Swisscontact, a Swiss non-governmental organisation headquartered in Zurich is currently implementing two projects in Vietnam, one called “Strengthening of Vocational Training Centres” (SVTC) and the other “Swiss Vietnamese Clean Air Programme” (SVCAP).
Founded in 1959 by Swiss private business and university sectors, Swisscontact, or Swiss Foundation for Technical Cooperation as it is called in full, is active in the field of development and technical cooperation. Its mission is to promote sustainable development socially, ecologically and economically in selected Southern and Eastern countries through advisory services, training and continuing education. Cooperation with local partners is a priority for Swisscontact, with the guiding principle: "Helping Others to Help Themselves".
With the project "Strengthening of Vocational Training Centres" (SVTC), Vietnam is striving to become a modern industrial country after Doi Moi. This project contributes to the country's transformation process by providing jobless youth and employed unskilled or semi-skilled workers with skills which will enable them to find employment.
After more than ten years of activities, to date 37 Vocational Training Centres nationwide have been receiving support from the project and up to 100,000 trainees continue to benefit from an improved teaching and learning environment. Swisscontact, together with the Ministry of Labour, Invalid and Social Affairs (MoLISA) and other partners, provided specific training to 13,000 staff and teachers at those centres. At the same time, a large number of curriculum charts, curriculum guides, and handbooks have been developed and introduced into SVTC system. SVTC is recognized by the Vietnamese Government for its contribution and is a leader in short-term vocational training courses.
With Vietnam joining the WTO, human resource quality will be the key for Vietnam’s further integration into global business and the subsequent development of a competitive economy.
As part of the framework agreement on development cooperation between Switzerland and Vietnam, the Swiss-Vietnamese Clean Air Programme (SVCAP) was designed to help prevent further deterioration of air quality, focusing on Hanoi and the surrounding area. Until 2007 the project addressed four important areas of intervention; policy reform, increasing awareness, pilot projects and the establishment of a database. These components are not fully independent, but inter-linked through an emphasis on capacity building and the strengthening of existing institutions.
For the last decade, Swisscontact has been implementing projects mandated by agencies and donors in Vietnam and elsewhere. Currently, Swisscontact is active in 25 countries and engaged in 35 projects, with the necessary expertise and instruments to professionally manage projects, not only in the field of vocational training and air quality, but also in other areas of expertise such as Small & Medium Enterprises (SME), Promotion, Financial Services and Tourism to the satisfaction of donors and beneficiaries. Swisscontact has a definite and long-term interest in Vietnam and would like to be further involved in the country's development process.
Vietnamese
