TVU – The planning for the Mekong Delta in the period of 2021-2030 with a vision to 2050 aims for comprehensive, ecological, and civilized development. By 2050, the Mekong Delta is expected to become a region with a relatively high level of development compared to the whole country, a desirable place to live for the people, an attractive destination for tourists and investors. Therefore, developing a scientific and technological workforce is a crucial task to create a sustainable development foundation for the region.
The Mekong Delta accounts for 12% of the country’s total area and 19% of the population, contributing 15.4% of GDP. It is the largest agricultural production center in Vietnam, accounting for 50% of rice output, 95% of rice exports, 65% of aquaculture output, 60% of exported fish, and 70% of the country’s fruit output. The region is of great importance in ensuring national security, politics, and economic development. (Government Newspaper)
The Party and State are building policies, mobilizing resources, and implementing many solutions to promote the potential and advantages, create motivation for socio-economic development in the Mekong Delta region, especially in the context of this region continuing to be heavily impacted by climate change, and having a convenient location for trade with ASEAN countries and the Mekong sub-region. Besides those opportunities and advantages, the Mekong Delta is currently facing many difficulties and challenges such as limited infrastructure, small-scale and informal production, low quality of agricultural products, weak competitiveness and vulnerability to environmental damage due to the negative impacts of climate change and the development of projects related to water resources in the upper reaches of the Mekong River…
The current situation of science and technology human resources in the Mekong Delta:
According to data from the General Statistics Office up to the end of 2021, the population of the 13 provinces and cities in the Mekong Delta is over 17.4 million people (accounting for 19% of the country’s population). In 2021, the workforce aged 15 and above in the region reached nearly 9.4 million, a decrease of 0.94% compared to 2020, accounting for 53.7% of the region’s population. Among them, the proportion of labor through training accounted for 14.6%, and the proportion of science and technology human resources with a university degree was over 5%. (Source: General Statistics Office)
According to experts, the quantity, quality, and structure of human resources in science and technology in the Mekong Delta region still face many shortcomings. Therefore, in order to create motivation for strong and sustainable socio-economic development, practical solutions are needed to develop science and technology and enhance the role of human resources. This is a pressing challenge that requires attention. Most industries and sectors are currently facing a shortage of skilled labor. However, as the Mekong Delta region is actively promoting industrialization, modernization, and international integration, the issue of limited human resources needs to be prioritized for resolution. If handled well, it can serve as an important driving force to unleash the potential of the Mekong Delta region.
Recognizing the importance and opportunities, as well as the mission of a university in the Mekong Delta region, Tra Vinh University has been continuously improving the quality of its programs in the direction of international integration and enhancing the quality of education. With the mission of “Providing quality learning opportunities for the community,” the university aims to supply science and technology human resources to serve the development of the Mekong Delta region, the whole country, and the region.
Tra Vinh University is currently investing in the development of relevant training programs to meet the needs of the region and the country. They are improving existing programs to align with the socio-economic development direction and the human resource demands of the Mekong Delta region. Their focus areas include agriculture, fisheries, biotechnology, environment, logistics, artificial intelligence, information technology, and health-related fields. The university is also creating a standard learning environment, expanding international cooperation, recruiting international students, and promoting a multicultural learning environment. They are enhancing infrastructure, investing in facilities and equipment for education and research, and expanding community services to generate added value for reinvestment in university equipment. Additionally, they are implementing strategies to attract new resources and develop existing ones by expanding the pool of high-quality lecturers and aiming to build an intelligent and advanced university model.
Improving the quality of career guidance services
Career guidance activities at Tra Vinh University are always given special attention, with a focus on in-depth career orientation. The university conducts surveys on students’ career choices by collaborating with high schools, bringing students to experience and explore real-world professions at universities. This activity helps students gain a clearer understanding of their career aspirations.
