In 2003, when the mobile telecommunications project was researched and implemented, the Training Department was established in the Company's Technical Department (now the Group). I, with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, from the School's Military Training Department, the Information and Communications Corps, was transferred to be the Head of the Training Department, Technical Department; led by Major Nguyen Dinh Chien (now Major General, Party Secretary, Deputy General Director of the Group). From the Training Department, developing to the Training Center, then Viettel Academy is a journey of knowledge. Up to now, the Academy has a spacious, modern facility and a professional team; Viettel's training work is increasingly becoming systematic, "Gathering the best, spreading knowledge", "Timely training, lifelong self-study".

From the Technical Department Training Department…

Viettel Technical Department at that time had 7 departments: Fixed - Internet - Transmission - Information Technology - Quality Standards - Mobile Project - Training. The Training Department with 4 staff members was responsible for organizing, serving training, transferring telecommunications technology of Aircom (UK), Ericsson (Sweden) to Viettel. In 2003, the Mobile Project Department began researching and deploying the mobile network, and by 2004, the first BTS stations were installed. The Training Department increased coordination, organized training courses, and provided 3-5 day training for technical staff installing stations. On October 15, 2004, Viettel launched a nationwide mobile network, with subscribers increasing at an unprecedented rate in Vietnam; the demand for human resources for production and business was increasing, and it was urgent to train skilled technical staff to serve the strategy: "Network infrastructure comes first, business comes later".

In response to the Company's development and growth, in March 2005, the Prime Minister approved the Viettel project to become the Military Telecommunications Corporation. Training activities were not only organized at M48 - Nguyen Hong Street (Viettel's original headquarters) and the Phao Dai Lang warehouse, but also rented a 2-storey building of the Office of the Communications Command (next to the current Viettel Telecom headquarters). The goal was to train and coach many technical personnel for Viettel branches in provinces, cities, centers, and companies, serving the business strategy: "Rural encirclement of urban areas" and "Flooding the territory".

In April 2005, the Training Department was assigned to take over 10,000m2 of warehouse area, in An Khanh (Hoai Duc) next to the gate of Factory M1 (now Viettel Equipment Manufacturing Corporation - VMC) as a new training facility. The difficulty at that time was that the Corporation was promoting the construction of network infrastructure, capturing market share, had to focus resources and finances on many things, so there was not much budget for building training infrastructure. After more than 1 month of general cleaning, leveling the ground, renovating the house, arranging offices, the appearance of a "military style" training area was formed. The facilities included 1 theoretical classroom, 1 practical classroom, 1 dormitory room, auxiliary rooms, and a flag-raising yard for about 100 students. 1-week and 2-week technical training classes were deployed more and continuously every week and month.

On December 5, 2005, the Training Department organized the first "Post-Recruitment Engineer Training Course" for more than 70 graduates from technical universities. General Director Hoang Anh Xuan signed the decision to recruit personnel immediately and announced it right at the opening ceremony. Deputy General Director Nguyen Manh Hung, who was in charge, attended the opening ceremony to orient, assign tasks, and encourage staff, teachers, and students to overcome difficulties. The training period is 4 months, of which 1 month is spent studying military, politics , labor organization, and labor safety to practice discipline and corporate culture; 3 months are spent studying technology and English to access documents from foreign telecommunications companies. The training content is unified on: Overview of Aircom and Ericsson stations, AXE switchboard, system monitoring, sim declaration, SMS messaging system, roaming connection, BTS station construction, information rescue organization, etc.

Training Center has model "Viettel transaction store" in 2011.

The teaching staff includes directly from Viettel's Board of Directors, Colonel Duong Van Tinh - Party Secretary, Deputy General Director of Training on Viettel's history, politics, and aspirations; Colonel Nguyen Manh Hung, Deputy General Director of Culture and Business Strategy; Colonel Tong Thanh Dai, Deputy General Director of HTML development. Military teachers are from the Information and Communications Corps; technical teachers are mainly taken by Colonel, Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Quoc Binh (Military Technical Academy) - Viettel Technical Advisor; the rest are officers and specialists of Viettel's Technical Department and officers of Viettel's Mobile Telecommunications, Long-distance, Transmission, Design Survey, and Construction Companies for practical training. Captain Vu Van Hai, from Viettel Thai Nguyen Branch, was assigned to manage and organize classes.

On March 20, 2006, the graduation ceremony was held, and the main personnel were sent to the front lines of Viettel branches in provinces and cities. Many comrades developed well and later returned to continue studying advanced courses and source classes. Typical former students include: Hoang Trung Thanh, Dong Xuan Minh, Le Quy Duong... who now work in key positions at Viettel Telecom, Tanzania, Haiti, and the Group Investment Board (BBT).

… To Viettel Training Center and Academy

On March 27, 2006, Major General Hoang Anh Xuan, General Director of the Corporation (now the Group) decided to establish the Viettel Training Center. The Center was established on the basis of the functions and tasks of the Technical Department Training Board, along with 6 initial personnel, namely: Hoang Manh Hoa (Director), Pham Thi Thu Huong (Training), Ta Dieu Thuy (Planning), Nguyen The Anh (Security), Le Tran Dong Di (in charge of the South), Tran Van Vui (retained student of the 1st course) and Colonel, Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Quoc Binh - Viettel Technical Advisor, assigned to accompany and support in training and professional matters.

