VIETNAM – A COUNTRY THAT NEEDS SKILLS

Presentation byMichael Mann

President, RMIT International University Vietnam

Vietnam – some critical facts• Population of 81 million to be 120 million in 2030;• Area less than half bigger in land mass than Victoria;• Population of Ho Chi Minh City is bigger than that of

Victoria• 1,000 years of history – many wars• Average income about $A500 p.a.• Size of the Economy $A48 billion or one quarter of that

of Victoria. Exports make up half of the economy of Vietnam as whereas it is only 13% in Victoria

• Growth rate 6% (last 10 years) – 6-7% predicted.

More facts

• Number one exporter of pepper and cashews; number two in coffee and rice

• 65% of population under 20 years

• Near 100% literacy

• Of 1.2 million school leavers each year about 100,000 find university places.

• Employment rates of university graduates well under 50%

RMIT in Vietnam

• Only one foreign university in Vietnam, RMIT which opened in 2001 in Ho Chi Minh City and in 2004 in Hanoi.

• 1400 students – 10% foreign

• 60 corporate clients (including Nike, US Government, Sony, Nestle, Australia Federal Police)

• Great needs for skills training and have forged links with William Angliss and Box Hill TAFE as RMIT did not have the requisite skills.

Opportunities

• Mainly unskilled workforce with a great work ethic

• Good economic growth and substantial foreign investment

• Australia has a great reputation in education and training

Major Obstacles to Vocational Training

• Vocational studies are generally perceived as a panacea to assist disadvantaged group to earn a living

• Targets are often ethnic groups, disadvantaged youth, HIV/Aids suffers,

• Vocation training is the responsibility of Ministry of Labour not Ministries of Education or Commerce

Business

• Lacks funding for training – chicken and egg – as there is limited quality training available training funding is not in budgets

• Training is often seen as a reward for good service – especially when it involves overseas travel

• Links between training and productivity not apparent due to variable quality of training

• Foreign companies leading the way (e.g. Nike)

Solutions

• RMIT Vietnam has found some solutions

• The Australian Wheat Board (AWB) has funded a Centre of Excellence in HCMC on the RMIT Campus

• RMIT Vietnam is partnering with William Angliss to deliver Hospitality, Tourism and Food Processing Course

RMIT Vietnam - William Angliss courses

Other Solutions

• Obtain funding for courses from third parties – World Bank, Asian Development Bank, etc. – a long process but worthwhile

• RMIT Vietnam has just started a three year rolling program on its Hanoi campus for senior police from 13 countries funded by the Australian Federal Police

Opportunities

• Too many – very easy to sign an MOU very difficult to sign a contract!

• Must focus on funding mechanisms

• Meet needs – clearly meet bottom line outcomes for companies – be able to measure these

Recommendations

• Have honest and friendly people represent institutions – beware of local agents

• Don’t be afraid to say NO

• Build up relationships either by having someone on the ground or having the same person visit regularly

• Do not expect any outcomes for two years – a sizeable investment

RMIT Vietnam progress to date

• Started teaching in late 2001• First graduates all have good jobs, started own

companies or have gone abroad for postgraduate study

• Scholarships – Masters programs in Education and Research, English for Health Workers

• 1,400 students (10% non Vietnamese)• 150 staff (100 academic staff – 80% foreign) • Offering seven undergraduate and two

postgraduate degree programs

Working with other Vietnamese Institutions

• Great interaction with Vietnamese universities – through building libraries in Hue, Danang, Cantho and Thai Nguyen – a program totalling in excess of $30 million