Due to the impacts of Covid-19 pandemic, many international training insitutions offer online training program, which provides the Vietnamese learners with an opportunity to earn international occupational certificates at a low cost.
At a recent international conference on human resource development in the logistics industry, Mr. Stephen McDermott, Chair of the FIATA Logistics Institute (FLI) – Director of Education and Marketing – (Canadian International Freight Forwarders Association), assessed: “Covid-19 accelerates the digital transformation process of training institutions around the world”.
He stated: “International training institutions have long started digital transformation, but the arrival of Covid-19 has accelerated this process. In just a few months, training institutions have been required to fully switch their teaching to online mode”.
According to Mr. Stephen McDermott, online teaching around the world is currently conducted in two fundamental forms: synchronous and asynchronous learning.
Synchronous learning means identifying a specific time when teachers and students interact through a certain online tool. This form of learning offers the same level of interaction as through face-to-face learning but is time-bound.
On the other hand, asynchronous learning is when the training institutions design readily available online teaching materials, providing part-by-part modules for students. Thus, students can access and learn at any time. The advantage of this form of learning is the convenience for students, although the level of interaction is not high.
According to the Chair of FLI, the best option for online training is to combine the two forms above, depending on the course content.
Covid-19 accelerates the digital transformation of training institutions globally.
Dr. Tran Thi Thu Huong, Head of Business Logistics Department (University of Commerce), Vietnam Association for Logistics Manpower Development (VALOMA), remarked: “Online education is no longer a situation: international training institutions have considered this as an important measure in parallel with traditional training methods.”
According to Dr. Tran Thi Thu Huong, for online training to deliver the quality close to traditional teaching quality, training institutions must be equipped with more simulation software, use virtual reality models to help students understand the real-life operations without going to the site to observe.
The biggest advantage of online training is that international training institutions can organise classes in Vietnam, train vocational skills, provide high-quality international certificates that are equivalent to face-to-face learning certification.
As a result, Vietnamese students can learn advanced skills, obtain internationally recognised certificates in Vietnam, which saves a lot of study costs because they don’t have to study abroad.
On the positive side of Covid-19, Mr. Stephen McDermott pointed out that the pandemic had spurred training institutions to research and invest in complete online training programs that are close toface-to-face teaching.
Therefore, holders of international certificates through online training possess the same quality of vocational skills and the same value of accreditation as through face-to-face training.
FLI is currently applying online training to its international training program. Certificates for courses under this program are accepted in more than 100 countries, and many being accepted globally.
In a seminar on accounting and finance, Dr. Chau Duong (University of East London, UK) saw this as an opportunity for education providers in Vietnam to collaborate with international partners through online form of teaching.
As for students, they will still have the opportunity to benefit from quality international training programs right from Vietnam. This helps students save a lot of expensive travel and living costs that they would have to cover when studying abroad.
Source: Tùng Nguyễn – Dantri