Next, we added comrades Nguyen Tien Bo (Finance), Nguyen Thi Vinh (Cooking), Nguyen Thi Thuy (Military Medicine)... Although the number of soldiers is small, these are the "first bricks", organizing centralized training classes. With Viettel's development strategy: "Each commune and ward has a BTS station, a fiber optic cable line", the training work is set to create an abundant and comprehensive human resource. Having a strong political stance, good capacity, not afraid of difficulties, imbued with a culture of dedication, knowing how to do both technical and business.

Cultural and sports exchange activities at Viettel Training Center.

By the end of 2006, the Center opened the second "Post-Recruitment Engineer Class" for 57 students. The basic program was the same as the first course, with some additional business topics. The technical part was mainly taught by foreign experts, with interpreters. After 4 months of training, the leaders of the Corporation directly conducted oral tests. With higher requirements, realizing that the students' knowledge was not really up to par with the new tasks of both technology and business, the Board of Directors decided to extend the time for the students to "self-study". The requirement was to have a solid grasp of the knowledge, in 1 chapter from an English technical book, to learn to the "roots and branches", also known as "Class without teachers". After 1 month of "failure" testing, the study continued... In the end, it took a total of 10 months to graduate (including a 1-month internship). The test showed that 100% of the students graduated. In reality, the staff completed their tasks well and many developed well. Typical examples include Tran Minh Tien (Class President), former Deputy General Director of Timor Leste, Le Truong Giang - Deputy Director of VHT Block, Truong Thu Huong - Information Technology Department/VTNet (BBT).

Since 2007, the Center has continued to open classes on business, sales, customer care, and labor safety. In the 3 years from 2005 to 2007, the Training Department and the Center have trained and developed nearly 400 students, meeting production and business needs. These "nuclei" continue to train thousands of employees at the grassroots units. At the same time, the Center has coordinated with the departments and offices of the Corporation to build a team of part-time lecturers and collaborators to compile documents and textbooks and assign lecturers to teach classes and lectures on technical topics, business, sales, finance, labor organization, customer care, etc. This is a proactive approach that Viettel people often call "do it yourself", "adapt quickly", "grease it, fry it".

Thus, from the Training Department to the establishment of the Training Center is a very important milestone for Viettel to proactively train and develop human resources. Training activities are operated from design, program development, training of lecturers, training organization, testing and evaluation. In addition to training technical staff, transaction officers, new employees, the Center opens classes: Technical Team Leader; Store Manager. In the following years, classes are opened according to the title of "Department Head": Sales, Customer Care, Labor Organization, Finance, "Source of Directors of Viettel District Centers", "Source of Directors of Viettel Branches in provinces and cities". With a new mission and vision, from January 2015, the Training Center was named Viettel Academy. By 2017, the Academy moved to a new headquarters from An Khanh to Hoa Lac, with a new appearance and new resources.

20 year journey of knowledge

From "Startup" to the present, a 20-year journey, some experiences still retain their value:

First, awareness of training work: "Training is an important, continuous task". Our Party always determines: "Economic development is the center, Party building is the key, training cadres is the key of the key". Viettel's leadership directly teaches, "the highest person" trains "the lowest person" to transfer skills and "pass on the fire", bringing Viettel from being an employee to being an owner.

Viettel Academy was built the earliest and most beautifully compared to many companies and corporations. Today, training and research and development (R&D) are the wings that help Viettel fly higher and further; leaders and commanders of agencies and units are still the most effective trainers and inspirers for subordinates and employees.

Second, in terms of training content: Training programs follow “Market orders, both knowledge and skills”, emphasizing “foreign language” learning and “self-study, self-research”. At first, only technical training was provided, then training in business, military, politics, traditional history, Viettel culture, then leadership, management and operation skills. Through training, a core force was built, exemplary in courage, determination, overcoming difficulties and always being creative. Many students in the first years have now become key cadres in a number of Viettel agencies.

Officials, lecturers and students of Foreign Trade University visited and had a workshop at Viettel Academy, 2020.

Third, regarding training subjects: “Gradually standardize according to titles”. In addition to training employees, training has been provided according to the titles of department heads: Labor Organization, Planning, Finance, Administration and Viettel “Director Source” classes for districts, provinces and cities. At first, the students were Vietnamese, then expanded to foreign personnel from international markets. Today, Viettel Academy has trained core competencies for staff and employees; trained staff at all levels, according to planned generations.

Fourth, on training methods: “Flexible, both centralized and online”. At first, training was centralized, then organized in 3 regions; later combined with internet. The Training Center organized exams, supervision, multiple choice tests, and assessments on the system. Today, Viettel Academy has a technology system, digital lectures, monitoring and control tools, and self-study assessment for each individual and each cadre.

Fifth, on cooperation and training links: “Combining businesses, schools and scientists”. From the beginning, Viettel collaborated with foreign experts and lecturers from the Military Technical Academy to organize training, edit content and programs. Later, it continued to cooperate with domestic and foreign lecturers and experts. Today, Viettel Academy has a wide network of training partners and reaches out internationally; “Gathering the best, spreading knowledge”, “Timely training, lifelong self-study”.

From the start-up to the present, from the Training Department, Training Center to Viettel Academy is a continuous journey. The Academy has actively contributed to training, fostering, and developing human resources to provide personnel for the agencies, so that Viettel can develop quickly and sustainably. Hopefully, in the near future, there will be a Viettel Technology Academy at the national, regional, and international level, contributing effectively to the digital transformation, digital economy, global integration, promoting science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation of the Group, the Army, and the country.

Colonel HOANG MANH HOA, former Director of Viettel Training Center

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/quoc-phong-an-ninh/xay-dung-quan-doi/hoc-vien-viettel-nhung-nam-dau-khoi-nghiep-844151