Developing transportation human resources to meet the demands of national development in the era of Vietnam’s rise

Abstract

Infrastructure development, particularly in the transportation sector, constitutes one of the nation's three core strategic breakthroughs. Entering the "Era of Breakthrough Development and National Ascent," Vietnam is deploying numerous large-scale infrastructure projects, especially in transport. This presents both a monumental opportunity and a formidable challenge for human resource training across all transport sub-sectors. Currently, the transport workforce faces shortages in both quantity and quality, meeting only about 40% of demand in certain fields. These gaps include severe structural imbalances, specifically the lack of applied technicians and high-tech experts. To bridge this divide, training institutions must address increasingly stringent and evolving requirements regarding emerging technologies and digital competencies, such as AI, Big Data, and Information Technology.The paper aims to assess the current state of human resources in the transportation sector in light of the country's development needs during “the era of national rise," and subsequently proposes several solutions and recommendations. Fundamentally reforming training programs based on digital technology, AI, and Big Data; shifting from academic teaching to developing practical skills, prioritizing the use of simulation models, and increasing practical training time are necessary solutions. Applying the Conceive-Design-Implement-Operate model to standardize programs and align them with international standards, and transforming training institutions into centers of research and innovation in the context of digital transformation, are also indispensable solutions. In an era of the country’s breakthrough development, meeting the demand for high-quality human resources is key to the transport sector and to the stronger development of socio-economic domains to achieve the strategic targets for 2030 and 2045 as outlined by the 13th and 14th National Party Congresses.