(VOVworld) – With approximately 90 million people, Vietnam is the 3rd most populated nation in ASEAN and the 13th in the world. Vietnam is currently in a so-called period of “golden population structure” with 66%-67% of the population in the working age, equal to 60 million people. Vietnam has an abundant labor force with the ability to acquire new knowledge and apply scientific advances.
The resolution of the 11th National Party Congress says that human resources are the most important factor in forming social productive forces and deciding the nation’s defense, security, and economic potential. Human resources manipulate socio-economic development.
Education and training to meet social demand
To accelerate its modernization and industrialization process Vietnam has been investing to build a highly-qualified labor force, capable of adapting to scientific and technological changes. According to the Ministry of Education and Training, human resource development based on social demand is an important strategy. In its 2011-2016 action program, the Ministry has set a target that all universities will have applied the credit-based education system by 2015. In addition, universities and colleges will be classified into different categories focusing on specific areas to meet different social demands. President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Nguyen Thien Nhan says: “Increasing training to meet social demand is essential in the integration context. The Ministry of Education and Training and the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs have signed two important agreements with German and Japanese business associations and relevant agencies. Under these agreements, Vietnam will train its workers to meet the needs of German and Japanese investors in Vietnam. This will help Vietnam internationalize its training programs. We should also step up scientific research to aid national development.”
Increased vocational training for rural workers
Vietnam’s economy has been developing and integrating into the world economy rapidly. Therefore, Vietnam needs a large quality labor force and a strategy on vocational training for rural workers is considered the key to many national target programs. The government’s project of vocational training for rural workers until 2020 has been in place for 4 years with the aim of training 1 million rural workers a year and addressing local socio-economic issues during the process of economic restructuring. In 2013 alone, Vietnam trained more than 1.7 million workers and the ratio of trained workers getting a job was 90%. Deputy head of the Vocational Training Department of the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs Cao Van Sam says: “Vocational training for rural workers is an important solution to develop the economy and build new rural areas. We have adjusted a number of standards in vocational training to help rural workers learn new technologies at work. Vocational training centers must ensure that their trainees have the necessary skills and professional knowledge to meet social demand.”
Improving human resources is a breakthrough in Vietnam’s construction and defense and a decisive factor in guaranteeing rapid and sustainable growth.