At a warehouse in Dinh Vu Industrial Park, Hai An District, Hai Phong, Nguyen Huu Son, a former student from Cohort 50 (2022-2025) in the Logistics program at Maritime and Inland Waterway College No.1 (MIC1), began his workday as usual.
Nguyen Huu Son, a former MIC1 student, now works at GoldenLink Company
Photo: Thuy Mien
Son’s daily duties involve inventory inspection, including goods exported to the United States. For more than a year, he has been employed by GoldenLink Company, a business operating in logistics and freight transportation. Son is among the MIC1 graduates recruited by employers even before graduation.
Building a Model Vocational Education Program in Logistics
MIC1 is one of 16 partner colleges across Vietnam participating in the Aus4Skills program – the Enterprise Linkages with Vocational Education and Training Project (Aus4Skills VET). Funded by the Australian Government, the program aims to provide an industry-oriented training model by applying an employer-led skills development approach.
This approach helps produce graduates who are work-ready and equipped with practical skills required in the logistics industry, thereby contributing to Vietnam’s economic growth.
Logistics students practice in the simulation area
Photo: Thuy Mien
Since joining the project in late 2019, the school has participated in numerous capacity-building activities over the past six years, including training courses, workshops, meetings, and knowledge-sharing sessions organized by the project. These activities have focused on logistics professional development, competency-based training and assessment (CBTA), leadership innovation, digitalization, quality assurance, and inclusion.
As part of the CBTA activities, the project supported MIC1 in implementing CBTA modules such as cargo receiving and storage, packing and dispatch, and forklift operations. These modules were successfully piloted and later became scalable models for wider implementation. The program has transformed MIC1 from a newly established logistics training institution into a model vocational education provider in the logistics sector.
According to Dr. Do Van Tuan, Principal of Maritime and Inland Waterway College No.1 (MIC1), the school has identified logistics as a strategic breakthrough sector in its vision to become a pioneering training and research center for green logistics and digital logistics by 2045.
The logistics sector attracts a large number of female students
Photo: Thuy Mien
Simulating Real-World Work Environments Through an Employer-Led Approach
Following the success of the pilot projects, the school received investment funding to develop a CBTA training model at its Logistics Center, a practical training facility highly appreciated by international partners.
With an investment of nearly VND 70 billion across an area of almost 15,000 square meters, the training model at MIC1’s second campus was completed in late 2023 and officially put into operation in mid-2024. The facility supports the growing demand for logistics training. According to school statistics, enrollment in the logistics program reached 385 students in 2025, up 285% compared to 149 students in 2019, the first year MIC1 joined the project.
Mr. Do Hong Hai, Vice Principal of MIC1, said demand for logistics personnel remains extremely high, making logistics currently the school’s second most popular major during admissions. Nearly 100% of graduates secure employment immediately after graduation.
Students practice in the school’s simulation area
Photo: Thuy Mien
One notable example is Hoang Gia Long, a student from Cohort 51 in the logistics program. Long said he completed internships at two companies during his studies and is now employed by one of them. The internships provided valuable opportunities to gain real-world exposure and apply classroom knowledge in practice.
Mr. Ha Duc Ngoc, an official from the Department of Vocational Education and Continuing Education under the Ministry of Education and Training, commented that Australian vocational training programs are generally well suited to Vietnam, including those currently implemented through Aus4Skills.
“We have always emphasized that businesses are an inseparable part of vocational training activities. The Aus4Skills CBTA program particularly highlights the role of enterprises,” Mr. Ngoc stated.
Dr. Do Van Tuan, Principal of MIC1, and Ms. Peta Donald, First Secretary at the Australian Embassy
Photo: Thuy Mien
Back at GoldenLink’s warehouse, Mr. Tran Minh Duc, Deputy Director of the company, said its customers primarily export goods to the United States, including shipments for Walmart and importers from China. Each year, the company handles more than 200,000 cubic meters of export cargo to the U.S. and around 100,000 cubic meters of imported goods, along with a significant volume of containers moving through its depot.
Over the past four to five years, the company has maintained close cooperation with MIC1 by contributing to curriculum development aligned with industry demands and accepting around 80 student interns annually. After hosting more than 300 interns, GoldenLink has recruited eight outstanding graduates, including two currently holding key positions within the company.
According to Mr. Duc, the partnership creates mutual benefits. The school provides facilities and practical conditions for students to train, while the company gains access to an available workforce during peak seasons and recruitment expansion periods.
Students from the school’s logistics program
Photo: Thuy Mien
Mr. Duc added that the market is currently facing a severe shortage of workers, warehouse staff, and forklift operators, particularly in Hai Phong. He recommended that the school expand partnerships with companies across various industries to create more internship opportunities for students.
Speaking on the success of the program, Australian Ambassador Gillian Bird said Australia is proud to share its world-class vocational education and training system with Vietnam, helping support economic growth. In the logistics sector, for example, logistics companies are operating more efficiently and productively because they have access to graduates who are practically trained and job-ready.
“After 10 years of investment through the Aus4Skills program, we are delighted to see that more than half of logistics students at several partner institutions are women, helping Vietnam build a more inclusive workforce for the future and contributing to higher productivity,” the Ambassador said.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/dao-tao-chuan-nghe-logistics-va-su-ho-tro-tu-uc-185251119064114038.htm
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