Older workers, retirees, and entrepreneurs can now take training courses at universities, colleges, and intermediate schools in many flexible and convenient ways.
DIVERSE FIELDS
Associate Professor Dr. Bui Quang Hung, Vice President of Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics (UEH), said that based on actual needs, UEH has recently organized many short-term courses to meet the learning needs to improve the expertise and skills of workers of all ages.
Students of the training course "Management in the era of artificial intelligence" organized by the UEH Institute of Business Research
"Many people who are working want to learn more skills and knowledge to work better, or want to switch to another job, or even want to start a business... This demand is very large, but not all universities offer courses. Currently, UEH designs many courses to meet the needs of individual workers and businesses. Depending on the content, there are entry requirements or are completely open, and students can study directly or online," said Associate Professor, Dr. Bui Quang Hung.
Accordingly, UEH has courses on personal financial planning according to international standards; operations; management; bidding operations; organization, management of market research, trade promotion and international integration; problem detection and analysis skills; presentation and public speaking; problem solving and decision making... Some of these courses are free.
P ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR OLDER PEOPLE
Master Nguyen Thai Son, Director of the Admissions and Communications Center of Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry and Trade, informed that in the near future the school will implement short-term certificate programs for the elderly.
Master Son acknowledged: "The birth rate of Gen Alpha (born from 2010 to 2024) is showing a significant downward trend. The birth rate of Gen Beta (born from 2025) is even lower. And the life expectancy of the people is increasing, so Vietnam is increasingly facing the problem of an aging population, leading to the Alpha and Beta generations possibly having to shoulder the pressure of caring for the elderly, while also facing challenges in employment in a highly automated economy. So why don't we develop the economy for the elderly? After retirement, many of them still have the health and intelligence to work and contribute to society."
Therefore, according to Master Son, universities can organize courses such as online business skills, small business startups and personal financial planning for retirement; or train practical skills such as cooking, sewing, handicrafts, or home health care. In addition, it is possible to establish a consulting center to help the elderly start a business, provide legal knowledge, support small loans; a startup idea incubator to help the elderly develop business ideas or social projects based on personal experiences and passions...
Many short-term courses meet the learning needs to improve expertise and skills for workers of all ages.
"Universities can also conduct research and provide data on consumer behavior, health care, education, and service needs of the elderly to help businesses and organizations develop appropriate products and services. In addition, coordinate with the information technology industry to develop applications such as online job platforms for the elderly or personal health care applications; act as a bridge between the elderly and businesses that need to recruit experienced workers for consulting, part-time, or work-from-home positions...", Master Son shared his idea.
According to Mr. Son, in the near future, Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry and Trade will pilot courses for retired lecturers of the school, such as cooking or bartending; then the project will be deployed more widely.
There will be a Lifelong Learning law.
Recently, the Ministry of Education and Training has researched and prepared for the promulgation of the Law on Lifelong Learning. Deputy Minister of Education and Training Pham Ngoc Thuong said that recently, many plans and projects have been implemented with the goal of creating learning opportunities for everyone. "At this point, those programs and projects need to be promulgated into law so that the entire political system, all levels and sectors are responsible; creating opportunities, institutional conditions, and other conditions for everyone to learn," Deputy Minister Pham Ngoc Thuong commented.
The Law on Lifelong Learning aims to perfect the education system in an open, flexible, and interconnected direction, creating lifelong learning opportunities for everyone; raising awareness of the role and significance of lifelong learning...
It is known that the proposed draft framework for the Lifelong Learning Law includes the following contents: general regulations; state management of lifelong learning; organizations and individuals providing lifelong learning opportunities; programs, content, documents, forms of learning; assessment and recognition of results...
NEED SUITABLE TRAINING PROGRAMS, FLEXIBLE FORM
Dr. Vo Van Tuan, Vice Principal of Van Lang University, said: "This is really a very potential field due to the great demand of the people. However, schools have not focused on this group to build suitable courses, from which to communicate to spread, stimulate, and attract workers and the elderly to study. If the state has specific policies on this issue to create a learning society, create jobs, the elderly and retirees can completely continue to contribute their intelligence and health to the economy and society."
According to Dr. Tuan, junior colleges and colleges can provide courses on simple occupations; while universities will organize specialized courses on technology and economics, requiring a certain level of input. "The program needs to be designed to suit the elderly and busy workers, with a flexible and open learning format so that learners do not need to concentrate but can study online anywhere," Dr. Tuan shared.
"To support lifelong learning to be truly effective, it is necessary to proactively build flexible training programs that serve all subjects, all ages, and all knowledge base capabilities. Study time and training duration must also be flexible. Take advantage of the development of science and technology by combining direct and online training. The learning location must be convenient, and can be organized at school or at a business. Tuition fees must also be appropriate so that any organization or individual can easily access them," said Dr. Le Dinh Kha, Principal of Cao Thang Technical College.
More revenue for schools
It is known that in 2024, UEH's short-term training centers earned more than 40 billion VND from short-term training programs. "This is what universities should do, in addition to spreading knowledge and meeting the learning needs of workers, to help diversify financial resources, not depending on tuition fees from full-time students," Associate Professor, Dr. Bui Quang Hung commented.
At Cao Thang Technical College, according to Dr. Le Dinh Kha, in recent years, short-term training courses from basic to advanced, online learning combined with direct learning at school to foster, update knowledge, and improve skills for individuals and businesses have attracted a large number of learners. "The learners are very diverse, from middle managers to skilled workers; from people with college, university degrees or higher to general workers, serving their current job or wanting to switch to a new field of work," Dr. Kha informed.
Dr. Kha said that the tuition fees are designed to be affordable for any individual or organization to access the program. However, these courses have also brought in a source of income for the school in addition to regular tuition fees.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/cac-khoa-dao-tao-chuyen-nghiep-cho-nguoi-lon-tuoi-185250206212919487.htm
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