The municipal People's Committee approved the master project and the initiative in 2021, aiming to develop a high-quality workforce, helping to create competitive advantages and drive economic growth for the southern largest economic hub in particular and Vietnam in general during the integration into the global value chain, towards building a shared university model capable of effectively connecting and sharing key resources in higher education.

The master project was designed, developed, and implemented through nine sub-projects, with eight focusing on training international-standard human resources in information and communications technology; mechanical engineering and automation; artificial intelligence; business administration; finance - banking; healthcare; tourism; and urban management.

So far, six out of the nine sub-projects have been completed and accepted, two are still under research and are expected to be completed by 2025, and another is being verified.

Training programmes in information and communications technology; artificial intelligence; finance – banking; and urban management, have been piloted in HCM City.

Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Phan Van Mai highlighted the importance of human resources for the southern metropolis’s breakthrough development in the coming period, saying that educational institutions need to strengthen partnerships with businesses in designing curricula and selecting training methods, and proactively invest in infrastructure development.

According to Mai, HCM City is undergoing a robust economic restructuring process in the direction of fostering hi-tech industries, modern high-value services; accelerating digital transformation and green transition; and developing an international financial hub, and urban railway routes.

He stressed that trained personnel must possess foreign language proficiency, international legal knowledge, and business skills, to ensure that they can meet international standards.

Relevant units should promptly finalise collaborative mechanisms between the municipal authorities, universities, and employers in these sectors, he noted.

The municipal authorities pledged to allocate appropriate resources for training programmes, Mai said, adding that besides those already participating in the project, other universities, including international ones, are also encouraged to join the project./.VNA