TVET in Wastewater Sector | Issue 03 | Jan ­ Jun 2016

T he eighth and the ninth furthertraining courses within the frame­work of the qualification pro­

gramme for vocational teachers andin­company trainers of sewage compa­nies were conducted from 22 to24/01/2016 and from 04 to 07/04/2016respectively at Ho Chi Minh VocationalCollege of Technology (HVCT) and in theThu Dau Mot Wastewater TreatmentPlant (BIWASE) in Binh Duong Province.

While the eighth training focused onbroadening knowledge of biologicalwastewater treatment, introducing Viet­namese quality standards for waste­water and actual situation of wastewatertreatment in Viet Nam, the main contentof the ninth course was sludge and resid­ual materials treatment technologies, andpedagogical methods. The advancedtrainings were carried out by nationalexperts as well as international expertsfrom German partner organisations of theproject – the Pirna Vocational Training

Centre for Technology and Economy andthe Dresden Sewage Company (SEDD).

The advanced trainings were organ­ised interactively with different learningand teaching methods such as teamwork, group discussions, presentationsand practice exercises, which requireparticipants to immediately apply newlygained knowledge to solve them. Besidesthe technical knowledge, the participantswere trained intensively on the teachingskills and methods as well as thedevelopment of teaching plans and pro­grammes used at school and in company.Instead of giving out strict answers for allexercises and discussion questions, lec­tures and participants often discussedopenly with each other to find out themost reasonable answers that suit pro­perly the real situation in Viet Nam.

BROADENING KNOWLEDGEPARALLELS STRENGTHENINGTEACHING SKILLS

IN THIS ISSUE

The first trial test for teachers andin­company­trainers

Summer school 2016 in Germany

Demand for short­term trainings inthe wastewate sector

Professional competence and teaching skills of participants have been improved through further trainings.

TVET in Wastewater Sector Issue 03 | Jan ­ Jun 2016 | Page

F rom 28/03 to 01/04/2016 at theThu Dau Mot Wastewater Treat­ment Plant (BIWASE), Binh

Duong Province, the General Directorateof Vocational Training (GDVT), VietnamWater Supply and Sewerage Association(VWSA) in collaboration with Ho Chi MinhVocational College of Technology (HVCT)and five partner enterprises organisedthe first trial final test for teachers of

HVCT and in­company trainers. The testwas based on the German standards forthe final assessment for Sewage Engi­neering Technicians with assessorscoming from Germany – an experiencedvocational teacher of the Pirna VocationalTraining Centre for Technology and Eco­nomy and a technical expert from theDresden Sewage Company (SEDD).

The trial test consisted of two parts:the 180­minute theoretical part includingmultiple choice, constructed­responsequestions and practical tasks. In the four­hour long practical part focusing on pro­fessional skills, 23 teachers and in­com­pany trainers were divided into smallgroups of two to three persons.Therefore, it was ensured that all parti­cipants had the opportunity to participatepracticed exercises, through which the

professional knowledge and skills of eachindividual were comprehensively and ac­curately assessed. 'Through this trial test,I had the opportunity to experience an in­ternational standardised examination pro­ceeding and learned how to make a goodtest. The theoretical and the practical partare practically relevant and highly consis­tent with each other in terms of content.We will try to apply the same examinationmodel to midterm tests at our college.',Dr Nguyen Thi Hang, Rector of HVCTshared.

Besides creating a practical assess­ment environment with technical equip­ment used in the daily company reality,conducting the trial test at a wastewatercompany also affirms the essential role ofthe enterprises and their active participa­tion in the cooperative training model.Once teachers and in­company trainersare able to participate in advanced train­ing courses and qualifying assessments,the businesses will receive back a strongteam of in­house trainers, who are quali­fied and capable of building up a technic­al workforce based on the specifictechnical requirements of each company.

Representatives of GDVT, VWSA,HVCT, board members of partner com­panies as well as representatives of theProgramme Reform of TVET Viet Namcame to observe the practical part of theexam. 'The approach of this assessmentprocedure is very different from usual vo­cational trainings in Viet Nam that I’veknown. By developing the conceptualfundamentals such as occupationalstandard, training programme as well asimplementing a pilot class, applying andtesting organisational methods and con­ducting trial assessment oriented toGerman standards at the micro level, theproject provides us a chance to observe,develop curricula and collect experi­ences. They are the basis for the system­atic improvement proposals at the macrolevel, which are in line with the real con­ditions of Viet Nam.', said Mr Nguyen VietVinh, representative of GDVT after theobservation.

THE FIRST TRIAL PROFICIENCY ASSESSMENT FORTEACHERS AND IN­COMPANY TRAINERS

Great interest of relevant stakeholders:Representatives of GDVT, HVCT, VWSA, TVETProgramme came to observe the practical part.

Oral test on technological line in a realenvironment at a wastewater treatment plant

German oriented test with German experts asexaminers

Working groups on advanced exercises to reviewlearnt training modules

Practical test on dismantling and maintaining apump

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TVET in Wastewater Sector Issue 03 | Jan ­ Jun 2016 | Page

SUMMER SCHOOL 2016 IN GERMANY:EFFECTIVE COMBINATION OF ADVANCEDTRAINING AND TRIAL TEST

F ollowing the success of the firstsummer school held in 2015, thesummer school 2016 took place in

Dresden, Germany from 13/06/2016 to01/07/2016. 15 teachers and in­companytrainers of the supported VietnameseTVET institution and five wastewatercompanies, who successfully passed thefirst trial exam in March, received the ad­vanced training.

Besides training sessions in biolo­gical wastewater and sludge treatmentprocesses instructed by experiencedengineers and in­company trainers of theDresden Sewage Company (SEDD) as

well as teachers from the Pirna Voca­tional Training Center of Technology andEconomy, all participants learnt moreabout the operation of the wastewaternetwork system and the wastewatertreatment plant. These parts of thetraining were conducted directly in waste­water treatment plants in Dresden andOttendorf­Okrilla.

The summer school 2016 actuallyfocused on the specific preparations forthe final proficiency exam for Vietnameseteachers and in­company trainers, whichwill happen in 2017. Moduls, in whichparticipants were trained in the previous

training sessions organised in Viet Namand Germany by the Field of Activity 3:TVET for Skilled Workers in the Waste­water Sector since June 2014, were in­tensively reviewed and practiced throughplenty of theoretical and practical exer­cises. Different from the first trial exam,the second trial exam simulated the finalexam, which means each teacher/in­company trainer had to do the test indi­vidually with the examiner instead of ingroups. This method helped accuratelyassess competency of each examinee.

‘The summer school in Germany isa very useful training method, whichgives Vietnamese teachers and in­com­pany trainers an overview and direct ap­proach to the working environment andtechnologies in Germany. It contributes tothe development of a group of well­trained teachers and trainers, who areable to effectively carry out vocationaltraining in the wastewater sector in thefuture.’, so Dr Horst Sommer, Director ofthe Programme Reform of TVET in VietNam.

After completing the second mockexam, six of 15 participants stayed oneweek longer in Germany to receive thetraining for examiners. They wereequipped with a set of different skills,methods and tools in order to developand implement exams oriented to theGerman standards for vocational trainingexams.

Training sessions were conducted in wastewater treament plants for a more effective learning process.

The third meeting of theSteering Committee in Hanoi

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TVET in Wastewater Sector Issue 03 | Jan ­ Jun 2016 | Page

L acking of technical knowledge,poor practical experiences, nopassion for the job, even not

knowing how to operate machines oridentify and resolve small technical prob­lems: Here are some critical assess­ments of current ability of technicalworkers in the wastewater sector (WWS)raised by sewage companies at theworkshop ‘Sustainable Solutions forHuman Resources in Wastewater Sec­tor', organised by the Ho Chi Minh Voca­tional College of Technology (HVCT) on23/03/2016.

Besides the assessments, sewagecompanies clearly expressed their desireto join in the cooperative vocational train­ing with HVCT in order to build up atechnical workforce in line with their

professional requirements. 'We are will­ing to have students doing their practicalinternship at our centre. We will supportthem at our best to help them apply the­oretical knowledge into practice. Aftergraduation, centre can also recruit quali­fied students for long term employment'Mr Bui Quoc Nguyen, Technical Director

of the Centre of Resources and Environ­ment Ho Chi Minh City shared at theworkshop. Companies also suggestedexpanding the training programme toother related areas such as electrical andmechanical engineerings, so that thefuture technicians will be equipped withnecessary knowledge, which enablethem to effectively operate technicalinfrastructures, to identify and resolveminor incidents occurring during theoperation process. In addition, short­termtrainings for technical workers, who areworking in the sewage companies, is an­other interested topic discussed in thisworkshop.

Even the role of the companies indetermining the demand for technicalworkforce in WWS is essential; compa­nies are having difficulty to predict theactual demand for technical workers inthe near future due to the dependenceon the yearly unfixed workload. This factaffects negatively on the enrolment andtraining for WWS of vocational colleges,including HVCT.

Asides from difficulties and prob­lems, which cannot be solved immedi­ately, this open and straight forward

discussion between companies andHVCT brought a lot of valuable informa­tion and feedbacks, which will help HVCTadjust the training programme to copebetter with the real needs of the compa­nies. And the companies are more awareof their role and responsibility. Hence,they will actively participate in coopera­tive training programmes.

INFOBOX

SEWAGE COMPANIES WILLINGTO COOPERATE WITH VOCATIONALCOLLEGE IN TRAINING TECHNICIANS FORTHE WASTEWATER SECTOR

Leadership of companies highly appreciated thesupport the German Government through GIZ invocational training for the waste water sector.

