Since 2017, through the AAGF, the Australian Embassy in Viet Nam has approved funding for 205 projects in Viet Nam proposed by Australian alumni, with a total value of around AUD 2.9 million, to support priority development areas in Viet Nam.
The Australian alumni group is supporting seven colleges in northern Viet Nam (six public and one private) to apply competency-based training and assessment (CBTA) following Australia's advanced model. This method trains and assesses learners against workplace competency standards, ensuring personalisation and creating flexible learning opportunities for learners.
Ms Jennie Dehn, Director of the Aus4Skills Programme, presents gifts to the four alumni implementing the project.
Led by Ms Vũ Thị Hải Vân, Chair of the College Council, the group also includes Mr Đỗ Hồng Hải, Vice Rector of MC1; Ms Trịnh Ngọc Thu Hà, Dean of the Faculty of Economics; and Ms Đồng Phong Huyền, Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Economics. The group developed its expertise in CBTA through training courses organised by Aus4Skills and was inspired by three successful CBTA pilot courses in logistics, as well as by the experience of 16 other vocational education institutions working with Aus4Skills to implement this approach.
Delegates on a field visit at MC1 and enterprises.
In early March, the group organised a CBTA training course for 23 representatives from seven colleges, including rectors, vice rectors, deans, deputy deans and lecturers. The colleges were Ha Giang Technical and Technology College, College of Industry and Trade, Inland Waterway Transport College No. 1, Central Transport College No. 2, Lao Cai College, Hanoi College of Foreign Languages and Technology, and College of Food Industry. The course combined practical activities and enterprise visits to illustrate how CBTA can be applied in practice, while sharing lessons learnt from implementing the model at MC1.
After the course, all participants said they felt more confident in applying CBTA principles, processes and tools, and were ready to implement the model in their institutions through projects developed during the training.
Mr Quách Văn Hòa, Vice Rector of Ha Giang Technical and Technology College, said: "The course gave us valuable knowledge and lessons on CBTA. We were also given full access to MC1's materials, curriculum frameworks and assessment toolkits. We greatly appreciate the sense of responsibility and professionalism of the Australian alumni at MC1."
On 15 March, the participants returned to MC1 for a post-course workshop. There, Ms Phạm Thị Huyền – former Deputy Director of the Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (in charge of vocational education) and currently Deputy Director of the Hai Phong City Department of Home Affairs – highly appreciated the efforts of Aus4Skills and the alumni group in scaling up CBTA. She stressed the pioneering role and responsibility of MC1 and the Australian alumni in continuing to share their knowledge with other vocational education institutions.
Mr Đào Trọng Độ, head of the Formal Training Division, Department of Vocational and Continuing Education, Ministry of Education and Training (MOET), also noted: "I have taken part in many activities under the Aus4Skills TVET project and have been deeply impressed by the inclusiveness the project has always ensured. Many disadvantaged groups have been invited to take part and have received practical support. I highly appreciate the initiative of the Australian alumni group at MC1 to scale up CBTA."