The 9th MARD Skills Competition 2020: A Gathering of Talent

On March 3, Deputy Minister Lê Quốc Doanh led a delegation from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to attend and oversee the 9th Ministry-level Skills Competition 2020 in Đồng Nai.

Deputy Minister Lê Quốc Doanh led the delegation from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to attend and provide direction for the competition. Photo: Minh Sáng.

On behalf of the college, Mr. Nguyễn Văn Chương, Rector of the College of Machinery and Irrigation and Deputy Head of the Competition Steering Committee, reported to the Deputy Minister on the preparation work for the competition. Mr. Chương shared: “This is the first year that the College of Machinery and Irrigation has been entrusted by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to host the competition. Due to the outbreak of the Covid-19 acute respiratory disease, the ceremonial activities were not held; the event focused solely on the competition itself.”

According to Mr. Chương, all preparation work was carried out with strict procedures prior to the competition; the college developed scenarios and response plans for any incidents that might arise during the reception and competition process. At the same time, the college prepared medical masks, hand sanitizers, and necessary hygiene conditions for all contestants, members of the Steering Committee, and the Examination Council; continuously disinfected the entire competition area before the opening day; and ensured an adequate number of thermometers to maintain absolute safety for all contestants, the Steering Committee, and the Examination Council.

Deputy Minister Lê Quốc Doanh inspected the examination room. Photo: Minh Sáng.

Mr. Ngô Hồng Giang, Head of the Competition Steering Committee, stated: “The 9th Ministry-level Skills Competition is the largest ever held, with 246 contestants from 26 colleges nationwide under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. The contestants compete in 19 trades, through which a team will be selected to participate in the 11th National Skills Competition in 2020, the ASEAN Skills Competition, and the WorldSkills Competition.”

Dr. Juergen Hartwig, Director of the Vocational Training Reform Program in Vietnam, discussed vocational training cooperation for Vietnam with Deputy Minister Lê Quốc Doanh. Photo: Minh Sáng.

Attending the competition, Dr. Juergen Hartwig, Director of the Vocational Training Reform Program in Vietnam under the German Development Cooperation (GIZ), shared: “This competition has been organized in accordance with international standards. We hope that it will identify the best male and female contestants to participate in the international skills competitions.” According to Dr. Hartwig, the program will strengthen cooperation with vocational training institutions in Vietnam, organize training activities, and support capacity building for teachers. At the same time, it will collaborate with the College of Machinery and Irrigation to train several new occupations and provide materials and equipment to support the training process.

The contestants are focusing on their tasks. Photo: Minh Sáng.

Delivering his directive speech at this year’s competition, Deputy Minister Lê Quốc Doanh highly praised the thorough preparation in both format and content. He noted that the competition subjects and exam tasks were diverse, rich, and up-to-date in terms of technology and knowledge, and that the contestants demonstrated great seriousness. Although the competition was held under the objective challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Steering Committee made very successful adjustments, ensuring that the atmosphere remained vibrant and enthusiastic.

Inspecting the competition content at this year’s Examination Council. Photo: Minh Sáng.

Through this, the Deputy Minister also commended the Steering Committee, the Examination Councils, the proctors, and especially the two colleges entrusted by the Ministry to host the competition for their excellent performance and strong sense of responsibility. He requested that the Steering Committee find an appropriate way to organize the award ceremony under the Covid-19 conditions, ensuring timely recognition and encouragement for units and contestants who achieved outstanding results.

Equipment supported by the German Development Cooperation (GIZ). Photo: Minh Sáng.

“This year’s competition is hosted at the College of Machinery and Irrigation, one of the very few colleges nationwide known for its discipline and strong commitment to a green and clean environment… This is also an opportunity for other participating colleges to learn from this model and apply it. In the coming time, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will carry out evaluations and provide support for colleges to further develop, improving both the format and the quality of training programs,” Deputy Minister Lê Quốc Doanh emphasized.

By Minh Sáng – Vietnam Agriculture Newspaper