TVU proactively disseminates information to students through various communication channels and social media platforms. The university carries out practical experiential activities to guide career orientation, which has proven to be effective. Career guidance goes beyond simply introducing information about different professions for students to choose from. It focuses on helping students gain a clear understanding of their chosen fields and aligning their abilities with those professions, thereby minimizing the tendency to follow the crowd when selecting a career path.
Furthermore, career guidance and education are integrated into all activities of the university, not only within the classroom but also during events held on campus. These opportunities allow students to discover their passions, recognize their strengths, and make informed decisions regarding suitable career paths. For many years, Tra Vinh University has developed a comprehensive career guidance strategy that extends not only to high school students but also to current university students. They receive continuous career advice through the integration of activities both in the classroom and during extracurricular events and community service initiatives.
Expanding community-business partnerships, integrating practical experience, and aligning with the labor market
Recognizing the crucial role of higher education, Tra Vinh University has made it a priority to establish a close integration of theory and practice, providing students with ample opportunities to accumulate practical professional experiences and embark on their career paths with self-assurance. In recent times, the university has undertaken an expansion of its training programs, forging strong connections with the business community.
The university emphasizes the promotion of research-oriented education, technology transfer, community engagement, and student entrepreneurship. Currently, the university has established partnerships with over 900 domestic and international businesses to implement potential internship programs and training programs based on labor market demands. The university also expands its Co-op training programs, which are a unique training model that integrates academic institutions with businesses.
Tra Vinh University expands its training programs to meet lifelong learning needs and enhance its connection with the business community through the Co-op training model. This model enables learners to accumulate practical “professional” experience, extending learning beyond the classroom. It also provides additional financial support for education through salaries from participating businesses. Simultaneously, the Co-op model helps businesses reduce training costs and post-employment training time.
In addition, the university consistently updates and incorporates numerous courses on essential skills and soft skills – skills beyond the academic field – into the curriculum. Alongside these efforts, the university actively engages in meaningful activities that demonstrate its responsibility to the community. Initiatives such as “Giving Blood – Leaving a Lifelong Legacy,” “TVU – Say No to Plastic Waste,” “Free Medical Check-ups and Medications for the People,” “TVU Green Campus for Sustainable University,” “Simulated Court for High School Students in the Mekong Delta,” “Potential Internship Programs at Home and Abroad,” “International Student Exchange,” and various extracurricular activities are regularly organized.
Notably, activities promoting student entrepreneurship and fostering innovation, such as “Incubating Student Start-up Ideas” and “Creative Spaces for Students and Lecturers,” have gained significant momentum. Entrepreneurship and innovation on emerging technologies are global development trends. Vietnamese universities increasingly emphasize the importance of innovation in fostering entrepreneurship, ranging from innovative training content to soft skills development for students. These initiatives are essential prerequisites to empower Vietnamese youth with confidence on their career paths and contribute to the sustainable development and progress of our nation in the coming years.
“Supplementing new professional knowledge and retraining” the workforce is an essential trend in lifelong learning within society
Promoting the establishment of a learning society and creating opportunities and conditions for lifelong learning for all citizens is the mission of educational institutions. It aims to help students recognize the necessity and significance of lifelong learning, develop a self-directed learning mindset, and engage in continuous learning right from their time in the classroom.
For several consecutive years, the university has been actively promoting the research and application of information technology and digital technology in organizing lifelong learning activities for students and learners. It has diversified learning methods, such as on-the-job training, customized training based on specific demands, online learning, and distance learning. Additionally, the university has focused on building, exploiting, integrating, and sharing open educational resources. It has also emphasized the need for diverse and flexible vocational training to enhance the professional capacity of students.
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Education, training, science, and technology have become decisive factors in the development of every nation. They have emerged as top priorities and driving forces for development in many countries. In order to contribute to awakening the potential for educational and scientific-technological development and to foster the prosperous and sustainable development of the Mekong Delta region, our university must consistently enhance the quality of education in line with the continuous progress of human knowledge and science and technology. Our mission is to “Bring quality learning opportunities to the community,” as stated by Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Minh Hoa, the Rector of Tra Vinh University. |
By TD
