Building bridges of friendship from the classrooms of Quang Tri - Part 2: Training future human resources.

Training is linked to real-world needs.

Training Lao students not only aims to equip them with specialized knowledge but also to meet the practical human resource needs of localities and businesses. From this perspective, educational institutions in Quang Tri province are gradually reforming their programs, increasing practical training and internships, helping students connect knowledge with work and expanding job opportunities after graduation .

Teachers at Quang Tri Technical College guide Lao students in completing their internship report - Photo: LT

Quang Tri Technical College currently trains two cohorts with 12 Lao students studying Automotive Technology and Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine. Recently, 8 students in Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine completed a 3-month internship at affiliated businesses. The Laos branch of Greenfeed Vietnam JSC has committed to employing 6 students after graduation.

Bounmilouang DaoAtAe (born in 2004), from Sepon district, Savannakhet province, said: “In my hometown, people raise pigs and chickens a lot, but they don't know how to prevent and treat diseases. Therefore, I chose this field so that after returning, I can guide people in safe farming practices and improve economic efficiency.”

According to Mr. Le Thien Vinh, Principal of Quang Tri Technical College, the selection of training programs is based on discussions with neighboring localities and the actual needs of the labor market. The training program is also organized with a focus on increasing practical training, helping students meet job requirements after graduation.

"Students get hands-on training on modern equipment; they are also equipped with professional skills and strictly adhere to workplace safety procedures so that they can immediately meet the requirements of businesses after graduation," Mr. Vinh said.

Similarly, at Quang Tri Teacher Training College, the school's Board of Directors annually organizes delegations to directly visit Savannakhet and Salavan provinces to survey actual needs and provide on-site enrollment counseling.

According to Dr. Phan Chi Thanh, Vice Rector of the school, in response to the increasingly strong digital transformation trend in Laos, the school has opened specialized courses in information technology (IT) and adjusted the curriculum to enhance practical skills.

After graduating from the Pharmacy program at Quang Tri Medical College, Phichitta Khamphaengphet was hired to work at the Salavan Provincial Hospital - Photo: Provided by the interviewee.

Phichitta Khamphaengphet, from Salavan province, a student in the Pharmacy program (2017-2020) at Quang Tri Medical College, is a testament to the effectiveness of training linked to practical experience.

She shared: "The demand for healthcare among the local people where I live is very high, requiring qualified doctors, nurses, and pharmacists."

Having clearly defined career goals and fluency in Vietnamese helped Phichitta Khamphaengphet quickly adapt to her learning environment. She took advantage of internship opportunities at medical facilities in the province, and as a result, upon graduation, she was hired to work at Salavan Provincial Hospital.

Based on training practices, educational institutions in the region are increasingly shifting from "training what they have" to "training what you need." This is also an application of the educational reform perspective towards developing learners' competencies, linking training with practical needs, thereby better meeting the human resource requirements of Lao localities.

Concretizing political resolve

In the Vietnam-Laos cooperation, education and human resource development are areas of mutual interest and promotion, in line with the spirit of Resolution No. 8 of the 11th Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, aiming to develop learners' capabilities and meet practical requirements.

To concretize that policy, educational institutions in Quang Tri province have identified the training of Lao students as not only a professional task but also a political one, contributing to raising awareness of the foreign policy of the two Parties and two States. The role of Party organizations in educational institutions is demonstrated in leading and guiding the school administration to proactively manage everything from student recruitment, curriculum development, teaching organization, to managing and caring for the students' lives, creating conditions for Lao students to study, integrate, and grow.

Sengphachanh Phetximay (born in 2007), a second-year student majoring in General Medicine at Quang Tri Medical College, sometimes wanted to give up because she couldn't concentrate on her studies due to the language barrier. "Fortunately, my teachers and classmates always encouraged and helped me overcome it," Sengphachanh Phetximay shared.

Understanding the difficulties faced by Lao students, the Party Committee and Board of Directors of Quang Tri Medical College, in coordination with Quang Tri Teacher Training College, developed a Vietnamese language support program; organized extracurricular activities, reading sessions, Vietnamese public speaking competitions, and formed study support groups. In particular, arranging for Lao students to study together with Vietnamese students under the "study buddy" model created an environment for them to practice their language skills, communication, and integrate naturally.

