A Joint Facility of IDEA Group & Provina
CITARES – THE FORGE OF THE FUTURE GENERATION
Practical Training – Workforce Supply – Technology Transfer
A COMMITMENT TO A COMPREHENSIVE GENERATION OF INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERS
STANDARD SKILLS – IRON DISCIPLINE – GLOBAL MINDSET
Assoc.Prof. Dr. NGUYEN ANH THI
GENERAL DIRECTOR OF CITARES
Dear Partners and Trainees,
Vietnam is standing before a historic opportunity to become the world’s new manufacturing hub. Numerous FDI factories are being built, and millions of USD in equipment are being invested. Paradoxically, the biggest risk manufacturing enterprises face is not a lack of machinery or technology, but a lack of people who can operate them safely and effectively.
We understand that recruiting people who already know the job is difficult, but finding personnel with an industrial mindset, strict discipline, and a readiness to integrate into the corporate culture from day one is even harder. The “skills gap” and the massive hidden costs of retraining are burdens holding back the growth of many factories.
Since its establishment in 2003, CITARES has provided automation equipment, curricula, and training courses to hundreds of universities, technical colleges, intermediate schools, and vocational schools. With the participation of IDEA Group – Vietnam’s leading Industrial Technology Group, CITARES takes on the additional mission of solving the industrial human resources problem more thoroughly and effectively, closely aligning with reality and the needs of the industrial market. We are not just a vocational training center; we position ourselves as a Strategic Talent Partner for the industry.
At CITARES, we do not train “workers who know the job”; we forge “engineers who master technology.” Besides equipping deep specialized skills on real equipment, CITARES trains Attitude and Industrial Discipline – the core operating system that helps engineers stand firm in high-pressure environments.
Partnering with CITARES means you are investing in a stable, standardized, and high-quality Talent Supply Chain, guaranteed by the prestige and practical experience of the IDEA Group ecosystem.
Let’s work with CITARES to create an elite workforce, elevating Vietnam’s industry to the global stage.
Sincerely,
Assoc.Prof. Dr. NGUYEN ANH THI
General Director of CITARES
FROM THE LECTURE HALL TO THE FACTORY
A SINGLE PATHWAY
REAL STUDY
- International standard foundational knowledge.
- Problem-solving mindset.
- Training on software & simulation equipment.
REAL PRACTICE
- Hands-on operation on real CNC machines and Robots.
- Participation in actual production lines.
- Exposure to Japanese standard ISO/5S/Safety processes.
REAL CAREER
- Direct recruitment into IDEA Group projects.
- Job referrals to FDI factories.
- Opportunities for training and working in Japan/USA.
Human Resource Engine
Providing “new blood”—young engineers with standardized skills and mindsets—for the projects of IDEA Group and its partners.
Research Center
A place to test new training technologies and transfer knowledge from technology vendors into actual production.
Community Building
Connecting businesses, schools, and engineers to build a strong, value-sharing technical community.
“Studying at CITARES is not just learning a trade. It is the first step into Vietnam’s leading industrial ecosystem.”
TRAINING PHILOSOPHY & METHODOLOGY
Practice makes perfect. CITARES does not teach what is already in textbooks; we teach what businesses actually need.
Project-Based Learning
Curricula are built on Real Projects that IDEA Group has been implementing for clients. Trainees do not solve hypothetical exercises; they solve actual technical problems.
Competency-Based Training
Assessment is based on the “Can-do attitude” and practical ability, not on theoretical scores.
Blended Learning
A flexible combination of E-learning platforms (foundational theory) and practical hours at the Lab/Workshop (hands-on skills).
Practice on real equipment and real projects.
Ensuring strict adherence to the graduation schedule and trainee progress.
Chief engineers and experts currently working at enterprises within the CITARES ecosystem.
FACILITIES, LABS & TECHNOLOGY
The CITARES headquarters is located in the Saigon Hi-Tech Park (SHTP), covering an area of 3,400 m2, officially inaugurated and put into operation in 2010.
Pioneering the Application of Management Technology
Updating and pioneering the implementation of management technology applications in training, helping trainees not only “know the technical aspects” but also master how to operate their work according to modern industrial standards.
Modern, International-Standard Lab System
CITARES invests heavily in facilities to ensure a learning environment that most closely resembles an actual factory.
CORE TRAINING PROGRAMS
We do not just sell courses; we provide comprehensive solutions for your career advancement and your business’s human resource challenges.
