40,000 students have benefited from the Viet Nam - Australia cooperation program

Recently, the Australian Embassy in Viet Nam and the Ministry of Education and Training co-organized a workshop to mark the 10th anniversary of the Australia - Viet Nam Skills Development Program (Aus4Skills), attended by representatives from various ministries, agencies, Party bodies, as well as partners and beneficiaries of the program.

In her opening remarks, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thu Thuy, Director of the Department of International Cooperation at the Ministry of Education and Training, highlighted: “Over the past 10 years, the Aus4Skills program has played a significant role in strengthening the capacity of postgraduate education, modernizing vocational training, and promoting gender equality and social inclusion. Thousands of government officials, lecturers, and educators have benefited from enhanced professional skills, while the program has also helped build a sustainable network of connections between Viet Nam and Australia. Looking ahead, we are eager to continue our partnership into the next phase, focusing on educational innovation, the development of a highly skilled workforce, and ensuring that no one is left behind in this process.”

Since 2016, the Australian government has implemented the Aus4Skills program with a total investment of AUD 86 million. Designed to enhance human-resource capacity through education and skills development, the program has gradually expanded its reach to respond to Viet Nam’s evolving priorities. Today, Aus4Skills stands as a comprehensive platform supporting higher education, vocational training, and leadership development, making a lasting contribution to Viet Nam’s human-resource development and its long-term socio-economic growth.

Australia’s Ambassador to Viet Nam, Gillian Bird, highlighted that Aus4Skills is far more than just a program, it serves as a bridge connecting people, ideas, and opportunities between Viet Nam and Australia.

“Through its wide-ranging education and training activities, Aus4Skills has created opportunities for thousands of Vietnamese to enhance their professional skills and leadership capacities, while fostering a culture of innovation and inclusive growth. The program’s contributions have played an important role in deepening bilateral cooperation and were instrumental in elevating the relationship between our countries to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership last year,” the Ambassador noted.

Since its inception, Aus4Skills has awarded over 500 scholarships, with many recipients now holding leadership positions across government agencies, universities, and private-sector organizations. The program’s initiatives in higher education have helped strengthen governance and quality assurance, benefiting more than 40,000 students nationwide.

In vocational education, industry-oriented training models have improved workforce skills in logistics and related sectors. Importantly, the program has increased the participation of female trainees from 13% to 60%, marking a significant advance in promoting gender equality in traditionally male-dominated fields.

In the field of vocational education, Aus4Skills has played a key role in supporting initiatives that enhance the practical relevance of training programs, foster stronger partnerships between educational institutions and businesses, and introduce innovative approaches to ensure that graduates acquire the skills and competencies required by the labor market. By focusing on these areas, the program not only improves workforce readiness but also promotes inclusive growth, advancing gender equality and expanding opportunities for disadvantaged and underrepresented groups, thereby reinforcing Vietnam’s broader commitment to social fairness and equity.

Furthermore, the Viet Nam - Australia Centre has emerged as a central hub for knowledge sharing and leadership development, providing training and capacity-building programs for senior officials from both governments. These outcomes reflect the shared commitment of the two countries to developing a skilled, adaptable, and future-ready workforce.

Recently, First Secretary Peta Donald and a delegation from the Australian Embassy visited the Maritime and Inland Waterway College I (MIC1) - one of 16 partner institutions that have directly benefited from the Aus4Skills VET project over the years.

According to Mr. Do Van Tuan, Principal of MIC1, the collaboration with Aus4Skills has brought fundamental changes to the school’s curriculum. Since 2018, MIC1 has been among the first three colleges in Vietnam to pilot the Competency-Based Training Approach (CBTA) in the logistics sector, while also establishing and operating the Logistics Centre - a practical training facility highly regarded by international partners.