Keodala Daovone (right) and Nguyen Huy Hoang, students at Quang Tri Medical College, always support each other in their studies - Photo: LT

Thanks to this model, Keodala Daovone (born in 2007) from Salavan province and Nguyen Huy Hoang (born in 2003) from Hoang Mai commune, Nghe An province – a student in the K10 Pharmacy class at the second campus of Quang Tri Medical College – became close friends. Keodala Daovone shared: “Thanks to Hoang’s help, my Vietnamese language skills have improved dramatically. My studies have become much easier as a result.”

Along with supporting inclusion, schools focus on improving the quality of education, increasing knowledge and practical skills, and innovating methods in a specific and accessible way.

Dr. Phan Chi Thanh, Vice Principal of Quang Tri College of Education, said that every two years, the school updates its training content to enhance the capacity and equip students with IT knowledge and practical skills suitable for Lao students. Learning outcomes are assessed after each lesson so that teachers can promptly understand the level of comprehension and provide support to learners.

Besides academics, schools focus on creating an environment where Lao students can live and experience life with Vietnamese students through vocational internships, cultural exchanges, and sports activities. Through these activities, students have more opportunities to learn about Vietnamese culture, history, and people, while also sharing the unique characteristics of their homeland with their Vietnamese friends.

These practical activities contribute to narrowing the language and cultural gap, enhancing understanding, trust, and close ties between students of the two countries. It is also a way for educational institutions to concretize their political resolve through practical actions, putting the Vietnam-Laos cooperation policy into practice.

Connecting human resources across borders.

Applying the perspective of human resource development, especially high-quality human resources, Quang Tri not only focuses on training human resources to serve the development requirements of the locality but also expands training cooperation with neighboring provinces in Laos, preparing human resources for cross-border linkages and cooperation.

Located on the East-West Economic Corridor, with international border crossings connecting to provinces of Laos, Quang Tri is opening up many opportunities for the development of trade, logistics, tourism, industry, and services. The orientation towards building the Lao Bao Special Economic and Trade Zone and the Lao Bao-Densavan cross-border economic cooperation model creates a demand for a workforce with professional skills, foreign language proficiency, and the ability to adapt to the international cooperation environment.

Lao students visit and participate in practical learning activities at FPT University Quy Nhon - Photo: Provided by the interviewee.

Lao students who studied in Quang Tri are gradually becoming a source of human resources directly involved in the development and connection between the two sides, and Vatsana Viengkham is one example. Graduating with distinction in Applied Informatics from Quang Tri Teacher Training College in 2024, Vatsana Viengkham was recruited by Sengdao Trading and Logistics Sole CO., LTD, a transportation and import-export company in Laos.

Vatsana's IT knowledge, practical experience from internships, and Vietnamese language skills helped her quickly adapt to the job and connect directly with Vietnamese partners. After only a short time, she was appointed Head of Planning and Internal Accounting for the company.

“The knowledge of IT and system management has helped me develop logical thinking, optimize workflows, and process data scientifically. In particular, the internship in Quang Tri helped me gain practical experience and feel less overwhelmed when I started working,” Vatsana shared.

Vatsana's story shows that training Lao students contributes to forming a workforce capable of connecting and operating economic cooperation activities between Vietnam and Laos. Mr. Nguyen Duc Thien, Deputy Head of the Quang Tri Provincial Economic Zone Management Board, emphasized: "Realizing the Lao Bao-Densavan cross-border trade and economic zone model requires human resources to be one step ahead."

We need not only skilled workers in logistics, warehousing, or digital transformation, but, more importantly, personnel who are bilingual in Vietnamese and Lao, and knowledgeable about the legal framework and cross-border operational procedures of both countries. This is the "soft key" to attracting investment capital to this economic corridor."

The years spent studying and living in Quang Tri laid the foundation for Lao officials and students to bring back the knowledge, sentiments, and relationships cultivated in the classroom to contribute, spread, and help extend the bridge of Vietnam-Lao cooperation in the future.

Lam Thanh - Phan Hoai Huong

Lesson 3: Sowing the "seeds of solidarity," nurturing the "sprout of peace."

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/chinh-polit/202610/noi-nhip-cau-huu-nghi-tu-nhung-giang-duong-quang-tri-bai-2-dao-tao-nguon-nhan-luc-tuong-lai-5db75fa/