FLAGSHIP PROGRAM
HANDS-ON ROBOTICS & AUTOMATION ENGINEER
Accelerating Competency & Standardizing Hands-on Engineering Skills
DIRECTLY SOLVING
5 FACTORY OPERATIONAL CHALLENGES
Providing solutions to ensure the stability of your production lines.
SPECIALIZED SOLUTIONS & WORKFORCE SUPPLY
We do not just sell courses; we provide comprehensive solutions for your career advancement and your business’s human resource challenges.
SPECIALIZED PROGRAMS
Accelerating Competency & Standardizing Hands-on Engineering Skills
SERVICE PACKAGES
Providing solutions to ensure the stability of your production lines.
TRAINEE TESTIMONIALS
Trainees’ feedback after participating in CITARES training programs.
- CITARES Trainees
- Virtual Commissioning Using Emulate3D Solfware
Vuong Tri Quyet – Head of Design Department, IDEA Group
“What I appreciate most about the Hands-on Automation Engineer program is how closely the learning aligns with real project scenarios: from systems thinking and control logic to testing and optimization. The Virtual Commissioning section with Emulate3D helped me recognize a ‘new working standard’ in modern automation: testing in a virtual environment first to mitigate risks during actual operation and save a significant amount of time on on-site adjustments.”
Tran Van Son – Student, International University (IU)
“Previously, I learned automation in a fragmented way; I knew about PLCs but couldn’t visualize the actual deployment process. This program helped me piece everything together into a complete picture. In particular, I was impressed by the Virtual Commissioning content using Emulate3D because I got to experience firsthand how modern factories conduct tests before running for real. After the course, I feel much more confident stepping into a project environment.”
Le Phuoc Thinh – Student, Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry and Trade (HUIT)
“The program has a clear roadmap—you immediately practice what you learn. I really like the teaching approach that focuses on ‘getting the job done’ rather than just stopping at theory. The Emulate3D Virtual Commissioning section helped me understand a crucial step in system deployment: simulating and testing the control logic prior to installation, which significantly reduces errors and increases reliability during commissioning.”
Tran Van Cuong Thinh – Student, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (HUTECH)
“I found the greatest value in learning with a project mindset: analyzing requirements, building control solutions, testing, and optimizing. The Virtual Commissioning content gave me access to an industrial-standard workflow, where everything must be thoroughly verified before running on-site. This is a completely different experience compared to learning individual components in ‘isolation’ at school.”
Nguyen Hau – Design Team Leader, IDEA Group
“The program not only solidified my PLC and automation foundation but also filled the exact gap that many engineers have when joining a project: how to test and standardize before deployment. Emulate3D Virtual Commissioning is a powerful upgrade to our standards; it helps reduce debugging loops, accelerates progress, and most importantly, controls risks when operating the actual machines.”
"Virtual Commissioning Using Emulate3D Software" Program
PARTNERSHIP NETWORK
TECHNOLOGY PARTNERS
Collaborating on technology transfer, updating new standards, and standardizing output capabilities.
Synergistic Values
TRAINING PARTNERS
Partnering with educational institutions to create a “corridor” for human resource development, transforming students into hands-on engineers.
Synergistic Values
OPERATIONAL PARTNERS
Placing trainees into real operational environments to forge discipline, safety, and a “can-do” capability.
Synergistic Values
RECRUITMENT PARTNERS
Businesses committed to onboarding personnel from CITARES according to a clear roadmap and assessment standards.
Synergistic Values
FOUNDATION ECOSYSTEM
THIEN VIET – PROVINA: INVESTOR & LAUNCHPAD
As the investor of CITARES, Thien Viet (Provina Technology Co., Ltd.) provides core competencies in technology, equipment, and project implementation standards. This creates the “foundation” for CITARES to operate true to its spirit: industry-aligned training – real equipment – hands-on capability.
CORE STRENGTHS OF PROVINA
PROVINA’S DIRECT VALUE TO CITARES
IDEA GROUP – STRATEGIC INVESTMENT FOUNDATION
As the investing and sponsoring entity, IDEA Group provides CITARES with a long-term vision, project implementation capacity, industrial operational standards, and an ecosystem of job opportunities. This is why CITARES does not follow the model of an “independent training center” but is built as a strategic piece in the industrial value chain.
IDEA Group is transitioning from a collection of separate units into a National Industrial Technology Group, positioning itself to become a symbol of trust for “Make in Vietnam” machinery and technology.
IDEA Group acts as the Mother Brand, creating synergistic strength for its member units. For CITARES, this sponsorship mechanism helps “standardize partner trust”: same quality standards, same execution capacity, and same operational values.
CORE STRENGTHS OF IDEA GROUP
IDEA GROUP’S DIRECT VALUE TO CITARES