“Vietnam witnesses a rapid development in infrastructure. According to a BMI report, the construction sector continues to grow by 9% per year until 2026. The demand for skilled workers in building technology is immense and grows even faster” presents Dr. Tran Ngoc Quang, expert of the University for Civil Engineering in Hanoi.  Complex technologies are developed more and more rapidly, however, the TVET system cannot keep up with new requirements and the immense demand for skilled workers.  “The changing technological developments are affecting Millions of Vietnamese people. The TVET system needs to catch up, that is why I appeal to all companies to support us”, Dr. Truong Anh Dung, Deputy Director General of DVET emphasised.  

To fill this gap, training offers for the new occupations Electronics for Energy and Building Technology and Mechanics for Sanitary, Heating and Climate Technology are being developed and will be piloted at the Vocational College of Machinery and Irrigation (VCMI) in Dong Nai Province. The first step was the development of the DACUM charts, which were presented and discussed with representatives of DVET/MoLISA, MoC, MoIT, MARD, VCCI, VACC, HAMEE and selected enterprises at a workshop in Ho Chi Minh City on 31 October and 2 November 2018.  

The DACUM charts, which define the duties and tasks of a skilled worker and thus provide the foundation for the development of the training programmes, are based on the German occupational profile and adapted according to the demands of the business sector in Vietnam. The specific needs and conditions of companies were analysed during two rounds of company surveys, interviews and visits by German and Vietnamese technical experts and representatives of VCMI. “More than 30 companies in the construction sector and 4 sector associations participated” highlights Mr. Pham Duy Dong, Head of Training Department of VCMI. 

Ms. Bui Thi Ninh, representative of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry HCMC, expresses her satisfaction with the result stating that VCCI is “completely convinced that these occupations will help to strengthen Vietnam’s competitiveness as well as green economic growth”. “Clients, especially foreign investors, expect higher and higher quality. Yet, our skilled workers are not prepared for these rising requirements. I am very pleased with these new occupational profiles and I am looking forward to a better training of our employees”, says Mr. Nguyen Hoang Hiep, Vice Director of Mien Dong RME Corporation, a company with more than 500 employees specialised in electronic and mechanical installations for multi-storey buildings. Dr. Nguyen Thi Nga- Vice Head of Training Board of Vietnam Federation of Construction Associations (VFCA) echoes the need for the two occupations: “Employees in the building and construction sector need be able to work with the latest technologies and new materials. The complexity of these two new occupations is necessary for the staff of our member companies to meet these new requirements.”

“I examined the DACUM chart thoroughly and I have an urgent wish: We need these occupations, in fact, we needed them already yesterday”, emphasizes Mr. Truong Trong Giang, Business Development Director of R.E.E. Mechanical & Electrical Engineering Company.

The experts of Handwerkskammer Potsdam ,who supported VCMI in developing the DACUM charts, confirmed that the DACUM charts reflect the needs of the business sector in Vietnam and are equivalent to the occupational profile of a German skilled worker. “We are very impressed with the detailed feedback of the visited companies and their willingness to cooperate closely with VCMI during the next steps”, Ms. Annett Exner said.  

The workshops ended with the signing of the Minutes of Meeting by all partners agreeing to the details of the DACUM chart.