TVET

German quality management and assurance models – a basis for international quality standards in Vietnamese TVET institutes

From 19/8 to 27/8/2018, 16 representatives from the Directorate of Vocational Education and Training (DVET), TVET institutes, the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and national external auditors participated in a study trip to Germany on the topic “Quality management/assurance at TVET institutes in Germany”. During the six-day trip, participants visited and discussed with managers of various institutes in the TVET field, such as Radko-Stoeckle-School in Melsungen, the TVET center within the Chamber of Crafts Erfurt, the Thüringer Institute for Teacher Further Training and Curricula Development and Media as well as the Volkswagen Training Institute Ltd. in Zwickau. “This is a good learning opportunity as I had the chance to intensively discuss with many experts in the field and understand thoroughly quality management and assurance models currently applied in German TVET institutes as well as crucial elements of an effective quality management model. This experience will offer many lessons learnt to improve the quality management system of our college.” said Mr Bui Van Hung, Vice Rector of the College of Technology II in Ho Chi Minh City.

During the study tour, participants got to know the TVET system in Germany including various training locations, types of training institutes as well as quality management and assurance models applied in some states, such as the core tasks model of Niedersachsen based on the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM),  the Quality Assurance Reference Framework in Hessen or the AZAV quality assurance model which is applied when a TVET institute wants to receive financial support from the state. Participants also understood the training quality management model ISO 29990:2010, which is commonly applied in private TVET institutes, full time training schools, TVET centers under Chambers of Crafts or Chambers of Commerce and the companies that want to ensure their quality and at the same time promote the branding with their customers.

The participants also had the chance to discuss with experts from Deutsche Gesellschaft zur Zertifizierung von Managementsystemen (DQS) company, one of the top certification bodies in the world. Dr. Thomas Rau and Dr. Karsten Koitz from DQS presented principles to develop an effective quality management model, and how to apply the quality improvement cycle (plan-do-check-act). These are important guidelines for an effective and sustainable quality management and assurance system (QM). Besides, the participants discussed with Dr. Klaus-Dieter Mertineit, Director of the Institute for Sustainable TVET and Management Services GmbH, about EFQM and the core tasks model. He emphasised that a QM model needs to be elaborated in a simple and friendly language so that teachers from TVET institutes can clearly understand it. All staff in the TTVET institute should also provide regular feedback to adjust the QM model at their TVET institute and periodically set higher quality objectives for continuous improvement of training quality.

“After the study tour, I strongly agree that all TVET stakeholders need to get involved in the whole processes of QM. Especially, the involvement and feedback of the business sector is very important because the business sector defines the demand and requirements for training offers”, shared Ms. Tran Thi Lan Anh, Deputy Secretary General, Director General of Bureau for Employers’ Activities, Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

After this study tour, the participants will compare the various QM models applied in TVET institutes in Germany with the Vietnamese context and pick out the most appropriate TVET quality framework as a basis to evaluate three high quality TVET institutes in Viet Nam. This will help these TVET institutes develop their appropriate plans detailing key solutions to meet German Quality Standards. “The participants have gained a lot of information about QM systems used in TVET institutes in different federal states in Germany and QM systems of in-company training centers.  The best practices and lessons learnt that experts, rectors of TVET institutes and directors of in-company training centers shared are really useful for the implementation of cooperationactivities between the Viet Nam Vocational Education Accreditation Agency (VETA)/DVET and the Programme Reform of TVET in Viet Nam” – shared Dr. Pham Vu Quoc Binh, Director of VETA /DVET.

This activity took place within the component “Policy Advice and System Reform” 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 für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) in cooperation with with the Vietnamese Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA).

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