Recruiting Vietnamese students to go to Germany for vocational training and paid training

Vocational students in Germany - Photo: GETTY IMAGES

Typically, the Craft project of the Erfurt City Chamber of Industry (in the state of Thuringia) is recruiting Vietnamese students to Germany to train and practice with salaries for more than 14,000 businesses and 70,000 workers in the network in Germany.

Speaking to Tuoi Tre Online during a working trip to Vietnam, Mr. Thomas Malcherek - Executive Director of the Erfurt City Industrial Defense Department - said that many German businesses consider Vietnam one of the important labor supply markets.

Germany adds 400,000 workers each year

* Why do German businesses really want to recruit vocational school students from Vietnam, sir?

- Germany needs to add about 400,000 workers each year to replace the number of retired workers. About 50 years ago, Germany attracted workers from Northern Europe, but now the salary for this source of recruitment has increased, averaging 3,000 - 6,000 euros/month.

German companies are looking to other countries with young labor markets and a desire to experience working abroad, including Vietnam. Among the young labor force are students at vocational schools. Many second and third generations of Vietnamese workers are already in Germany.

In 2023, the Prime Minister of Thuringia state had a working trip to Vietnam, in which an important content was to attract Vietnamese human resources to work in Germany.

* How do German businesses evaluate Vietnamese vocational students, sir?

- The biggest challenge for you is the German language, but this is understandable. The strengths of Vietnamese students and young workers are their diligence, their willingness to devote themselves to their work and their politeness. The business network of the Erfurt City Chamber of Industry highly appreciates workers from Vietnam.

Mr. Thomas Malcherek - Photo: TRONG NHAN

70% of study time at the company

* In Vietnam, the vocational school system is facing many challenges from universities. In Germany, the quality of vocational schools is always highly appreciated. What is the secret, sir?

- Vocational schools in Germany are closely linked to businesses. Most programs allow students to study 70% at businesses, and students practice and work directly during their studies. Only 30% of the time is spent at school, mainly theoretical content.

Training targets are built based on the recruitment needs of local businesses. This is to limit the situation of overtraining or undertraining of actual needs, helping students to have jobs immediately after graduation.

In the training program, students are not only taught about techniques but also trained in many other skills related to business activities. For example, an auto repair student cannot only know how to repair cars, but also needs to know how to listen, communicate, and advise customers. They not only know how to follow a pattern, but also know how to think to find new problems.

Because the training process makes a real difference for students, businesses are very confident in the output standards from vocational schools. A trained worker is often given official positions, while an untrained worker can only do auxiliary positions.

Industry recognition contributes back to the reputation of vocational schools.

Another special thing is that in addition to initial vocational training, schools and vocational training centers in Germany have advanced training programs. Some businesses and associations in Germany can implement their own advanced vocational training programs.

Here, workers are upgraded and updated with techniques and technology. They also learn soft skills and management skills to be able to move up to higher positions.

More German projects with Vietnamese vocational schools

The Craft project is being implemented by the Erfurt City Chamber of Craft Industry, recruiting and connecting vocational students from Vietnam, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Kazakhstan to craft enterprises in the state of Thuringia.

Students receive free vocational training and receive a salary right from the first year, about 1,000 euros/month (28 million/month).

In the coming time, the Erfurt City Industry Department will have many other projects in Ho Chi Minh City such as implementing dual vocational training programs, teacher training, combining with the Far East College (Ho Chi Minh City) and projects connecting students and workers with other vocational schools in Vietnam.

Readers can learn more about the program at www.hwk-erfurt.de/craft. Here is a list of occupations that are recruiting vocational school students for projects of the Erfurt City Craft Industry Department in the state of Thuringia (Germany).

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/dang-tuyen-hoc-vien-viet-nam-qua-duc-hoc-nghe-dao-tao-co-luong-20240314153650066.htm