The workshop provided many valuable information and feedbacks used for further improvements oftraining programmes as well as to foster the cooperation between HVCT and companies.

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TVET in Wastewater Sector Issue 03 | Jan ­ Jun 2016 | Page

HIGH DEMAND FOR SHORT­TERM TRAININGSFOR TECHNICAL WORKERS IN THEWASTEWATER SECTOR

On 12/04/2016, the Vietnam Wa­ter Supply and Sewerage Asso­ciation (VWSA) and the

Programme Reform of TVET in Viet Nam(GIZ) jointly organised a workshop toshare the result of a newly conductedassessment concerning the demand forshort­term trainings for technical workersin the wastewater sector.

In recent years, in order to improvethe living quality of the people, the Viet­namese Government has executed manylarge­scale investment projects for theconstruction of wastewater treatmentplants and sewerage systems. One of thefactors ensuring the sustainable effect­iveness of these infrastructure invest­ments is the development of a qualifiedtechnical workforce. ‘Without a well­trained technical workforce, it is impo­ssible to operate and maintain awastewater treatment plant safely andefficiently’, Mr Le Van Gon, Deputy Ge­neral Director of the Binh Duong WaterSupply – Sewerage – Environment Com­pany (BIWASE) strongly state the essen­tial role of technical workers in hisspeech in the workshop.

Against this background, from01/2016 to 03/2016, representatives ofVWSA with the support of the Field of

Activity 3: TVET for Skilled Workers inthe Wastewater Sector (GIZ) and theDresden Sewage Company (Stadtent­wässerung Dresden), Germany jointlycarried out an assessment of companies’

training needs for technical workers.Opinions of water supply and sewagecompanies all over Viet Nam were com­piled from a questionnaire and directinterviews. The result showed that 90percent of companies see advancedtrainings for their technical workforce asa long­term strategic investment. Theyare willing to support their employees interms of costs and time.

In the workshop, representatives ofcompanies once again expressed theirwish for short­term trainings and agreedto cooperate with other companies, who

also have demand on training activities,to organise short­term courses for tech­nical workers in the wastewater treatmentsector.

Besides, 97 percent of companiesagreed in the questionnaire that VWSAshould continue to be the main institutionresponsible for organising and supplyinghigh quality trainings as well as certifyingthe participants of such courses.

‘We are very impressed with thetraining programmes, which have beendeveloped and implemented with thesupport of the German Governmentthrough GIZ. We also highly appreciateall your support and expertise. Our com­pany has a high demand for qualifiedtechnical workers; we are ready to investin our employees and send them to fur­ther trainings.', Mr Nguyen Minh Tuan,General Director, Hai Phong Sewerageand Drainage Limited Company, sharedin the discussion round.

Dr Nguyen Thi Hang, Rector of theHo Chi Minh Vocational College of Tech­nology, which has been successfullycooperating with VSWA and companiesin the wastewater sector to implementthe first cooperative training programme,also shared her experience and encou­raged the companies to consider short­term trainings as a solution for the short­age of skilled technical workers, that thecompanies are facing now.

Feedback and suggestions of com­panies shared in the workshop were wellnoted by representatives of relevantparties like the Ministry of Construction,VWSA, and the Field of Activity 3 for fur­ther processing. Moreover, representa­tives of international organisations fromJapan (JICA) and Finland showed theirinterest in the solutions discussed in thisworkshop.

The workshop draw attention of not only vietnamese partners but also international organisations in thewastewater sector.

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‘Without a well­trained technicalworkforce, it is impossible to

operate and maintain awastewater treatment plant safely

and efficiently’, Mr Le Van Gon,Deputy GD of BIWASE

TVET in Wastewater Sector Issue 03 | Jan ­ Jun 2016 | Page

Published by

General Directorate of Vocational Training (GDVT)No. 37B Nguyen Binh Khiem Street, Hanoi, Viet NamTel.: +84 4 39 74 52 07 (International Affairs)Fax: +84 4 39 74 03 39

Ho Chi Minh Vocational College of Technology (HVCT)502 Do Xuan Hop Street, District 9, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet NamTel.: +84 8 37 31 40 63Fax: +84 8 37 31 38 28Email: info@hvct.edu.vn

Programme Reform of TVET in Viet Nam (GIZ)Field of Activity 3: TVET for Skilled Workers in the Wastewater Sector 502 Do Xuan Hop Street, District 9, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet NamT +84 8 37 31 43 93F +84 8 37 31 36 70www.giz.de/vietnamwww.tvet­vietnam.org

As atJuly 2016

Design and layoutHo Thi Minh Ngoc

Photo creditsRalf Baecker/GIZ: cover's headerHo Thi Minh Ngoc: cover, page 2, page 5HVCT: page 3Phan Hoang Mai: page 4

TextHo Thi Minh Ngoc

EditorBritta van Erckelens, Phan Hoang Mai

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