Qualified in-company trainers are an essential aspect of cooperative training: Under their close instruction, trainees improve their technical knowledge and practical skills in real working conditions during the in-company training phases. From the 6th to the 14th August 2018, a training of in-company trainers was realised for the four cooperative training offers of LILAMA 2 International College of Technology: Construction Mechanics, Metal Cutting–CNC, Mechatronics, and Industrial Electronics. In total, 20 technicians from four partner companies, namely Martech Boiler Co Ltd VN, Thuan Hai Corporation, QHplus Industry JSC and Advanced Multitech VN, participated. Named companies operate in the areas of construction material, energy solutions and mechanic and industrial electrics. Additionally, nine teachers from LILAMA 2 took an active part as facilitators for group activities and projects.

Two experts from the Potsdam Chamber of Skilled Crafts (HWK), Mr. Andreas Schmidt and Mr. Joachim Werner, were conducting the seven-days training jointly with multipliers of LILAMA 2 Mr Le Tuyen Giao, Vice Dean of Mechanics and Mr Nguyen Hung Khanh, Vice Dean of International Electrics and Electronics. Based on the Standard for In-Company Trainers in ASEAN Countries as well as German training regulations, the 20 in-company trainers were first instructed theoretically on how to define the work tasks and assess training requirements in their companies and to plan the in-company training following selected modules of the training programme. They also got familiar with preparing and conducting the in-company training for the four occupations applying appropriate teaching methods, such as the 4-step method, and conducting the assessment of the trainees’ competencies. In the second part, the participants put the learned skills into practice by forming groups and simulating teaching sessions. “I am very enthusiastic, when I see the quick pace, motivation and willingness to learn in our in-company trainers. After completing this training, I am convinced that they are able to successfully apply their technical and didactical competencies to effectively instruct, coach and motivate the trainees”, highlights Mr. Andreas Schmidt.

In the last two days of this session, the participating companies were visited to plan the implementation of the next in-company training phases. More specifically, LILAMA 2 focal points and in-company trainers jointly selected training modules to be implemented in the companies and agreed on the details of the collaboration. The companies are eager to implement the cooperative training approach as quickly as possible as well as to establish a closer coordination with LILAMA 2 College. QHplus Industry JSC, for example, suggested to accept at least 20 trainees for the upcoming in-company training phase.

This cooperative training approach creates a win-win situation for both the college and the companies, since learning directly at the workplace allows trainees to develop a theoretical and practical skill-set which reflects the needs of the business sector and the latest technological development.  These skills are essential for companies to respond to emerging new challenges such as Industry 4.0, which will have an increasing impact on manufacturing and the way work is organized. The investment in a high-quality cooperative training is a key factor for success for all parties in an increasingly competitive and innovation-driven world.

This activity takes part within the component “Support of Centres of Excellence for TVET” as part of the Vietnamese-German Programme Reform of TVET in Viet Nam. The programme is financed by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft fuer Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) in cooperation with the Vietnamese Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA).