Emiratisation and a thought for Vietnamese education system

Author: Hoa Nguyen, MBA.,MA.

In the two past decades, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Government encouraged to hire expats to fulfill the lack of qualified human resources after its robust economic growth fueled by the oil exploration. As a result, ratio of expats in the workforce was 82 percent!!!  The overwhelming ratio of expats in the labor force showed that this strategy was unsustainable for economy growth and it was necessary to find another solution. Thus, Emiratisation was promoted to increase the employment rate of nationals in the efficient and meaningful manner in both public and private sector. Emiratisation has been implemented by integrated performances in relevant sectors such as education, finance, and policy making. Looking back to Emiratisation strategy in the UAE education sector, we can learn helpful lessons. The most important thing is that the UAE Government has promoted for the connection between schools and enterprises in education and training to ensure a match between the training results and the labor market requirements. Since then, the employment rate of nationals can be increased. The Government announced appropriate policies, including financial support to assist enterprises in hiring national, as well. In additional, the Government exhorts schools to get accredited programs with international recognized schools and improve their system by enhancing teacher's skills, changing teaching methods with application of "students - centered approach" and modifying training programs, which includes teaching English as the official language. These solutions aim to improve education quality for providing qualified national employees for the labor force in this country.
Emiratisation performances suggest helpful experiences for Vietnamese education system since our system has demanded to reform. Main lessons are found as follows:
 First, education reform must contribute to the overall strategy of Vietnamese economy in globalization context. Education and Training aim to provide qualified human resource for the economy, so it is necessary to link this sector with relevant sectors in the reform process. Like Emiratisation, UAE's education aims to increase the employment rate of nationals by providing them sufficient knowledge, excellent skills and the right attitude in working. Therefore,  Emiratisation is launched as a package of the Government solutions instead of focusing only on education or human resource independently!!!
Second, in the tactic perspective, it is very important to foster a close connection between schools and enterprises in training. This connection ensures the match between training outcomes and the labor market's requirements as well as socialization in education. Getting accredited programs with international recognized schools and external examination performed by dependent qualified testing organization are also good ways for schools in the development process. In addition, with the strength of internet, it is not difficult for schools to develop diversified tests and examination as well as training techniques for students. Student - center approach should be applied fully in the training process, from building training program, selecting teaching methods, performing lessons to examining students.
Third, it is necessary to define specific segments of education sector to have a proper management policy. Whereby, private schools should be opened for foreign investors after deliberating their qualifications to utilize their strengths. Public schools also need to be recognized internationally step by step by getting accredited programs or close cooperation with international recognized schools, especially in university level.  This point also opens for international cooperation in education.
In conclusion, at the present, Emiratisation has gotten positive results with higher employment rate for nationals and this strategy is still performing in the UAE. Although this approach has been facing problems needed to be handled in the next steps, this strategy has contributed significantly in education reform for this country. So of course, learning from other's positive points shall lead to the least damage!!!

Pictures painted by a  Vietnamese 9 - years  -old student