The Hanoi College of Information Technology (ESTIH) for a long time has become a reliable training centre of learners and labourers in the capital city as well as neighbouring localities who want to improve their informatics skills, technology and other aspects. Coming to ESTIH, learners want to improve their professional skills, and have chance to stand the test of industrial working environment and raise awareness of community responsibility, especially ability of practical application. This is the reason why ESTIH learners often find good jobs after they graduate from the school.
Fruitful results
Hanoi College of Information Technology (ESTIH) had been founded on October 19, 1994 based on Training Cooperative Agreement signed on June 13, 1994 among Hanoi People’s Committee and some partners of Republic of France: Capital cities, cities mayoral international conference using French (AIMF), Council area of Ile de France (CRIF), Versailles Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIV) and Lotus France Association… In the first days of operation, the school had faced lots of difficulties due to poor infrastructure, and no fixed location. The school had to hire some classes of Le Quy Don High School to offer training. At that time, the school only offered informatics training to 90 learners. Thanks to ceaseless efforts, ESTIH has overcome the difficulties. The school had built two training centres with total area of more than 5,000 square metres. The two centres have 30 theory training rooms and 15 computer practice rooms with around 500 computers getting access to Internet; four laboratories, one foreign language training room with 30 cabins and two libraries with more than 5,000 books…
In the 2008 – 2009 school year, ESTIH welcomes around 3,000 students who pursue 14 training majors including Computer network technician, Accountancy Information, Office Information Technician, management informatics, design, Web management; Computer graphic technician; programming…
Regarding professional skills of teachers, curricula, teaching methods, the school has nearly 200 teachers. Most of the teachers hold university degree and are experienced in theory and practical training. ESTIH teachers have also composed curricula for many vocational training schools nationwide and have published around 30 textbooks. Two typical of them are curricula for computer tying and computer accounting.
Since 1996, the school has been given autonomy in financial issue. All spending of the school from spending on infrastructure upgrade and construction or purchase of teaching equipment to salary is sourced from tuition fee collection and website design services, management software… Thanks to the financial autonomy, ESTIH has saved VND5 billion per year on average for the State.
In addition, ESTIH has paid attention to boost cooperation with international schools from France, the US, and the UK to share experience in teaching methods, teacher and student training… The school notably shaken hands with famous schools such as ESCIA (France), ITIN (France), Pierre Salvi Institute (France), IUT de Cachant; (UNEF), NITT (India)... In the country, ESTIH has cooperated with Da Nang Technology University, Da Nang University of Foreign Studies, Da Nang Economics University, Hanoi Teacher Training University and Hanoi Teacher Training College to offer inter-training courses from college to university for learners.
Advanced Training Model
MA Hoang Duc Khiem, Rector of ESTIH, said thanks to cooperation with foreign partners, we have approached advanced training models and applied proper model for the school. The school has paid more attention to training quality than quantity. After graduation, learners must hold necessary knowledge to adapt and meet requirements of new working environment. To help students find better jobs after graduation, the school always takes interest in recruitment process with recruitment quota of around 25 learners for each class on average. Students will be classified based on their capacity. The classification aims to create favourable conditions for teaching and studying.
Regarding curricula and teaching method, ESTIH has paid attention to renovation of teaching methods to improve training quality in the way to shorten time of theory periods but remain their main ideas and content. Teachers must prepare lessons for themselves to them more attractive and interesting to lure passion from students. The school has made efforts to standardise lesson platforms so that all teachers can quickly prepare lesson plans with attractive and updated contents.
As a vocational training school, ESTIH always pays more attention to practice. The number of practical periods is always higher than those set by the Ministry of Education and Training. The school has also poured investment in infrastructure upgrade to ensure enough practical rooms, library and teaching devices for learners. In a practical period, the school always ensures one computer for each student.
In order to offer and improve necessary skills for students, students will be offered a chance to join two times of probation at selected enterprises for a two-year training course. The time of probation is two months at the end of the first year and the second year. Probation aims to offer a chance for students to make acquaintance with real working environment. To this end, the school has built relationships with around 1,000 enterprises including State-run, private or joint ventures.
Beside basic training curricula, ESTIH students are equipped with daily life skills such as responsible, outgoing, and self-controlled. The school sets a bright example for students in terms of social responsibility through cooperative programmes with the Vietnam Assistance for the Handicapped (VNAH) and Catholic Relief Services (CRS). The programmes have helped handicapped students get access to informatics and information technology training courses under the sponsorship of USAID since 2007 and have been extended to 2010; the school has also joined programmes to offer retraining courses for teachers and transfer education management for Vientiane-Hanoi Friendship Vocational Training School.
After 14-year foundation and development, ESTIH has affirmed its prestige in the national network of vocational training schools. Honourable medals and awards have proved the school’s prestige and quality: Certificates of merit from the Hanoi People’s Committee for the Excellent Avant-garde School, the Ministry of Education and Training, Certificate of merit from the Prime Minister for the “Avant-garde Flag of the Vocational Training in Hanoi, 3rd Labour Medal from the Government… Success of students and development of the school has also made great contributions to the fame of the school.
KT
Vietnamese
