UK & Vietnam to promote vocational education

The British Embassy in Vietnam coordinated with the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA) to organize the Conference on Promoting Vietnam-UK Cooperation in Vocational Education and Training on February 21, which it also chaired, and an MoU signing ceremony between the Directorate of Vocational Education and Training (DVET), MoLISA, and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).

This is the first official activity in implementing an MoU in the field of vocational education signed in 2022 between the two governments on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations.

The conference was attended by the Deputy Minister of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs Le Tan Dung, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the UK in Vietnam, H.E. Iain Frew, and representatives from the British Ministry of International Trade, DVET, 14 vocational education institutions, British educational organizations, vocational education institutions in Vietnam, and organizations and units interested in cooperation in vocational education between the UK and Vietnam.

In order to train high-quality human resources in the context of Vietnam implementing the UK-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (UKVFTA) and to meet the requirements of Industry 4.0, MoLISA pays special attention to promoting cooperation with international partners worldwide, in which the UK is one of its traditional partners with a vocational training system maintained to very strict standards and a source of the pride for the British,” said Deputy Minister Dung.

The British Government has supported many vocational education activities in Vietnam over the years, through projects and training programs on vocational skills and the English language.

The conference was an opportunity for British partners and vocational education institutions to share their strengths and priorities for cooperation with Vietnam, in which both countries agreed on activities and priorities for cooperation in the field of vocational education and training in the future.

As a recent dialogue partner of ASEAN, the UK chose Vietnam as a priority country in its ASEAN education strategy,” said Ambassador Frew. “The UK looks forward to building its reputation both in the wider region and bilaterally with friends like Vietnam, as a trusted, long-term partner.”
Within the framework of the conference, an MoU was signed between Vietnam’s General Department of Vocational Education and Training and ACCA.

The British side will support the department in (i) building and developing training programs and capacity building for lecturers and students in accounting and business professions; (ii) sharing knowledge and experience in improving skills in vocational training; and (iii) helping colleges in Vietnam implement training programs and examinations to grant International Diplomas in Accounting and Business under UK standards, and connecting with businesses that require highly-qualified human resources in this field.