As Vietnam pushes forward with its North-South high-speed railway, experts warn that a skilled workforce shortage could hinder progress.

To address this, university officials propose full tuition waivers for outstanding students and 50% reductions for those with good academic performance in railway-related fields.

On February 11, the National Assembly’s Science, Technology, and Environment Committee met with the University of Transport and Communications (UTC) to discuss workforce development and review amendments to the Railway Law.

Massive workforce demand for high-speed rail

According to a feasibility study for the North-South high-speed railway, the project will require a large labor force across multiple phases:

Project management: 300-500 workers (2025-2027), increasing to 700-900 workers (2028-2032).

Survey, design, and supervision: 1,200-1,300 experts (2026-2028), all requiring university degrees or higher.

Construction workforce: 220,000-240,000 workers at peak periods, including 18,000-20,000 engineers, with 20-30% specialized in railway construction.

Operations and maintenance staff: 13,880 workers needed by 2035-2036.

In total, the railway project demands an estimated 260,000 skilled workers across various disciplines, making workforce development a critical priority.

Challenges in railway education and training

Despite the urgent demand, student interest in railway-related programs remains low compared to other technical and economic fields.

According to Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Van Hung, President of the University of Transport and Communications, railway education faces multiple challenges:

Limited student enrollment: Many students opt for dual-degree programs, part-time courses, or short-term certifications rather than full-time railway studies.

Insufficient government investment: Funding for railway education and research lags behind other sectors, slowing technological advancement.

Call for tuition waivers to attract students

Dr. Ngo Van Minh, Deputy Head of the Innovation and Technology Transfer Department at UTC, highlighted key weaknesses in railway workforce training:

Severe shortage of skilled professionals: Key technical, management, and safety positions lack qualified personnel, especially in high-speed and urban rail sectors.

Outdated curricula: Many training programs still rely on old technologies, failing to meet modern automation and international railway standards.

Lack of practical training: Universities lack modern laboratories, simulators, and real-world practice opportunities, leaving graduates unprepared for industry demands.

No standardized national training framework: Unlike other engineering disciplines, railway education lacks a unified curriculum and a structured pathway from vocational to advanced degrees.

To address these issues, UTC officials propose a tuition incentive program:

100% tuition exemption for students achieving excellent academic performance.

50% tuition reduction for students maintaining good academic standing.

Dr. Minh emphasized that railway engineering is a highly specialized field, requiring both theoretical knowledge and extensive hands-on training in five core areas:

Construction

Rolling stock and vehicle technology

Electrification

Signaling and telecommunications

Operations and transport management

While UTC has a dedicated railway research center, Dr. Minh noted that its facilities remain outdated and insufficient to meet industry needs.

With major railway projects, including high-speed and urban rail systems, on the horizon, Vietnam faces a critical challenge in training enough skilled professionals to support development.

The proposed tuition waiver program could serve as a key incentive to attract more students into railway careers, ensuring that Vietnam has a capable workforce ready for its railway modernization efforts.

N. Huyen