Hanoi Streamlines Vocational Education Network for Efficiency

Hanoi is undertaking a significant reorganization of its vocational education network, aligning with central government directives to streamline operations and enhance effectiveness. This initiative aims to reduce the number of institutions, improve the quality and efficiency of training, and better meet the demands of the labor market. Effective September 4, 2026, the Hanoi Vocational Training College No. 1 and the Hanoi Construction Vocational College have officially merged into the Hanoi College of Electronics and Refrigeration. The merged institution will operate with a main campus on Nguyen Van Huyen Street and two additional campuses in Phu My and Nghia Dung. Dr. Tran Xuan Ngoc, Secretary of the Party Committee and Rector of the College, highlighted that the merger marks a crucial step in the institution's organizational and developmental trajectory. He stated that the integration of personnel, facilities, programs, and resources will create opportunities to expand the college's scale, leverage thengths of the merged entities, and foster a multi-disciplinary vocational education ecosystem closely linked to the needs of Hanoi and the broader labor market. The Hanoi People's Committee has tasked the reorganized Hanoi College of Electronics and Refrigeration with coordinating the handover process. This includes managing the integration of organizational structures, personnel, finances, assets, facilities, and addressing any outstanding rights and obligations. The college is also required to finalize job roles post-reorganization and develop annual plans for workforce reduction where necessary. According to Ms. Vu Thu Ha, Vice Chairwoman of the Hanoi People's Committee, the city has completed the restructuring of vocational education institutions under its purview. Specifically, 29 centers for vocational education and continuing education have been consolidated into 14, a reduction of 51.7%. Additionally, 19 vocational secondary and college-level schools have been merged into 10, a decrease of 47.4%. Furthermore, the city has agreed in principle to absorb four public vocational education institutions previously under the Ministry of Education and Training: College of Construction No. 1, College of Urban Construction, Hanoi College of Technology and Vocational Training, and the College of Mechanical Engineering for Construction. The disposition of these absorbed institutions will depend on practical circumstances, potentially involving retention, reorganization, or merger with similar institutions within Hanoi to align with the city's overall vocational education network plan. Ms. Vu Thu Ha emphasized the need for prompt action, requesting the Ministry of Education and Training to expedite discussions with Hanoi to finalize the plan and secure the necessary approvals for a legal basis for the handover.