Promoting vocational skills examinations is expected to create more opportunities for learners to practice and gain experience with real-world requirements, while also helping vocational education institutions approach regional and international standards, creating momentum for innovation, and meeting the needs of national development.
Based on the experience of competing at the 48th WorldSkills in Shanghai, Mr. To Xuan Giao, Vice President of the Vietnam Association of Vocational Education and Training and Head of the Ho Chi Minh City Representative Office, assessed that, overall, the skills and sophistication of Vietnamese contestants have approached world standards, maintaining a position equivalent to the 2019 competition in Kazan (Russia). Many Vietnamese contestants achieved scores close to 700 (the score required to win the Excellent Vocational Skills Medal); including one contestant who scored 690 points. However, contestants faced numerous obstacles on the international stage such as psychological pressure, language skills, physical fitness, and health. Limited machinery and equipment for practice also partially affected the skills and sophistication of the contestants.
According to Mr. To Xuan Giao, the biggest gap is the updating of teaching equipment systems to keep pace with global industrial trends. Vietnam is lacking technologies such as Smart Classroom, VR, 3D, Digital Twin, as well as specialized practical training centers for key sectors: automation, electric vehicles, renewable energy, robotics, and AI.
Mr. To Xuan Giao believes that, in order for businesses to invest in building practical training centers, he proposes that schools urgently establish a leverage mechanism. First, tax and financial policies need to facilitate businesses; at the same time, obstacles related to public assets need to be removed, allowing for piloting a model of "centers of excellence" jointly owned by schools and businesses; and allowing businesses to utilize these centers outside of working hours for production without going through complicated auction procedures.
According to Mr. To Xuan Giao, the "Workshop in School - School in Workshop" model also needs to be implemented flexibly. Businesses can bring commercial production lines into vocational education institutions, thereby creating opportunities for students to both learn and earn income. The financial payment mechanism for students interning at businesses also needs to be addressed. Another approach is to empower businesses to incorporate technological standards into training programs; businesses can incorporate technological standards (such as Denso, Siemens, etc.) into their teaching, in exchange for a commitment to employing all graduates. Schools must stop signing cooperation agreements merely for the sake of obtaining key performance indicators (KPIs).
In addition, schools need to apply "softer conditions" to foreign direct investment projects. When licensing high-tech "mega-projects," businesses must commit to partnering with local vocational schools to establish practical training centers.
Many Vietnamese contestants achieved scores close to 700 (the level for winning the Excellent Skills Medal) at the 48th World Skills Competition held in Shanghai ( China ).
Ms. Le Thi Hang, Deputy Director of the Department of Vocational Education and Continuing Education ( Ministry of Education and Training ), stated that developing vocational education institutions to meet regional and global standards is a strategic requirement and a measure of Vietnam's human resource competitiveness. In particular, adopting and incorporating international standards into training programs for candidates participating in international competitions, as well as integrating them into training curricula, is a crucial direction. This is also one of the solutions to implement the policy of developing a high-quality vocational education system that meets international standards.
In order to gradually meet the requirements of international vocational skills competitions, Ms. Le Thi Hang suggested that vocational education institutions should focus on investing in and improving facilities; teachers and experts should proactively update information and hone their skills so that candidates can demonstrate their abilities when participating in international competitions.
From the perspective of training institutions, according to Distinguished Educator, Dr. Pham Xuan Khanh, Principal of Hanoi High-Tech College, training according to the World Vocational Skills Standards (WSOS) is a suitable approach in the context of globalization. Integrating the WSOS into training programs, especially in practical modules and courses, helps training institutions proactively meet the requirements of world skills competitions, optimize training time, and enhance the adaptability of the workforce. The WSOS clearly defines the best knowledge, skills, levels of understanding, and work competencies, helping learners achieve high performance in their careers and gain international recognition.
"Through national, ASEAN, and world skills competitions, the school will research, apply, and integrate international standards into its vocational training programs in the future to develop a high-quality vocational education system," affirmed Dr. Pham Xuan Khanh.
Source: https://baotintuc.vn/giao-duc-nghe-nghiep-tiem-can-tieu-chuan-khu-vuc-va-quoc-te-post1391074.html
