giao-duc-nghe-nghiep-trong-cuoc-cach-mang-cong-nghe-40-681156.vov

Labour and Social Affairs: http://laodongxahoi.net/nhung-yeu-cau-moi-doi-voi-giao-duc-nghe-nghiep-do-so-hoa-va-cong-nghiep-40-dat-ra-1310669.html