Australia, Viet Nam promote gender equality through vocational training cooperation

Since joining Aus4Skills - the Partnership for Vocational Education and Training Aus4Skills VET project, Maritime - Inland and Waterway College No. 1 (MIC1) has become a model vocational education institution in the field of transport and logistics. Thanks to this, the school has pioneered in promoting gender equality in educational and professional environments, creating opportunities for many female students and people with disabilities to participate in technical fields - which were traditionally seen as strengths of men.

According to Mr. Do Hong Hai, Vice Rector of MIC1, to create favorable conditions for all demographics to participate in training, the physical facilities and equipment are arranged in a harmonious and easily accessible manner. Furthermore, the College adjusts the training curriculum and enrollment regulations so that female students and people with disabilities can apply.

Thanks to the success of the pilot projects, the college was granted a budget to build the CBTA training model at the Logistics Center, covering an area of nearly 15,000 square meters. Phase 2 of the facility was completed at the end of 2023 and put into use in mid-2024, contributing to enhancing the quality and expanding the scale of logistics training.

"In reality, we currently have students with disabilities, although the number is not large, the number of students from disadvantaged backgrounds is relatively high. During the learning process, we apply many support policies and schemes, such as financial assistance during holidays and Tet (Lunar New Year) to comfort them. At the same time, the school has a fund to support poor students who strive to overcome difficulties, helping to cover some of the challenges in their lives," he said.

In terms of expertise, the programs and certificates in these occupations at MIC1 are currently licensed for training according to the standards of the International Maritime Organization IMO, fully meeting international standards and recognized globally. Besides, the IMO has also launched a gender equality movement, affirming the important role of women in the maritime industry.

"I myself grew up in the seafaring industry; previously, almost 100% of students in this field were male, requiring physical standards, height, weight, and semi-military training.

However, thanks to the outreach of the Aus4Skills program and other social activities, women are gradually asserting themselves. Currently, female students are increasingly accepted and recruited by enterprises, and the Vietnamese crew workforce now includes about 3-4 female maritime officers," he proudly shared.

As a former MIC1 student, after graduation, Ms. Pham Thi Hien was recruited by Golden Link Company as a documentation staff member. The training program, a cooperation between MIC1 and Aus4Skills, closely follows reality by 80-90%, from processes and documents to professional handling skills. Thanks to this, right after graduation, I was able to apply my knowledge to the job smoothly and was immediately accepted by the company, she shared.

Dr. Do Van Tuan, Rector of Maritime and Inland Waterway College No. 1, identified logistics as a breakthrough spearhead for the vision of making MIC1 a pioneering research and training center for green and digital logistics by 2045.

"The Logistics sector is pioneered by us in training according to social demands, with female students currently accounting for about 50%. The college is also spreading the Competency-Based Training and Assessment CBTA model from Aus4Skills to all 29 occupations. Simultaneously, 37 college officers and teachers are directly implementing curriculum development and CBTA training for seven schools in the Northern region. I believe that by adhering to the established standards, students will certainly meet the employment requirements right at the enterprises," he said.

Since 2016, the Australian government has implemented the Aus4Skills program, with a total value of 86 million AUD, focused on building a skilled workforce to support Vietnam's socio-economic development. One of the program’s five important components is the Partnership for Vocational Education and Training Aus4Skills VET Project.

Australian Ambassador Gillian Bird expressed delight at the results achieved by Aus4Skills. In addition to sharing its vocational education and training system, the program has contributed to building a more comprehensive workforce that meets the demands of the future labor market. These results, according to the Ambassador, not only help increase productivity but also further strengthen the cooperation relationship between Australia and Vietnam.