Human resource development is the key to enhancing the country's economic development, social stability and international integration. – Photo viettimes.net.vn

HA NOI (Biz Hub) – Human resource development is the key to enhancing the country's economic development, social stability and international integration, Nguyen Thanh Hung, deputy minister of Information and Communications, said on November 3.

At a conference in Can Tho City, Hung said ICT human resource development should be the first mision to be implemented to turn Viet Nam into a strong ICT country by 2020 under the prime minister's Decision No. 1755/QD-TTg, dated September 22, 2010, approving the scheme to make Viet Nam a country strong in information and communication technologies.

In addition, under the prime minister's Decision 698/QD-TTg, dated June 01, 2009, approving the overall plan on development of information technology human resources up to 2015 and orientations toward 2020, the target is to develop a qualified ICT human resource and high competency in technology to promptly respond to the demand of building and developing an information society and a knowledge-based economy.

By 2020, 70 per cent of employees working in companies must be trained in information technology, Deputy Minister Hung said.

He said the ministry has worked with various ministries and agencies to issue a nunber of documents to continue facilitating human resource development in the ICT sector and issue IT application.

The minister said the training system for IT has been widely deployed at schools, with 54.8 per cent for primary schools, 81.7 per cent for secondary schools and 100 per cent for high schools. There are 290 universities and colleges and 200 vocational schools for IT and telecom training, with enrolment at between 80-90 per cent.

Currently, the Ministry of Information and Communications has also coordinated with associations and enterprises nationwide to undertake and review the implementation of the Law on Information Technology.

In addition, Hung also highlighed shortcomings. He cited the inconsistent management by local governments and poor supervision and inspection of the implementation of the Law on Information Technology. He also complained about policies on procurement of information technology products and investment in IT.

The ministry said it had found many provinces' incentive policies to attract IT human resources were insufficient even though IT human resources play a key role in production and business.

In the near future, the ministry will work with relevant ministries to spur ICT human resource development in state-run companies and businesses. By doing so, the ministry wants to collect suggestions and comments from the business community and the IT association concerning ICT human resource and application of IT to address shortcomings in a timely manner. -- VNS