Hanoi University of Industry – A trusted partner in workforce development for the German labor market

The year 2025 marks a significant milestone in diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the Federal Republic of Germany, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of official diplomatic ties (23 September 1975 – 23 September 2025). Over the past half century, the bilateral relationship has witnessed robust, comprehensive, and increasingly substantive development, elevating the two countries into reliable strategic partners.

In line with its strategy of internationalizing education, Hanoi University of Industry (HaUI) has expanded cooperation with numerous international organizations and institutions, particularly in Europe. On 15 September 2025, HaUI had a working session with the Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Vietnam (AHK Vietnam) to strengthen partnerships and explore opportunities in training and supplying highly skilled human resources for the German labor market.

Overview of the working session

According to leading economic research institutes and the Federal Employment Agency of Germany, the country has faced shortages of up to 700,000 job positions. Forecasts project this gap to rise to 2.9 million skilled workers by 2025 and 3.6 million by 2031. This presents a significant opportunity for Vietnam’s labor market in general, and HaUI’s students in particular, especially given the university’s strengths in engineering, technology, and tourism.

Dr. Kieu Xuan Thuc, Rector of Hanoi University of Industry, delivered a speech at the meeting

At the meeting, Dr. Kieu Xuan Thuc, Rector of HaUI, introduced the university’s scale, with approximately 36,000 enrolled students and nearly 9,000 new admissions annually. HaUI offers nearly 100 academic programs across multiple levels and has pioneered partnerships with thousands of enterprises domestically and internationally. With an employment rate exceeding 95% among its graduates, HaUI has demonstrated its capacity to meet labor market demands. Dr. Kieu Xuan Thuc emphasized that the university is ready to collaborate in providing high-quality human resources for German enterprises.

Mr. Nguyen Quang Trung, Director of LETCO company, gave an address at the working session

Mr. Vu Quang Minh, Former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Former Ambassador of Vietnam to the Federal Republic of Germany, delivered his remarks at the working session

Former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and former Vietnamese Ambassador to Germany, Mr. Vu Quang Minh, underscored the high level of trust in the strategic partnership established in 2011. He highly valued HaUI and its subsidiary LETCO as leading partners for collaboration, while suggesting the establishment of HaUI as a “one-stop agency” to facilitate the recruitment of human resources for German enterprises.

Ms. Vu Hong Thuy, Head of the Talent and Training Department, AHK Vietnam

Representing AHK Vietnam, Ms. Vu Hong Thuy, Head of Talent and Training, highlighted AHK’s 13 years of experience in implementing vocational training programs under German standards. Since 2016, AHK Vietnam has also overseen advisory services for the recognition of Vietnamese qualifications in Germany, reducing the processing time to only 6–8 months. She noted that the dual training programs in Electronics Engineering and Industrial Mechanics, jointly implemented in Vietnam, have been accredited by the German Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training, thereby exempting graduates from complex recognition procedures.

Representatives of German enterprises, many of which are small and medium-sized companies, also expressed their keen interest in cooperation with HaUI. Operating across diverse sectors including textiles, food processing, electrical and electronic engineering, hospitality, metals, and mechanical engineering, they shared positive experiences with Vietnamese employees and affirmed their intention to recruit additional long-term staff from Vietnam.

Mr. Andreas Hoffmann, Head of Human Resources and Vocational Training at WFBB (Economic Development Agency of the State of Brandenburg), stated that they support companies in Brandenburg in recruiting international talent and expressed his hope to cooperate with universities such as Hanoi University of Industry.

Mr. René Ritz, Chief Executive Officer of Bader Kara Logistik GmbH, noted that his company requires a substantial workforce across diverse fields, with particular demand in textiles, food processing, electricity, and electronics.

Mr. Oliver Nehmert, Chief Executive Officer of Hotel Altes Forsthaus Braunlage, emphasized that the hotel is in search of employees and experts for long-term engagement. He further highlighted his positive experience with Vietnamese staff and indicated that the hotel is currently looking to recruit two more employees.

Ms. Nina Lorea Kley, CEO of Feldbinder Spezialfahrzeugwerke, emphasized that the company has long employed 20 Vietnamese professionals and is now seeking to further expand its workforce. She particularly highlighted the demand for highly qualified specialists in the fields of metalworking and mechanical engineering.

The shared vision and commitment of both sides have established a solid basis for future cooperation. Building on HaUI’s mission to develop high-quality human resources, its academic strengths in disciplines aligned with the German labor market, and LETCO’s proven expertise in student support, the partnership is expected to create greater opportunities for learners while fostering the sustainable development of the Vietnam–Germany strategic relationship.