Japan Supports Training of Automotive Industry Engineers and Technicians at IUH 24-05-2024

Within the framework of the PIUS (Japan) project, Industrial University of Ho Chi Minh City is a key unit to build an electric vehicle technology training industry.

On May 24, Industrial University of Ho Chi Minh City (IUH hosted the Kick-off Ceremony of the PIUS Project - Training Engineers and Technicians for the Automotive Industry.

This initiative marks a significant step forward in Vietnam's efforts to develop its electric vehicles industry and strengthen cooperation with Japan.

Delegates attending the Kick-off Ceremony of PIUS Project - Training engineers and technicians for the automotive industry - (Photo: Thanh Minh)

The PIUS project (universalization, demonstration and commercialization of the Automotive Industry Engineer and Technician Training Program), sponsored by Murakami Shokai Group and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in Japan and Vietnam, aims to build an electric car training program at Industrial University of Ho Chi Minh City.

Within the framework of the PIUS project, the Industrial University of Ho Chi Minh City is the key unit to build an electric vehicle technology training major at the Faculty of Automative Engineering Technology.

Three additional universities under the Ministry of Industry and Trade (Hanoi University of Industry, Sao Do University, and Vietnam-Hungary University) will collaborate on implementing pilot lessons and operating the curriculum.

Mr. Tajima Hisashi - Project Formation Advisor - JICA Vietnam Office - Ho Chi Minh City Branch - (Photo: Thanh Minh)

On the Japanese side, Kosen Ichinoseki School, Murakami Shokai Group and experts will implement a teacher training program. This is considered as part of JICA's public-private partnership program to demonstrate that Japanese companies' technologies can effectively respond to unique development challenges.

Mr. Tajima Hisashi - Project Formation Advisor - JICA Vietnam Office - Ho Chi Minh City Branch - said: This project uses a small electric vehicle model called Pius developed by Murakami Group and Ichinoseki Technical College for teaching purpose. At the same time, Murakami Group will support the application of this model in training programs at educational institutions, including Industrial University of Ho Chi Minh City.

"Instead of just listening to lectures, students gain more practical skills through disassembling and assembling the PIUS model on their own. This experience integrates all the necessary elements at the production site, such as the 5S model, Kaizen, "real-3" 3-ism and safety management," said Mr. Tajima Hisashi.

Mr. Shigeto Kikuchi - Director of the Pius Project of the Murakami Group - (Photo: Thanh Minh).

Mr. Shigeto Kikuchi - Pius Project Director of Murakami Group (Japan) also said: The purpose of the project is to provide the necessary teaching tools and textbooks for the planned instructors training. In particular, the model of the human resource training program in Vietnam, using disassembled and assembled electric car kits (hereinafter referred to as kits) has been verified.

At the same time, the project will foster the understanding of Vietnamese stakeholders related to the training program for human resources using the Kit and the mechanism for the project implementation will be considered.

"The usefulness of the Vietnamese model of the human resource training program using the Kit is confirmed in the North and the mechanism towards the operation of the curriculum will be considered by the Ministry of Industry and Trade," said Mr. Kikuchi Shigeto.

Ms. Nguyen Van Nga - Deputy Chief of Office of the Ministry of Industry and Trade - (Photo: Thanh Minh).

Speaking at the event, Ms. Nguyen Van Nga - Deputy Chief of Office of the Ministry of Industry and Trade emphasized: The Ministry of Industry and Trade highly appreciates the importance of the PIUS Project. It is believed that the successful project will make IUH a key training unit of the Ministry of Industry and Trade in the electric vehicle technology industry. As a result, IUH can be platform to spread these experiences to other training institutions in Vietnam.

In the near future, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance and relevant agencies, will study and enhance the system of policies and laws concerning incentives and support for electric cars. This will be based on the principle of applying varying preferential levels for each electrified car model according to their CO2 emissions. These initiatives will serve as new "boosters" for Vietnam's electric car industry.

Delegates perform the Kick-off ceremony of the PIUS project - Training of engineers and technicians in the automotive industry at Industrial University of Ho Chi Minh City - (Photo: Thanh Minh).

Mr. Hiroshi Takeda - Representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Japan office emphasized, "This project aims to educate not only university students but also many working adults. We hope that the teaching material, called PIUS, which has been used in Japan, will improve the motivation of students and workers. At the same time, more effective guidance will be realized in Vietnam."

At the event, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dam Sao Mai, Vice Rector of the University, expressed gratitude to the partners for their contributions, participation, and collaboration in building and implementing this project. She also expressed confidence that the project, once implemented, will support the training of lecturers, develop training programs, and verify these programs during the student training process.

PIUS Project Training Department - Industrial University of Ho Chi Minh City - (Photo: Thanh Minh).

The successful implementation of the PIUS Project not only enables the University's lecturers to access and master the core elements of this technology but also helps build a team of highly qualified human resources for the development of this new technology industry in Vietnam. "The PIUS project represents a new step forward, and there are many expectations for the future development of the electric car industry in Vietnam." - Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dam Sao Mai emphasized.

The PIUS project is divided into two phases. Phase 1, from 2018 to 2019, involved conducting surveys, finding implementation partners, and testing the model. After a period of interruption due to the Covid-19 pandemic, phase 2 restarted in 2023 to prepare for the implementation of the project plan, which is expected to be completed in three years.

Minh Khue - Industry and Trade Newspaper