Bridging the Skills Gap in Public Museums: Evidence from Human Resource Development in Ho Chi Minh City

Abstract: This paper analyzes the multifaceted skills gap in public museums in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. It focuses on the integration of digital technologies, the emergence of audience-centered practices, and evolving cultural policy objectives. Drawing on skills mismatch theory, competency-based human resource development (HRD), museum workforce studies, and public-sector management, the study develops a comprehensive skills gap framework that goes beyond a deficit-based approach. Using a qualitative case study design, the research analyzes policy documents, institutional reports, and relevant literature to identify five key areas of skills gaps: (1) the transition from specialized to multi-professional roles, (2) digital skills, (3) engagement and pedagogy, (4) curatorial and interpretive skills, and (5) institutional and HRD capacity. The findings show that skills gaps are not only individual but are often reinforced by institutional factors, including inflexible recruitment processes, limited financial and human resource autonomy, apprenticeship-based training models, and underdeveloped career pathways. The study proposes a competency-based framework that supports skills modeling, continuous assessment, targeted training, and cross-sector collaboration. It contributes to the literature on public museums in the Global South and advances the concept of institutionally embedded skills gaps. The paper also offers actionable insights for policy reform and workforce development in Vietnam and similar public-sector cultural systems.