The college currently offers college-level, intermediate-level, elementary-level and continuing vocational training across a range of fields, including automotive technology, industrial electrical engineering, computer network administration, information technology, welding and construction engineering.

It trains more than 2,000 students annually on average, while also providing bridging programmes from intermediate to college level and training and testing courses for various categories of car driving licenses, meeting local workers’ needs for further education and skills development.

Nguyen Van Hung, the college’s rector, said the institution considers graduate outcomes a key measure of its reputation. Each year, it reviews, adjusts and updates its training programmes in line with national occupational skills standards and emerging trends in science, engineering and technology.

To date, all training disciplines have adopted open curricula focused on strengthening practical skills, while all courses have updated textbooks and teaching materials that reflect real-world business operations and international integration requirements. These comprehensive, substantive reforms helped the college exceed provincial enrollment targets for college- and intermediate-level programmes in the 2025-2026 academic year, with a graduation rate of 97%.

Automotive technology is among the college’s most popular disciplines. Its curriculum is designed to meet practical industry needs, allocating 70% of instructional time to specialised hands-on training and 30% to theory, equipping students with a sound understanding of technical principles and strong practical skills.

The college has also invested in a comprehensive network of workshops and laboratories featuring a wide range of vehicles, from mass-market to premium models, as well as engines and advanced diagnostic equipment. New knowledge of electric vehicles and intelligent control systems is continuously incorporated into teaching.

Nguyen Ngoc Son, head of the Automotive Technology Department, said the department’s core mission was to train skilled technicians with a strong sense of professional responsibility. It regularly consults businesses and major automotive service and maintenance centres both inside and outside the province to refine course content in line with recruitment requirements.

Hands-on training using equipment comparable to that found in businesses gives students a solid foundation and helps them meet job requirements immediately after graduation, he said.

Beyond practical training in its own workshops, the college works with businesses to link vocational education with employment opportunities. It maintains close partnerships with major companies and corporations inside and outside the province to provide customized training programmes and arrange work placements that expose students to real-world working environments.

Since 2025, the college has arranged nearly 500 student placements to develop practical skills, including more than 200 placements at establishments within the province and 286 at major businesses elsewhere, such as Honda Vietnam, Toyota Motor Vietnam, VAP Co., Ltd. (Hung Yen province), and Tam Viet Human Resources Co., Ltd.

Exposure to modern production lines and industrial working practices has enabled many students to demonstrate their capabilities before graduation. More than 90% of the college’s graduates now secure stable employment immediately after completing their studies, earning between 12 million VND and 15 million VND (580 USD) per month.

Quang Tuan Tu, a student of K13 Automotive Technology class, said direct instruction from teachers on various engine models and modern diagnostic equipment, together with a placement arranged by the college at Honda Vietnam, had helped him adapt quickly to real-world work.

He completed his internship with an excellent rating, received a monthly allowance of 10-12 million VND, and secured a commitment from the company to hire him upon graduation.

Guided by the principle of “training for what the market needs, rather than simply what the institution offers,” Son La College of Engineering and Technology plans to accelerate digital transformation, invest in modern equipment, expand partnerships with businesses to provide customised training, and introduce new vocational disciplines aligned with shifts in the economic structure. These efforts aim to supply highly skilled technical workers for Son La province and the wider northwestern region./.