Vinh Phuc and Dong Nai, 26 Oct. 17

 “Green aspects will be integrated in standards for quality assurance of TVET institutes, learning outcomes and accreditation”- said Dr. Truong Anh Dung – Deputy Director of the Directorate of Vocational Education and Training.

Creating awareness and deriving concrete recommendations for action of state authorities and TVET institutes was the objective of the two workshops on “Greening the TVET System to Meet the Labour Requirements of a Green Economy” held in Vinh Phuc on October 24^th and in Dong Nai on October 26th 2017. The two workshops were jointly organized by the Directorate for Vocational Education and Training (DVET) and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, in the frame of the Vietnamese-German “Programme Reform of TVET in Viet Nam”. The first workshop in Vinh Phuc was attended by 80 leaders and staff of DVET and representatives from different TVET institutes located in the North of Viet Nam. Madam Nguyen Hoa Hiep – Vice President of Dong Nai Province, Dr. Truong Anh Dung – Vice Director General of DVET and leaders of departments of DVET, Mr. Huynh Van Tinh – Director of Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Dong Nai (DoLISA Dong Nai), Mr. Nguyen Van Lam – Deputy Director of DoLISA Ho Chi Minh City, representatives of VCCI and 60 leaders and representatives of 36 colleges in the South of Vietnam participated in the workshop in Dong Nai.

“Viet Nam is strongly committed to sustainable green development”, Madam Nguyen Hoa Hiep emphasized in her opening remarks. On the one hand, this means that existing industries should be more environmentally friendly. On the other hand, new “green” industries are to be created, whose aim is to develop goods, services and technologies that reduce negative environmental impacts. The provincial government of Dong Nai sets the target that by 2020, about 80% of enterprises in the province will meet the requirements for environmental protection in production. These concrete targets, based on the Viet Nam National Green Growth Strategy (VGSS) and its National Action Plan for Green Growth, cannot be achieved without a qualified, skilled workforce. The “Programme Reform of TVET in Viet Nam” significantly supports political decision makers and TVET institutes to initiate a change of mindset and behaviours regarding environmental protection of future employees graduating from TVET Institutes.

“This, however, can only be done in cooperation with the business sector”, Ms Britta van Erckelens, Deputy Programme Director of the “Programme Reform of TVET in Viet Nam” stated during her opening remarks. Based on German experiences, new “green” job requirements have to be reflected in occupational standards, German expert Mr. Jan-Hendrik Aust outlined in his presentation. “In order to adequately integrate green aspects into training programmes, it is imperative that the business sector formulates these requirements”. In this respect, structures and processes are needed at both the state and the institutional level, which adequately involve the representatives of the business sector in the development of occupational standards and training programmes.

“TVET institutes are the key players in order to provide a competent green workforce not only for today but also for tomorrow’s green economy”, Dr Klaus-Dieter Mertineit, German expert on Green TVET highlighted. TVET institutes are expected to become role models for eco-friendliness and play an active role in awareness-raising campaigns for trainees, teaching and management staff, and the community. Furthermore, greening activities should become an integrated part of school-life and can be implemented in cooperation with partner companies.

Concluding the workshop in Vinh Phuc, Dr Truong Anh Dung, Vice Director General of DVET emphasised “Green requirements should be integrated into TVET at both system and institutional levels. At system level, green aspects will be integrated in standards for quality assurance of TVET institutes, learning outcomes and accreditation. At institutional level, TVET colleges can start the first steps in greening their campuses, training programmes and management practices”.

Media coverage of the events:

Labour and Social Issue News:  “Greening TVET is indispensable demand for development”

Dong Nai Labour News: “It’s a must to green our TVET”

The Official Dong Nai  Communist Party Online News: “Integrating green aspects into TVET”

Fatherland Frontior Committee webnews: “Greening TVET is indispensable demand for development”

Dong Nai Television: “Greening TVET is indispensable demand for development”