Vietnam-Japan Vocational Education Workshop and Job Fair

On the Vietnamese side, the event included participation from three colleges under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, involved in the pilot program for cooperative training based on the KOSEN model, along with hundreds of students currently studying at Cao Thang Technical College and representatives from several foreign-invested enterprises in Vietnam.

Overview of the Workshop

According to a representative from the Personnel Department of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, KOSEN is a system of Japanese technical colleges offering vocational training programs that recruit students who have graduated from junior high school, aiming to train technical bachelors with high practical application skills. A prominent feature of the KOSEN model is its close collaboration and training tailored to the needs of businesses. Initial results of KOSEN's cooperation in Vietnam show some noteworthy achievements. From 2021 to 2025, a total of 941 students participated in the KOSEN training program, including: Cao Thang Technical College (574 students), Hue Industrial College (239 students), and the College of Industry and Trade (128 students). Many teachers participated in training on advanced teaching programs of schools within the KOSEN system; a total of 35 students participated in exchange activities between schools within the KOSEN system; numerous job fairs were organized between schools and Japanese businesses; Robocon competitions were held between KOSEN schools in Vietnam and Japan…

A representative from the Department of Organization and Personnel delivered a speech at the workshop.

Professor Manabu Hatamura, Vice Principal of Ube Kosen College, stated that in September 2019, Hue Industrial College launched its first course. A year later, Cao Thang Technical College and the College of Industry and Commerce also commenced their courses. The program aims to foster ethics, practical experience, teamwork skills for problem-solving, and career orientation . In addition, collaboration with businesses, especially Japanese businesses, is a key aspect of the program. According to Dr. Le Dinh Kha, Principal of Cao Thang Technical College, the school is proud to be one of the three schools under the Ministry of Industry and Trade to participate in the KOSEN training model from the beginning. The most significant achievement of the model is the organization of numerous exchange activities between students and lecturers from both countries. Faculty and students have the opportunity to experience an international academic environment, broadening their understanding of modern technology, work ethics, and industrial culture.

Participating in the workshop, Dr. Pham Vu Quoc Binh, Deputy Director of the Department of Vocational Education and Continuing Education (Ministry of Education and Training), assessed that the KOSEN model demonstrates many outstanding advantages, especially in the close connection between schools and businesses. The recently passed Vocational Education Law by the National Assembly has for the first time stipulated vocational high school programs, allowing students to receive career guidance and simultaneously study general education knowledge from after lower secondary school, with a pathway to higher education levels. Therefore, the KOSEN model, with its continuous training pathway from lower secondary school upwards, is considered a valuable suggestion for Vietnam to research and apply to vocational high schools, intermediate schools, colleges, and further develop convenient and reasonable pathways for learners to continue on to university if they wish.

Delegates attending the Workshop

Representatives from Vietnamese and Japanese colleges and businesses participating in the workshops and job fairs expressed their delight that the KOSEN cooperation program in Vietnam has achieved its goals in vocational education, opening up many job opportunities, and hoped that the program would continue with greater participation from vocational schools and the business community. A representative from the Department of Personnel and Organization stated that the Ministry of Industry and Trade is also ready to facilitate the further expansion of this meaningful cooperation program in Vietnam.

Source: Department of Personnel Organization

Tags: vocational education, job fair

Source: https://moit.gov.vn/tin-tuc/hoi-thao-giao-duc-nghe-nghiep-va-hoi-cho-viec-lam-viet-nam-nhat-ban.html