On this day 10 years ago, World Youth Skills Day was established to emphasize the critical importance of equipping young people with essential skills for employment, decent work, and entrepreneurship, as well as for addressing global challenges and advancing sustainable development.
Under Aus4Skills, since 2017, the “Promoting industry linkages with vocational education and training” project has worked with 16 vocational colleges in Vietnam, equipped hundreds of teachers and managers with new knowledge and skills, and introduced new approaches to skills development, including competency-based training and assessment (CBTA).
Pham Thi Hien (Maritime College No I alumni) and Bui Le Loc Phat (Ho Chi Minh City College of Economics alumni) represent more than 5,300 students who benefit from the quality Improvement in teaching from the project. Both majoring in the Logistics program, they describe their initial decision to study logistics as “fateful,” but it was the positive impact of vocational training on their careers and lives that solidified their commitment.
What drives you to a career in logistics?
Hien: Choosing this field is such a “fateful” decision for me. When I graduated from high school in 2017, I had many plans for myself. I was accepted into the accounting major at the Maritime University, and also planned on studying abroad in Japan and working for a few years. In the end, this plan could not be implemented because my family did not want me to go far away from home. As for the university, I wasn’t able to reserve my scores for another year. If I want to study, I would have to take the entrance exam again. While researching options, I saw that Maritime College I opened enrollment for the first course of the logistics major. Feeling interested in the program, I decided to register.
Phat: From 2014 to 2017, I was mobilised for military service. Witnessing the very meticulous logistics process in the military, I felt very curious about the operational aspect and wanted to learn more. When discharged from the army, after learning that the field is called “Logistics”, I decided to pursue it and had the opportunity to access Logistics knowledge from Ho Chi Minh City College of Economics.
What do you think are the advantages of vocational education?
Hien:Â Through consulting different learning directions, I consider vocational training to be a reasonable choice in terms of training time and cost. Vocational programs usually only take about three years to complete, helping students enter the labor market sooner. Not only that, the trained knowledge is also very practical, directly applicable in the working process.
Phat: One advantage that I think is rarely mentioned about vocational training is how it trains your creative thinking, logic, and meticulousness in work. Creative thinking in the supply chain in general and the logistics supply chain in particular, combined with theoretical knowledge applied to practical work, helps us to change and adapt more easily when there are changes in the environment. work and be more confident when faced with new technologies and new ways of operating.
What are some unique opportunities that you received during your study that you find invaluable for your future career?
Hien: Talking about the practicality of vocational training, I feel that participating in CBTA pilot classes is a special experience, not everyone who goes to school has it. CBTA classes give me a very clear picture of the nature of future work, as well as the standards required by enterprises. In addition, because the school has close links with partner enterprises, right after studying in the simulation environment, I immediately was able to apply practice in the real environment. Thanks to early exposure and better familiarity with the job, I was accepted to work right after my internship at the company, right before graduating!
Phat: Luckily, I had access to knowledge about supply chains and logistics when participating in the CBTA pilot class based on the Australian model, especially Warehousing, to absorb the simulation warehouse model, grasp the basics, and develop my skills. When interning at the enterprise (Warehouse), you work and learn faster, saving time on training. The enterprise can provide you with a more straightforward growth path, allowing you to hold a higher position.
Thank you! Wishing you the best in your career!
“We are very satisfied with Hien’s skills. Vocational graduates like Hien will have a great career development path at our company. We always create the most favourable conditions for vocational students to seek internship and employment.”
– Mr. Le Minh Chien, Head of Warehouse Department, Golden Link JSC, Dinh Vu Economic Zone, Hai Phong
“We are proud to have an employee like Phat. We will continue to cooperate with educators and welcome students to intern and work at our company. Vocational students should always be confident in their choice!”
– Mr. Nguyen Duy Minh – General Secretary, Vietnam Logistics Service Association (VLA), President and General Director, INTERLOGÂ
