Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam pushed for improving the quality of education and training in order to raise productivity while chairing a seminar in Hanoi on March 7 promoting vocational training amid the changing labour landscape.

Over the past two years, Vietnam has carried out comprehensive reform of the education-training system, of which vocational training is an important aspect, he said.

Statistics showed that among 53 percent of the trained workforce, only 20 percent underwent training for three months or longer. Meanwhile, university graduates fall short of employers’ expectations.

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He proposed continuing to study labour incentives, attracting investment in education and vocational training, and improving ties between employers and trainers.

Given the recent birth of the ASEAN Community and Vietnam’s entry into new-generation free trade agreements, the country must overcome manpower challenges amid widespread globalisation and integration, he said.

By 2030, the world needs an additional 50 percent of energy, 40 percent of water and 35 percent of food, heard the seminar. Nearly two thirds of the world population is above 65 and more people are moving to cities.

Reports delivered at the event showed that globalisation, new technologies and longer working times are changing the global labour landscape, which requires each country to devise flexible vocational training development strategies.

Participants also discussed how Vietnam could grasp chances to develop until 2020 and beyond.

Deputy Prime Minister Dam and Lord David Puttnam, special envoy of the UK Prime Minister in charge of trade and culture in Vietnam, co-chaired the event, which was hosted by the Embassy of the UK and Northern Ireland and the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs.

Within the framework of the International Skills Partnership, the British Council will host a seminar on March 8 and 9 to establish training quality assurance mechanisms and tools up to UK standards.

Source: VNA