“The inputs and discussions at the BIBB Congress 2018 and the subsequent study visit to BIBB provided highly interesting impulses for the further development of a Vietnamese TVET system for all – especially in light of increasing digitalization and Industry 4.0”, Dr. Truong Anh Dung, Deputy Director General of the Directorate of Vocational Education and Training (DVET) stated. Dr. Dung headed the Vietnamese-German delegation, including five representatives from DVET, the National Institute of Vocational Education and Training (NIVET) and the Vietnamese-German Programme Reform of TVET in Viet Nam attending the BIBB Congress 2018 in Berlin from June 07^th to 08^th, 2018, and a four day study visit, both hosted by the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB), Germany.

Under the title “Learning for the future. VET of tomorrow – experience innovations”, the congress was a platform for around 900 German and international practitioners and researchers from the vocational education, business and academic sectors as well as policy makers to take stock of the current situation of vocational education and training in Germany and to demonstrate way forwards.

Following the motto: “Learning for the future”, the Congress did not only discuss existing and future challenges of TVET but also suggested opportunities that need to be seized in the age of digitalisation. In plenum and parallel forums, the delegation from Vietnam actively joined open dialogues with a focus on four main topics:

– Vocational Education and Training 4.0 – initial and continuing training in the digital age focusing on changes in TVET systems as well as at the level of occupations and occupational areas.

– Learning venues with a future: cooperative and digital focusing on learning venues and cooperation between learning venues in vocational education and training as well as teaching and learning in the age of digitalisation.

– Work-based learning – occupational competence in Europe and the world focusing on diversity of work-based learning and significance of occupational competence.

 – Dual vocational education and training – preferences and reality focusing on young people on the route into vocational education and training.

The Congress also provided an opportunity for the delegation from Viet Nam to network and discuss TVET related issues with numerous international professionals in the field including BIBB scientists and existing partners such as representatives from Thailand Qualification Institute (TPQI).

During the study tour, participants also visited the chamber of crafts in Berlin, the inter-company training centre Butzweiler Hof in Cologne and TÜV Rheinland for practical insights. In a visit to the International Centre for Technical Vocational Education and Training (UNESCO-UNEVOC) headquarter in Bonn, ways to enhance the role of DVET as a member of UNEVOC Centre were discussed. Dr. Dung expressed his willingness to strengthen the involvement of DVET in the network of UNEVOC Centre in the coming time.

Discussions about Industry 4.0, greening TVET, financing TVET, image building and quality management were further enhanced during the four-day study visit to BIBB in Bonn in the following week. On the last working day at BIBB, topic sector monitoring and development of TVET report 2017 as well as further cooperation activities between BIBB, NIVET/DVET and GIZ were also agreed.

The study tour was held within the field of activity “Policy Advice and System Reform” as part of the Vietnamese-German Programme Reform of TVET in Viet Nam. The programme is implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).