Germany is 'thirsty' for human resources: Free vocational training, hundreds of millions in salary for Vietnamese students

Germany is facing a serious labor shortage, especially in the context of a rapidly aging population. This situation not only puts pressure on the German economy but also opens up great opportunities for international workers, including Vietnamese students.

Germany lacks hundreds of thousands of nurses

According to information at the workshop "Career Guidance - Study - Employment in the Federal Republic of Germany" organized by the Southern Center for Education and Training Development (Office of the Ministry of Education and Training) in collaboration with An Duong Group (ADG) on the afternoon of September 20, Germany is currently facing a serious shortage of human resources in many industries. In particular, construction, nursing, sales, food processing, electrical engineering, air conditioning, etc. are all fields that urgently need skilled workers.

Ms. Hoang Van Anh, General Director of ADG, said that the aging population has increased the demand for human resources in Germany, especially in the field of health care. “Nursing is a very 'hot' industry not only in Germany but also in Korea and Japan. The salary of a nurse in Germany is nearly 20 euros/hour, equivalent to about 650,000 VND/hour, equal to a day's income in Vietnam,” Ms. Van Anh said.

Mr. Nguyen Hong Ky, representative of the German Nursing Home Association in Vietnam, also said that Germany is short of over 500,000 nurses and is expected to need an additional 300,000 by 2030. To meet the demand, the German government has expanded its acceptance of international human resources, in which Vietnam is considered a potential source of labor thanks to its diligence, dexterity and sense of responsibility.

Mr. Nguyen Hong Ky said that it is expected that by 2030, Germany will lack 300,000 nurses.

PHOTO: YEN THI

Opportunities for Vietnamese students

The demand for human resources in Germany has created favorable conditions for Vietnamese students through vocational study abroad programs.

According to Ms. Hoang Van Anh, the German Government currently exempts 100% of tuition fees for vocational training abroad, and supports living expenses of 1,000 - 1,500 euros/month (about 30 - 45 million VND). During the internship, students can receive a salary of up to 2,200 euros/month. After graduation, students are signed to a labor contract with a starting salary of 2,800 - 3,300 euros/month (about 85 - 100 million VND), along with full social security and the opportunity to settle permanently and obtain citizenship after 5 years of work.

The conditions for participating in the vocational study abroad program in Germany are to graduate from high school or higher, and have a German language certificate from B1 according to the European reference framework (GER). For the nursing industry, 80% of businesses require B2 German proficiency. The language learning path in Vietnam lasts from 6-8 months, depending on the learner's ability, it can be shortened.

According to Ms. Hoang Van Anh, one of the conditions for vocational study in Germany is having a German language certificate from B1 or higher.

PHOTO: YEN THI

Mr. Ky said that during the vocational training period in Germany (3 years), students will learn basic health care skills, elderly care, rehabilitation support, basic medical knowledge and communication skills with patients. “Vietnamese students and workers are often highly appreciated for their skills, working style and attitude. However, the biggest limitation is still foreign language, which needs to be overcome to take advantage of the opportunity,” Mr. Ky shared.

Are Vietnamese secondary/college/university degrees recognized in Germany?

Ms. Bui Thu Thuy, Head of Training Management, German Chamber of Industry and Commerce in Vietnam, shared that Vietnamese students who want to study and work in Germany need to have their degrees recognized in Germany. This is the process of assessing and evaluating the academic level, professional qualifications and work experience of individuals after completing a training program in Vietnam to determine the level of equivalence with the German standard training and education system.

Conditions for diploma recognition: Have a secondary/college/university degree issued by Vietnam with a training period of 2 years or more. In Germany, there are also occupations corresponding to the learner's profession. Work experience is an advantage but not required.

Cases that cannot apply for diploma recognition are those with only training certificates/high school diplomas/diplomas with training duration of less than 2 years. Diplomas that are not recognized by Vietnam.

Some industries that require a practice certificate and those that do not require a practice certificate will have their own bodies that request recognition of their degrees:

• Some professions require a professional certificate such as nursing, teaching, etc., recognized by the professional agency of each state, depending on the profession and workplace in Germany;
• Professions that do not require a professional certificate: managerial economist , computer science expert, chef... have their degrees recognized by the Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Chamber of Crafts, and Central Examinations Office in Germany.

The cost of diploma recognition ranges from 300-600 euros. The time for diploma recognition is from 3-6 months, in some cases up to 8 months. If the diploma is not recognized, the cost will not be refunded, so it is necessary to prepare all the documents.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/duc-khat-nhan-luc-du-hoc-nghe-mien-phi-luong-tram-trieu-cho-sinh-vien-viet-nam-185250920213108766.htm