Vietnam National Satellite Center (VNSC) Director Pham Anh Tuan when addressing the seminar on human resource training for the development of space technology said, “Following a strategy on space technology research and development, Vietnam will have a leading modern space center in Southeast Asia by 2020. However we require at least another 250 people to fill key posts.”

Pham Anh Tuan said that in addition to promoting investment in infrastructure, the training of human resources played an important role. To master satellite design, Vietnam needs high-quality human resources.

Vietnam currently has no university specializing in space technology training. To overcome the situation, the VNSC has sent engineers to top universities in Japan to learn about satellite technologies as well as promoted links to organize training courses in Vietnam. There have been 36 space technology masters trained in Japan funded by the national space technology project. In addition, the VNSC has promoted links with the Hanoi University of Science and Technology to train masters and doctors in space technologies, and with the University of Engineering and Technology to train engineers. However, these training programs are joint programs so they have not been given codes by the Ministry of Education and Training. Together with an annual enrollment target of around 60 people, including 10-15 space technology engineers, human resource training has revealed these limitations.

Pay and working conditions for space technology staff and engineers remain inappropriate, particularly monthly salaries of just a few million of Vietnamese dong. Pham Anh Tuan said, “Following the space center construction project, investment in human resource training will reach an estimated nearly US$10 million per 36 people. The approach to employment will pose difficulties in retaining talented people.”

Vietnam plans to design and manufacture the 10-kilo NanoDragon satellite by 2018 in order to implement forest and seagoing vessel overseeing and conduct technology experiments as well as the 50-kilo MicroDragon satellite by 2018 and launch the half-tonne Lotusat2 satellite by 2021. These satellites will contribute to pursuing climate change mitigation objectives and enhancing natural resource management.

Together with great expectations and targets, Pham Anh Tuan recommended that if the country sees space technology as a key sector, better pay and conditions will be needed such as already offered to staff in atomic energy and health. Satisfactory investment will contribute to bringing desired results.

Source:VEN