The certificates are recognised worldwide, allowing Vietnamese students to pursue employment opportunities not only in Vietnam but in other countries across the world.

According to New South Wales Minister of Education and Communities Adrian Piccoli, the programme - jointly carried out by Ho Chi Minh City, the ministry, New South Wales Technical and Further Education Commission (TAFE NSW) and EMG Education - is the next step forward in the process of cooperation between involving parties.

It will make it possible for pilot projects to be carried out in a number of colleges in Ho Chi Minh City in 2014.

Under the programme, TAFE NSW - Australia’s leading provider of vocational education and training with more than 500,000 enrolments each year - will support English training and teaching skills courses for students and teachers in the city, while providing courses in various fields including tourism management, information technology, fashion design, car services and mechanics.

Nguyen Thi Hong, Vice Chairwoman of the municipal People’s Committee, said the city has paid much attention to education and training development with yearly investment for the sector accounting for over 28 percent of its regular budget and 20 percent of its budget for capital construction.

She voiced her belief that the programme will be a new milestone in education and training cooperation between Australia and Ho Chi Minh City as well as Vietnam as a whole.