The seminar, co-organised by the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA) and the UK Embassy, pointed out three key challenges in professional skill training: the educational system does not meet recruiters’ demands, the students lack practical skills, and there is the widening gulf between the training programme and output quality.

Participants said Vietnam has a shortage of teachers and trainers but has a plenty of opportunity to develop professional skills.

At the seminar, MoLISA Deputy Minister Nguyen Ngoc Phi and Director of the British Council Chris Brown signed a memorandum of understanding on vocational training cooperation between the two sides over the next three years.

Accordingly, they will strengthen cooperation in building dialogue policies and a professional network for vocational training, improving English capacity for vocational training teachers and managers, and raising the capacity of schools and trainees to take part in national, regional and international skills contests.

As scheduled, in 2013-2014, the General Department of Vocational Training, British Council, UK National Institute for Vocational Education and Vietnam National Coal Mineral Industries Group will cooperate in setting up a pilot vocational skill council to develop skill criteria for the mining industry.

In addition, they will hold a policy seminar with the participation of leading experts from the UK and Southeast Asian countries to help Vietnam implement its vocational training development strategy by 2020.

Vietnam and the UK will also conduct visit exchanges to share real experiences.