On 17 July 2020, Dong Nai Department of Labour – Invalids and Social Affairs (DoLISA) organised a Conference on “Implementation of training high-quality human resources in Dong Nai province in 2020, contributing to providing human resources for Long Thanh International Airport (Long Thanh Airport)” at LILAMA 2 International Technology College (LILAMA 2). The Conference was attended by delegates of DoLISA Dong Nai, Vietnam Association on Aviation Science and Technology” (VAAST), Vietnam Aviation Scientific Institute (ASI), Bureau for Employers’ Activities – Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry – Ho Chi Minh (VCCI), GIZ Programme Reform of TVET in Viet Nam, District People’s Committee, TVET institutes and High Schools across the province together with representatives of LILAMA 2’s partner companies.

The conference focused on the contents such as: labour demands for construction and operation of Long Thanh Airport, the ability of vocational education and training response of the province, the cooperation ability between DoLISA Dong Nai, TVET institutes and VAAST, as well as the exploitation of economic resources from the airport.

“Based on 27 criteria in terms of economy, culture, society, etc., in the project on Planning of Vietnam civil airport network, it was very surprised that Long Thanh Airport was chosen for 5 times as number 1 in playing extremely important role for the economy of the South, of the whole country and the South East Asia as well. This has resulted in the urgent need for human resources to build up and develop the airport.”, stated Mr. Tran Quang Chau, Chairman of VAAST.  

Mr. Do Hong Truong, Deputy Director of ASI explained that when put into operation, Long Thanh Airport will have a capacity of 25 million passengers per year for Phase 1. The total labour force working at the airport in this period is expected to be about 16.5 thousand people, the loss of labour force during and after the training process is about 15%. He also added, “Therefore, if the labour resource for Long Thanh Airport in this stage is assumed to be 100% newly recruited, the number of input trainees required for training is over 18,000“.

To meet the demand of skilled workers for the airport, LILAMA 2 has already cooperated with ASI to integrate aviation related contents into the existing training programmes for 09 occupations, including ones oriented to German Standards: Metal Cutting, Mechatronics and Industrial Electronics. Mr. Nguyen Khanh Cuong, LILAMA 2’s Rector said, “LILAMA 2 and ASI have cooperated in 3 stages. First stage has finished with identifying the suitable occupations, programmes for joint training. The second is related to collaborating with Long Thanh authority in identifying human resources for each occupation field. The third stage is about further training for teaching staff and initial training for trainees. Stage 2 and stage 3 details will be discussed further after the conference.”

Presenting at the conference, Mr. Bach Hung Truong, Team leader of Component “Support of Centres of Excellence for TVET”, summarised the achievements, current and upcoming activities supported by GIZ at LILAMA 2 and Vocational College of Machinery and Irrigation (VCMI). He also proposed “DoLISA Dong Nai should closely cooperate with LILAMA 2 and VCMI in disseminating the developed cooperative training approach and training programmes oriented on German standards to other TVET institutes in Dong Nai as well as support these TVET institutes to provide skilled workforce for Long Thanh airport”.

Mr. Huynh Van Tinh, Director of DoLISA Dong Nai emphasised “The Department of Vocational Education should give advice to set up a professional team to connect ASI, VAAST, LILAMA 2 as well as other TVET institutes, GIZ, and units who exploit workers for Long Thanh Airport determine the suitable occupations, occupational skills required at each job position and other issues relevant to certification. Thereby, TVET institutes shall adjust and update the training programmes and modules to meet practical needs”.