On the 9^th of June 2016 at Hue Tourism Vocational College, Madam Tran Thi Thu Ha, vice director of “Viet Nam Vocational Training Accreditation Agency” (VVTAA) delivered opening speech on the “Advanced training course on in-depth data analysis and writing the report on results of the tracer studies” for implementers of tracer studies from eight TVET colleges in the framework of the cooperation between the “Programme Reform of TVET in Viet Nam” and the VVTAA.

Madam Ha shared that VVTAA has received many positive feedbacks from 8 selected TVET institutes about application of three quality management instruments (tracer study, enterprise survey and workshop management) that GIZ is transferring for them.  These instruments are really very useful for the TVET institutes in internal quality management. They support the TVET institutes in their efforts of continually improvement of training quality.

Dr Pham Vu Quoc Binh, director of the VVTAA in discussion with the participants of the training course stressed that the participants from eight selected TVET institutes should continue to be proactive in planning the implementation of the next tracer studies as well as multiplying their gained knowledge and skills for other staff members at their TVET institutes. The participants and management of the TVET institutes should determine that the implementation of tracer studies is a regular activity of the TVET institutes. Dr Binh asked all participating TVET institutes for immediately using results of the surveys in coming months for the improvement of training quality.

The training course took place two days from the 9^th to 10^th of June 2016, aims to (i) sharing the lessons learnt from the implementation process at the TVET institutes and giving recommendations for the smooth implementation of the next tracer studies; (ii) providing the skills and knowledge on how to analyze relationships between relevant variables from two surveys of a tracer study wave as well as how to elaborate a report on the results of the tracer studies effectively (incl. interpretation of the objectives, implementation progress and the results of the survey). Besides, they were trained how to use Google Form for designing an electronic questionnaire and doing the survey via email and face-book. With this new survey method, the feedback of the graduates will be increased. At the end of the training course, each participant did an individual test on analysis of their data and writing a part of a report on the results of their tracer study wave 2015-2016.

In the part of lessons learnt, Ms Ngo Thi Phuc Hai, implementer of tracer studies and enterprises surveys from Hue Tourism Vocational College shared that at the beginning she didn’t know how to elaborate a set of competencies items for the questionnaire of tourism occupations. With the guidance and coach of GIZ, she met HR staff of Hotels and jointly elaborated relevant competencies items that the VET graduates have to gain in order to fulfil the requirements of employers in service and tourism area. Ms Truc Lan, implementer of tracer studies and enterprises surveys from Da Lat Tourism Vocational College shared that she will apply new survey method (using Google Form instate of sending questionnaires via post-mail for saving cost and time)

At the end of the training course, it was agreed that the participants will continue to analyze data and elaborate a concise report of the results of the tracer study wave 2015-2016 until middle of July. The draft of the reports will be shared with GIZ and VVTAA for comments. The final draft of the report will be submitted to the management of TVET institutes for the improvement of the training quality until middle of August 2016.