Representatives from the Vietnamese Directorate of Vocational Education and Training (DVET) under the Ministry of Labour – Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA), provincial technical vocational education and training (TVET) council in Ninh Thuan, TVET institute (Ninh Thuan Vocational College) and private sector partner (Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry) in Viet Nam recently participated in a knowledge exchange visit to India. The visit, from 8 to 15 September 2024, focused on understanding India’s approach to integrating green skills into its TVET ecosystem.
The ongoing challenges related to climate change have resulted in the issue of green growth becoming increasingly integrated with the overall growth and development objective of the world economy. There is an urgent requirement to invest in a greener development path and consequently, promote green jobs, especially in developing economies. According to the International Labour Organisation, the promotion of green jobs tackles the twin problems of poverty and the adverse consequences of climate change and natural resource depletion.
Understanding the challenges, the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) India organised this study tour to boost knowledge exchange on the green skills for green jobs topic. The study tour was under the Indo-German Green Skills Programme (IGGSP), a collaborative initiative aimed at fostering green economy workforce readiness. With increasing global focus on tackling climate change and transitioning to sustainable future, India’s experience in skill development presents valuable lessons for Viet Nam. GIZ – Sri Lanka team and their government and private partners also participated in the visit, alongside with the Vietnamese delegation.
During the visit to Delhi, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru, the Vietnamese delegation met with key players to learn about India’s TVET ecosystem, so-called ‘TVET sphere’, and the role of different agencies and how India was using the Sector Skills Councils (SSCs) model to align training programmes with industry needs. The Skills Council for Green Jobs (SCGJ) and Automotive Skills Development Council (ASDC) highlighted India’s initiatives in renewable energy, electric vehicles (EV), and other sustainable sectors. The councils also emphasized efforts to promote gender inclusivity in green job training.
The delegation visited vocational institutions such as the National Skills Training Institute (NSTI) and the Electronics City Industries Association (ELCIA) to observe hands-on training in green skills, particularly in the solar energy and e-mobility sectors. The ELCIA in Bengaluru is an excellent example of how green skills are integrated into India’s smart city initiatives, emphasizing energy efficiency and environmental sustainability. These field visits highlighted how public-private partnerships in India contributed to industry-relevant, cooperative TVET models.
During a workshop in Hyderabad, participants had opportunities to exchange on topics like “Green Skills Development”, “Best Practices for International workforce development in Solar and EV sectors thereby exploring possible partnerships with the Indian Partners”.
India’s focus on public-private collaboration ensures that vocational training adapts to industry needs, preparing workers for the rapid transition to greener industries. Viet Nam plans to incorporate developing lessons into its ongoing TVET reforms, aiming to strengthen sectoral collaboration and develop green skills essential for a sustainable economy.
