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Enterprise-in-School Model: Lessons from Germany, Australia, and Vietnam
On June 14, 2025, Văn Lang Sài Gòn College (VLSC) hosted a scientific seminar themed “The Enterprise-in-School Model and Solutions to Enhance Practical Training Quality”, highlighting the critical role of business collaboration in vocational education, drawing insights from successful models in Germany, Australia, and other countries.
Key Insights from the Seminar
Mr. Nguyễn Minh Nhựt, Deputy Head of the Cultural-Social Committee of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Council, emphasized the pivotal role of vocational education institutions in meeting labor market demands. He noted that after administrative mergers, Ho Chi Minh City’s average daily revenue is estimated at 1,800 billion VND, a significant increase from 1,200 billion VND. This economic growth opens opportunities to invest in high-quality human resource development, particularly to meet the rising demand for skilled labor in the city’s socio-economic development.
Mr. Nhựt stressed that collaboration between enterprises and vocational institutions is essential to enhance practical skills and align with labor market needs. However, in Vietnam, this linkage remains weak due to unclear mechanisms and insufficient incentives. He contrasted this with successful international models:
- Germany’s Dual Training System: Combines classroom learning with paid on-the-job training at enterprises. Businesses actively participate in designing curricula and assessing outcomes, resulting in over 90% of graduates securing employment. Clear vocational training laws and the involvement of thousands of companies drive this success.
- Australia’s Apprenticeship Model: Integrates vocational training with paid internships, supported by government funding and tailored to industry needs, achieving an employment transition rate of over 80%.
- Taiwan’s Work-Study Model: Mr. Trần Hiếu Thành, Deputy Consul of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, highlighted Taiwan’s work-study approach as highly suitable for Vietnam. By 2024, nearly 40,000 Vietnamese students were studying in Taiwan, benefiting from practical, industry-aligned programs.
VLSC’s Commitment to Industry Collaboration
Ms. Trần Thanh Nhàn, Vice Principal of VLSC, shared that from 2026–2030, Ho Chi Minh City will require over 300,000 trained workers, with 65% at the elementary, intermediate, and college levels, 20% at the university level, and the rest as unskilled labor. With 121 vocational schools and over 90,000 students, Ho Chi Minh City is Vietnam’s hub for vocational education, significantly contributing to the labor supply.
Ms. Nhàn emphasized that vocational institutions cannot thrive in isolation and must collaborate closely with businesses, particularly in skills and practical training. This ensures graduates become high-quality workers ready for the job market. VLSC has actively pursued this through partnerships, signing agreements with enterprises to enhance training quality, provide reputable internship opportunities, and secure jobs for graduates.
The “Three Stakeholders” Model
Dr. Nguyễn Minh Nhựt proposed a “three stakeholders” model to strengthen vocational education:
- Government: Legalize responsibilities, provide financial support, and oversee implementation.
- Enterprises: Design curricula, offer internships, and provide retraining.
- Schools: Deliver vocational training, connect with businesses, update curricula, and assess competencies.
Additionally, he advocated for digital transformation in vocational education to modernize teaching and learning processes, ensuring alignment with industry trends and technological advancements.
VLSC’s Enterprise-in-School Model
VLSC’s enterprise-in-school model integrates businesses into the educational ecosystem, allowing students to gain practical experience through:
- Direct engagement with industry experts, CEOs, and professionals.
- 70–90% practical training, including real-world projects and internships from the first year.
- International opportunities, such as paid internships in Japan and semesters abroad with unchanged tuition fees.
This model not only equips students with practical skills but also fosters global competitiveness, as evidenced by VLSC’s partnerships with over 500 domestic and international enterprises, including the recent collaboration with 23 Japanese companies on August 14, 2025.
Conclusion
The seminar underscored the transformative potential of enterprise-school collaboration, drawing from successful models in Germany and Australia. By fostering strong partnerships, legal frameworks, and digital integration, Vietnam can enhance the quality of vocational education, ensuring graduates are well-equipped for the demands of a modern, globalized labor market. VLSC’s proactive efforts in implementing the enterprise-in-school model position it as a leader in this transformative approach, preparing students to excel both locally and internationally.