Abstract
Improving graduate employability is one of the pressing issues facing Vietnamese universities and related stakeholders. Various higher education reform policies have therefore positioned the development of graduate employability as being the key to the improvement of the quality of Vietnamese universities. To understand and support the development of graduate employability, it is essential to situate the issue within the broader socio-cultural and economic context of Vietnam and take into consideration the interaction of different related stakeholders, among which employers play a crucial role. Identifying the labour market needs and skills gaps encountered by employers is essential for strategic planning, policies and practices to enhance graduate employability. Moreover, understanding employer perceptions of graduate employability will help inform the design and implementation of curriculum in ways that equip students with relevant skills, knowledge and attitudes for the professional world they will encounter.
The Australia-Vietnam Human Resource Development (HRD) Strategy 2014-2020 reflects the Australian Government’s commitment to improve the quality of Vietnam’s human resources. The Aus4Skills Program, a five-year program which commenced on 1 February, 2016, is the main vehicle to meet this goal. Improving Quality of Universities in the Northern Mountainous Region of Vietnam (QUINS) is one key component of Aus4Skills. This project responds to the identified problem that universities have not been able meet market demand in terms of quality or/and quantity of education and research. As part of the QUINS study, this project entitled, Needs of and Gaps Encountered by Employers in the Northern Mountainous Region of Vietnam, focuses particularly on the economically disadvantaged northern mountainous region of Vietnam populated by many ethnic minorities. The overarching aim of the research is to examine the needs and skills gaps encountered by employers in this area.
