Institutional or provider accreditation is a requirement of Vietnam’s Vocational Training Law, which underpins the government’s efforts to improve the quality of the system.
GDVT has commenced accrediting or formally recognising training providers in order to improve the quality of vocational training throughout Vietnam. It is currently implementing a system whereby providers must meet certain requirements in order to become a recognised training provider and receive ‘good quality' certification. GDVT has developed criteria by which providers will be evaluated, and has documented a ‘step by step’ accreditation procedure to help training providers meet the necessary standards.
The process for gaining provider accreditation helps providers to self assess in the first instance and then to undergo external assessment by a quality assessor/auditor who is contracted by GDVT. GDVT currently trains external quality assessors that it recruits from industry or from within the VET system. These people have industrial and vocational training experience. GDVT manages the process from the Department of Vocational Accreditation within GDVT.
GDVT accredited:
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15 training providers in 2008 |
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21 in 2009 |
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40 in 2010 |
GDVT has already trained approximately 160 people to help providers prepare for accreditation requirements and conduct provider assessments for GDVT. A key issue for GDVT is to expand the number of accredited providers and to strengthen the system to be more easily recognised externally by industry, society and training authorities in other economies.
Vocational training programmes were curriculum based (framework curriculum); GDVT determined the broad content of a training programme and specified the core subjects a trainee must successfully complete in order to be awarded a qualification. Based on the framework curriculum, directors of vocational training institutions are responsible for developing their own curricula.
The Vocational Training Law provides a new framework which will underpin the development and implementation of a programme accreditation system. This will help to ensure that industry is involved in the process.
In March, MOLISA adopted a set of regulations that recognise how vocational training can help businesses to improve production processes, products and services. These regulations also define vocational qualification levels, state how standards will be developed, endorsed and validated, and say how often programmes will be reviewed.
Vietnam has adopted a 'whole government' approach to reduce system fragmentation and build support for skills development between the key government agencies involved. The regulations require government ministries to work with sectoral industry and labour organisations to develop standards that address skills needs in each sector of the economy – such as construction, tourism and agriculture. This approach aims to ensure that providers deliver programmes that meet the needs of partners, including employers, trainees, labour organisations and government ministries and departments.
Vietnam requires an appropriate training programme quality assurance system along with the necessary support mechanisms to enable GDVT to: effectively implement a revised system; and monitor the impact of revised training products in meeting government plans and priorities, as well as requirements identified by industry.
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