Cooperation between vocational schools and businesses brings many benefits to society. The close linkage between them not only meets the demand of Da Nang’s labour market but also improves the quality of vocational training and develops skilled human resources for the city.

A student at the Da Nang Vocational College perfoming practical skills at the Da Nang branch of East Sea Technology Engineering Electrical Automation Co., LTD.

Benefits for vocational schools

Practical skills teaching plays an important role in vocational schools but not all schools have the capacity to set up practice rooms for their students. Thus, manufacturing businesses are ideal for vocational students to acquire professional and practical skills as they can access new and advanced manufacturing equipment used in these places.

Mr. Le Nho, the Vice Principal of the Da Nang Vocational College, said that , the school has paid special attention to teaching practical skills and helping its students improve practical skill acquission in businesses in order to improve the quality of its training for students. In fact, the cooperation between vocational schools and businesses is an effective way to improve the quality of human resources in Da Nang and meet the requirements of recruiters.

Students who are studying in such majors as Installation and Maintenance for Electric Motors, Programming and Controlling MPS- the modular production system at the Da Nang Vocational College benefit from the opportunity to learn professional and practical skills at enterprises located in the Da Nang Hi-Tech Park. This helps students improve their practical skills and assert actual work experience and real industry. In addition, the school has developed its training program based on the business needs. Included is the training program based on requirements of Toyota Vietnam to provide technical workers for Toyota dealers across Viet Nam. These make it easier for vocational students to find a suitable job after graduation.

Mr. Nguyen Sy Quynh, the Head of the Training Department of the Da Nang- based Dai Viet Junior College said that students in such "hot"majors leading to hot carreers as Restaurant and Hotel Management, and Information Technology have a chance to learn professional and practical skills in businesses. Thus, students not only receive guidance and instructions from the school’s lecturers, but also learn new knowledge and skills from supervisors and experts in these companies . The school’s students can also participate in field trips to businesses, thereby helping them understand more about corporate culture and learn about professional working environment. Field trips are generally motivating for students, bring a vividness or reality vocational schools cannot bring with conventional lessons, and provide information for learning in a relevant real world context. Through their field trips to businesses , the school's students can learn about the recruitment requirements of enterprises in order to partly self-assess their skills to improve their capacity to meet requirements of their future recruiters.

Benefits for businesses

Cooperation between vocational schools and businesses brings mutual benefits to them. The greatest benefits to businesses are to shortens the time to train new employees, and available skilled human resources, thereby making it easier for them to find the best new recruits to employ.

Mr. Tran Viet Phuong, the Project Manager of East Sea Technology Engineering Electrical Automation Co., LTD. - Da Nang branch, said that apart from contributing to improving the quality of vocational training and developing skilled human resources for Da Nang, cooperation between vocational schools and businesses helps ensure the availability of skilled human resources as vocational students are already equiped with skills, knowledge and experience, matching their qualications to the job's requirements in Da Nang-based companies. Besides, this cooperation can help improve employer brand for enterprises and faciliate them to hire the right employee, remarked Mr Phuong

Mr. Huynh Tuan, the Director of the Phuc Khang Refrigeration Electrical Engineering Company emphasised that cooperation between vocational schools and businesses is hailed as a breakthrough for improving the quality of vocational training in the city. Vocational students also benefit from the opportunity to access work experience at local businesses in order to improve their practical skills, and get better job opportunities. Furthermore, they are imparted with practical skills and work readiness to integrate them into labour markets and get sustainable jobs.

Reporting by CAO TAI – translating by H.L