Hanoi, March 19, 2018 – In a cozy dinner atmosphere, Dr Horst Sommer, the outgoing Director of the Programme Reform of TVET in Vietnam reflected on his time with the TVET programme and expressed his gratitude to all the partners and staff for taking side with him to improve the quality of TVET in Vietnam during the last 12 years.

The farewell dinner was not only to honor Dr. Sommer’s dedication but also a chance to celebrate fruitful partnerships and sincere friendships between Vietnam and Germany. Attending the event were Mr Nguyen Ngoc Phi, the former Vice Minister of MoLISA, Mr Tran Phi Tuoc, the former Director of the International Cooperation Department of MoLISA, Mr Cao Dai Quang, the former Vice Minister of the Ministry of Construction, all three former Directors General of GDVT (now DVET) and representatives of ICD/MoLISA, partners from TVET institutes, as well as other distinguished guests.

“As a German idiom says – Everything will end, but friendship stays”, Dr Truong Anh Dung, the Deputy General Director of DVET shared, “Though Bac Horst is retiring from his office work, he remains our very good friend and we thank him for his endless support during the last years.”  

Having led the programme since 2006, Dr Horst Sommer has brought a wealth of knowledge and experience from Germany to improve the quality of TVET in Vietnam. In 2015, he was awarded with the highest award of MoLISA, the medal for the Cause of Labor and Social Affairs of Viet Nam, for his invaluable contributions to the TVET system in Vietnam, particularly the development and advancement of TVET teaching and management staff. After returning to Germany, Dr Sommer will still continue his support to the Vietnamese TVET system as member of the editors’ board of the Journal of Vocational Education and Training.