The cooperation between schools and businesses contributes to enhancing resources and facilities, bringing beneficial values to learners. This is also a solution to remove "bottlenecks" in supplying high-quality human resources to the labor market.

The Da Nang University of Science and Technology put into use the IC Design Faculty in February 2024. Photo: NGOC HA

Accelerate cooperation

In 2023, the University of Education and Technology, the Da Nang University, will promote cooperation between schools and businesses, achieving some outstanding results. Many businesses have invested in facilities, contributing to meeting the learning and practice needs of students.

Notably, this university received 4 Siemens Simatic S7-1200 PLC demo KITs from the East Sea Technology Engineering Electrical Automation Co., Ltd. ESTEC) for use in automation industry training,  2 model engines and 5 engines from the Truong Hai Group Corporation (THACO) so that students can get closer to the country's leading automotive technology, along with TA-1400-GII Robot from the Viet Nam Precision Industry Joint Stock Company (VPIC) to serve teaching, scientific research and technology development.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Phan Cao Tho, the Rector of the University of Education and Technology, said that in order to strengthen cooperation with businesses, at the end of 2023, a delegation from the school visited tech firms in the southern metropolis of Ho Chi Minh City and neighbouring Dong Nai Province.

The business trip reached a number of agreements in which businesses such as Siemens Viet Nam and Foxlink Vietnam Electronics Co., Ltd. will support the school with equipment for training in 2024.

“In the context of lacking university facilities, the support of businesses has greatly supported the teaching work of university lecturers, while also creating favourable conditions for university students to access and improve practical skills with lots of modern equipment. This is essential for high-quality human resource training.”, Assoc.Prof. Dr. Phan Cao Tho said.

In early February 2024, the University of Science and Technology under the University of Da Nang inaugurated the ‘DUT Maker Innovation Space’ and the IC Design Lab. In these two projects, leading partners including Fujikin Da Nang, FPT Software, Renesas, Cadence, and Unitec provided them with modern equipment such as practice kits, 3D printers, and computers using simulation calculations, tools and equipment, all off which serve research and creative activities at this tertiary establishment 

In his perspective, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Huu Hieu, the Rector of the University of Science and Technology, said that investment in facilities by corporate partners in recent times has contributed to enhancing training quality, especially for new enrollment majors such as Microelectronics - Circuit Design that is slated to open soon in 2024.

Students of the Da Nang University of Science and Technology experience the IC Design room that has just been put into use. Photo: NGOC HA

Unleash extra-budget resources

In 2023, the Duy Tan University, Central Viet Nam’s largest private tertiary establishment, inked cooperation agreements with many large corporations and businesses. In particular, the university signed a cooperation agreement with Samsung to implement the Samsung Innovation Campus (SIC) project.

Within the framework of cooperation, Samsung Vietnam sponsored a lab with 30 high-configuration computers, 1 laptop and 1 smart TV, contributing to ensuring teaching and coordinating the implementation of Samsung Viet Nam's training activities at the Duy Tan University in the 2023-2024 school year and the following academic years.

In addition, Suganamu Company and FORE Joint Stock Company of Japan sponsored the establishment of a cyber security lab at this university. The venue includes interior equipment, 20 high-configuration laptops with some specialized software, 1 dedicated server and many other network devices.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Vu, Director of the University of Da Nang acknowledged that training high-quality human resources has not met the requirements of socio-economic development in aspects. The scale (especially postgraduate training), human resource level and labour productivity are still modest in comparison to other ASEAN member countries.

In the context of competition and international integration associated with the 4.0 industrial revolution, which requires the economy to change its growth model from breadth to depth, only a new development of higher education is needed to provide high quality human resources for the enhancement of labour productivity and competitiveness and integration.

According to Mr. Vu, one of the solutions to remove that bottleneck is to open up resources outside the State budget for higher education. It is extremely important that the State plays the role of a "midwife" to encourage and create conditions to promote cooperation between schools and businesses so that businesses can participate in the training process, support universities in terms of financial resources and facilities as an important step to enhance education quality.

Therefore, it is high time for the national government to supplement, complete, and promulgate policies such as taxes and land use to encourage businesses to save investment resources that should be use to support universities. Ministries need to pay attention to removing "bottlenecks" in mechanisms and policies to encourage schools to receive international funding sources, in order to take advantage of more resources to contribute to enhancing the quality of training and scientific research.

Reporting by NGOC HA  - Translating by A.THU