Clear, up-to-date learning outcomes are essential to ensure vocational education and training (VET) programs produce job-ready graduates. In Vietnam’s fast-evolving logistics sector, this is more important than ever, to ensure training providers keep pace with industry needs, technological change, and global best practice.
To support this goal, Aus4Skills recently shared a new report with the Department of Vocational and Continuing Education and Training (DVCET) and 16 partner colleges. The report summarises the outcomes of a technical workshop on updating learning outcomes for diploma and advanced diploma programs in logistics. The workshop, held in March 2025 and co-hosted by Aus4Skills and Maritime College No. 1 (MC1), brought together nearly 80 participants, including VET experts, logistics industry representatives from Vietnam and Australia, and lecturers from leading colleges and two universities offering logistics training programs, Vietnam Maritime University and FPT University. The workshop discussions were informed by feedback received through a survey of VET colleges in response to Circular No. 56/2018/TT-LĐTBXH.
Participants in the workshop
The discussions, and accompanying report, reflect strong consensus on several key updates. First, participants agreed on the need to expand the list of job positions reflected in the learning outcomes. Since the logistics industry is evolving rapidly, existing qualifications must reflect emerging roles and functions. Including a wider range of job positions will help align training with actual career opportunities in the sector, ensuring graduates are better prepared for the workplace.
Mr Klausch Schmidt, General Manager, Industry Skills Australia, presents updates on competency-based training in logistics, offering insights from Australia’s experience.
Second, there was broad agreement on the growing importance of green and digital transformation. The updated learning outcomes should include deeper knowledge of new technologies such as artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things (IoT), and Big Data, especially at the advanced diploma level. Participants also recommended integrating green logistics concepts to support Vietnam’s transition to a more sustainable economy. These additions reflect the changing nature of logistics operations and the increasing demand for environmentally responsible practices and technology-literate graduates.
Another key recommendation focused on articulation — the progression between diploma, advanced diploma, and university-level study. To support this, learning outcomes should be written using standardised educational language, particularly verbs drawn from Bloom’s Taxonomy (a framework that organises learning objectives into a hierarchy of cognitive skills, ranging from basic recall to more complex higher-order thinking). This includes ensuring learning outcomes use clear verbs such as ‘analyse’, ‘apply’ and ‘evaluate’ to support articulation. In addition, skills such as persuasion, negotiation, and specialised English should be added to the learning outcomes at advanced diploma level. This ensures each training level is clearly defined in terms of what graduates are expected to know and be able to do, improving both transparency and consistency across institutions.
Key recommendations for amendments for learning outcomes of Logistics at Diploma and Advanced Diploma levels from VET colleges.
For diploma-level training, stakeholders emphasised the importance of prioritising practical over theoretical content. The updated learning outcomes should focus on core business processes such as warehouse management, delivery, loading and unloading, and the safe use of common equipment like forklifts. They should also include basic understanding of key documents, labour safety regulations, and fire prevention. Digital and green logistics should be introduced at a foundational level, focusing on basic awareness and simple, guided practice. In addition, soft skills — including carefulness, compliance with workplace procedures, and basic communication — were identified as essential for success in the logistics workplace and should be clearly included in the outcomes.
Ms Tran Thi Phuong Anh, Director of Greenport, along with former logistics students, deliver key recommendations for amendments for learning outcomes of Logistics at Diploma and Advanced Diploma levels from industry’s perspectives.
The report also provides critical input for a pilot initiative under Aus4Skills that is developing a full competency-based training program for logistics at diploma and advanced diploma levels. Unlike previous efforts focused on individual modules, this pilot aims to introduce competency-based training at the full program level. The updated program is expected to be launched in the final quarter of 2025 and will support VET colleges in adopting this modern, outcomes-focused approach to training.
These updates represent a major step forward in Aus4Skills’ contribution to Vietnam’s logistics workforce, ensuring they arewell-prepared for the future and equipped with relevant skills and practical experience to adapt to new technologies and requirements. Through Aus4Skills, Australia is working closely with Vietnam’s VET sector to ensure high-quality, inclusive, and forward-looking training in logistics and beyond.
The Report is available here.
