Five Vietnamese vocational education and training (VET) colleges have successfully piloted the competency based training and assessment method (CBTA) as part of the ‘Promoting logistics industry engagement in VET’ Project under Aus4Skills. The colleges, Maritime College No.1, Da Nang Vocational College, Vocational College No.2, Ho Chi Minh City College of Transport, and College of Mechanics and Irrigation, were supported by Australian experts throughout the trial process, which follows Aus4Skills-led training on CBTA in late 2023.
The CBTA approach is based on Australia’s model, which integrates industry standards and needs into training and assessment to ensure graduates meet industry requirements.
For the pilot, each college selected a specific training module: ‘Operate a forklift’ (Maritime College No.1); ‘Receive and store goods’ (Da Nang Vocational College); ‘Follow safety procedures’ (College of Technology II); ‘Packing and shipping’ (Ho Chi Minh City College of Transport)’ and ‘Pick and process orders’ (College of Mechanics and Irrigation). Across the five colleges, 84 students participated in the pilot modules, including 49 women and two students with disabilities. On average, each college trained 15-18 students.
Students from the CBTA pilots at Maritime College No.1
Colleges worked closely with enterprises to develop the curriculum, deliver the training, and assess learning for modules under the pilot. During their studies, students practiced at both college’s simulation warehouses and the enterprise’s workplaces. Colleges also applied the knowledge of inclusion acquired from Aus4Skills to ensure gender equality and to support students with disabilities.
Students from the CBTA pilots at Vocational College No.2
All participating students were assessed as “competent” at the completion of training in March 2024. All participating colleges and enterprises found the pilot a success, and expresses their readiness to replicate it in other training modules.
Students from CBTA pilots at Ho Chi Minh City College of Transport
“The CTBA forklift operation course is really useful. We got to practice at both college and enterprises for up to 90% of the course and thanks to that, I can drive a forklift confidently and smoothly,” said Do Thi Thu Trang, a student of the Pilot Course at Maritime College 1.
Dr. Nguyen Van Chuong, Principal of College of Mechanics and Irrigation, was positive about the pilot’s results: “The project has had a positive impact on teaching methods for instructors. We can apply the CBTA method to other modules”.
Enterprises were similarly positive about their participation in the pilot. Mr. Nguyen Huy Truong, Director of Minh Giang International Import-Export Trading Company Limited, which participated in the pilot with Maritime College I, shared: “We find the CBTA method very effective, helping us save time and costs in recruitment and training. We will continue to accompany the colleges in value transfering activities received from the Aus4Skills Program.”
Students from CBTA pilots at Da Nang Vocational College
The pilot also revealed useful lessons for applying CBTA methods in other courses and colleges, including essential preconditions for success like supportive college leaders, lecturers with mastery of the CBTA method, businesses engaged in the process throughout, learning outcomes that closely follow industry requirements, scheduled training time, access to or construction of a well-thought out simulation warehouse and access to adequate equipment for learning. Colleges also recommended that authorities should improve the legal framework to facilitate the application of CBTA methods, including updating learning outcomes for VET qualifications.
Students from CBTA pilots at College of Mechanics and Irrigation
Australia, through Aus4Skills, will continue to support Vietnam improve the quality of human resources by refining and improving the VET system, including innovative training and assessment methods.
