Australia and Vietnam share a commitment to promoting gender equality, supporting women’s empowerment, and driving inclusive leadership in vocational education and training (VET) sectors including logistics. Through Aus4Skills, another group of Vietnamese women VET leaders have been equipped with adaptive leadership skills and effective responses to invisible barriers.
After completing their short course on women’s leadership in June, 24 women leaders and managers from VET colleges and partners and presented their applications projects at a symposium in Ho Chi Minh City on 8 July.
Throughout the course, participants exchanged skills and knowledge in gender equality, disability, and social inclusion (GEDSI) issues. They explored topics such as career development, work-life balance, and challenges to female leadership in male-dominant sectors. This has helped participants apply transformative ideas to boost women leadership in VET in application projects at their own workplace.
The projects raised awareness on gender biases among VET students, elevated women leadership, and established a guideline on gender equality practice for the workplace.
Participants collaborated to promote gender equality and social inclusion among students of three VET colleges in Dien Bien, Hanoi, and Da Nang.
“Leaderships is a mindset and every of our female teachers can inspire change,” said course participant Vu Thi Hai Van, Chair of Maritime College I’s Council, whose application training project shared insights from this course to nearly 30 female colleagues. “The course has encouraged me to create an even more supportive workplace for my female colleges where they can empower themselves and others.”
Vu Thi Hai Van, Chair of Maritime College I’s Council, presents her application projects.
Speaking at the symposium, Ms Julie Hart, First Secretary (Development) at the Australian Embassy Vietnam, encouraged participants to continue driving women leadership initiatives and contributing to a more inclusive and equitable society.
Ms Julie Hart, First Secretary (Development) at the Australian Embassy Vietnam congratulates a participant for completing the course.
“Many of our participants have recognised the power of partnerships and networks in driving positive change. By establishing networks of women in your organisations, you are fostering a supportive environment where mentorship, knowledge sharing, and collaboration can thrive,” Ms Hart said.
Participants developed a guideline on gender equality practice in the workplace which are applied at three VET colleges in HCMC and Long An Province.
‘Fostering Women Leadership in VET and logistics’ is an example of the strong collaboration between Australia and Vietnam in VET, specifically in the logistics sector which is key to Vietnam’s socioeconomic development.
Through Aus4Skills, Australia is working with Vietnam to build links between industry and VET providers to ensure graduates meet employer needs and improve capacity for academic leaders, trainers and management at VET partner institutions.
