Vietnam : Training to Improve Decent Work

To resolve the shortage of qualified technicians in Vietnam, AFD is supporting the renovation and structuring of five technical training centers. These courses also offer young graduates better working and living conditions.

In Vietnam, a quarter of the population is between 15 and 29 years old. This situation is a first for the country, and it represents both an opportunity, in the context of rapid development, and a significant challenge, given the currently high rate of youth unemployment (ages 15-24): this figure was 6.9% in 2018, much higher than the national rate of 1.9%.

In parallel, Vietnam is facing a shortage of qualified technicians to support its rapid economic growth, particularly in sectors such as welding, metalwork, and telecommunications.

To help the country meet this two-fold challenge, Agence Française de Développement (AFD) is funding five training centers, three of which are on track to become “Centers of excellence” with international and regional standards (ASEAN). Courses are offered in six fields: welding, metal cutting, industrial electricity, automotive mechanics, radio telecommunications equipment installation and fiber optic networks. One of these centers, Lilama 2, located in the south of the country in Long Thanh, has just inaugurated an “e-building” that boasts the latest technologies for technical learning.

There are guaranteed job prospects for the students, and the courses allow them to choose the company they want to work for—one that will guarantee them a healthy environment—which drives employers to adapt and improve their working conditions to attract this highly qualified labor. Guided tour of Lilama 2, one of the future Centers of Excellence.

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training education vietnam afd technical school

Training as a springboard

Ho Du Luut directs training courses in mechatronics, telecommunications, and IT at Lilama 2. He has no doubt that they facilitate the job search for young people: “The unemployment rate for university graduates is currently high; students graduating from vocational schools like Lilama 2 find work more easily, in part thanks to their internships. In our case, companies are coming to us to recruit our students, rather than the reverse! As a result, they enjoy more flexible working conditions and much higher pay.”

student vietnam studies training afd business computer

Decent work above all

Ha Dieu Ly is a first-year student. At age 20, she knows that she will be able to qualify for a good salary thanks to her telecommunications training. But she will expect even more of her ideal employer: “Of course, I’ll choose a job within my industry, but I’ll also consider the company’s health and safety measures by comparing their social protection schemes. It’s very important for me to feel comfortable at work.”

Piriou booth Vietnam company AFD training

Attracting talent in Vietnam

French company Piriou, which specializes in shipyards and has a location in Vietnam, had a booth at the job fair held in conjunction with the inauguration of Lilama 2’s new building. Its aim: to attract future graduates. “Employee wellness is one of the factors we emphasize to students. We describe the benefits in terms not only of compensation, but also vacation time and cultural and sporting activities available to employees,” explains Vu Thi Nhan, human resources manager at Piriou Vietnam. “That sets us apart from other companies and helps us recruit more easily.”

AFD committed to vocational training in Vietnam

AFD firmly believes in the importance of modernizing vocational training to help young people join the job market and has been active in the sector in Vietnam since 2006. Two projects have been funded there, for a total of €37.5 million, to modernize eight vocational training schools in a variety of sectors including mechanics, electricity, chemistry, telecommunications, etc.

In addition to investing in appropriate facilities, there is a special emphasis on capacity building, both in terms of pedagogical aspects and in keeping training content up to date so that it closely reflects the needs of companies in the sector. This project also helped develop industries aligned with the French model of advanced vocational training (BTS, DUT) through partnerships with several French academies and institutions (Grenoble and Versailles academies).

AFD has already begun preparations for the next step of the project and considered other ways to support technical higher education in Vietnam.