NPT success story: VocTech
24 Dec 2009
VocTech is an NPT programme in Vietnam that started in 2005 and is now entering its final stage.
A demand-driven, market-oriented approach
The programme aims to develop and strengthen the quality of a demand-driven agro-forestry vocational and technical education and training system in collaboration with the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD). VocTech focuses on nine vocational schools run by MARD and is coordinated by the Ministry’s Organization and Personal Department (OPD).
Key-objectives
The programme has the following key objectives:
- institutional development;
- strengthening school management;
- curriculum development;
- staff development;
- strengthening collaboration between VocTech schools and regional economic players.
With these objectives in mind, VocTech has designed and implemented of range of activities for the nine participating schools during the last four years. One of the programme’s many success stories is the new School Development Strategy (SDS).
Strategic developments
In 2007 only two out of forty schools managed by MARD had their own SDS. Most schools realized they would need a good SDS, even in the context of more decentralization and more autonomy given by MARD, if they wanted to move forward. Despite this realization, many school directors found it hard to formulate a strategy tailored to their institution. The lack of knowledge, skills, and experience, was tackled by OPD in 2008 with an innovative VocTech activity, leading to the creation of SDS Boards at every school. A number of OPD officials attended a training of trainers course focused on the development of SDS.
SDS trainers
These newly formed SDS trainers became key figures in the strategy formulation process together with the school management. In addition to providing technical assistance, VocTech also provided financial support, enabling the schools to set up their own strategies. Many schools found it a daunting task to develop a strategy and that is why it took them almost a year to obtain the prestigious MARD mark of approval. The preparation involved several steps, including surveys, study tours, assessments and the development and fine-tuning their SDS.
VocTech and the OPS: involved partners
VocTech and the OPD did not stand on the sidelines of this process. On the contrary, they continued to provide schools with necessary technical assistance. Experts were at hand to express constructive criticism and make valuable comments. As a result of this joint effort, all the schools managed to develop their own SDS and address the main issues related to the labour market, marketing, staff and curriculum development, mission and vision, and five-year objectives.
In practice
SDS has managed to provide a better link with the requirements of the labour market. Hanoi Vocational College for Electro-Mechanics, for example, has identified four strategic subjects including turnery, welding, industrial electrician, and automotive mechanic, North-Eastern Vocational College for Technology and Agro-Forestry located in Lang Son Province has indentified two subjects – silviculture and wood processing. Since the application of their SDS, all schools have started to work closely with employers on student enrollments, curriculum development, practical issues and job placements. Students are now also being encouraged to get more actively involved in community works and study trips and to improve their work ethics.
Blueprint for the Vietnamese education sector
The impact of this programme activity has gone beyond the VocTech schools. The SDS manual that has been developed has now also been made available to the Ministry of Education and Training and to the Ministry of Labor Invalids and Society Affairs. Over the next few years the strategies of VocTech schools will contribute to a better response to the labour market demands in the Vietnamese agro-forestry sector.
