On June 15th, 2019, the Employment and Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Forum took place at University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City (HCMUSSH), with the attendance of 20 businesses, teaching and management staff of Faculty of International Relations and the school’s director board, educators from other departments of HCMUSSH and students and alumni of Faculty of International Relations.

The Forum is co-hosted by Faculty of International Relations and Center for Vietnamese and Southeast Asian Studies as part of the V2WORK project and the Faculty's programme whose purpose is to bring business, students, and the school’s management board to discuss the current curriculum to adjust to the market’s demand. In addition, students will be able to share their concerns with alumni and business on their future jobs.

Participants of the Forum

The Forum consisted of four panels. One moderator panel which included Mr. Tran Van Lieng – CEO/Chairman of Vietnam Vinacacao Joint Stock Company, Dr. Bui Hai Dang – Dean of Faculty of International Relations, Dr. Tran Dinh Lam – Director of Center for Vietnamese and Southeast Asian Studies, V2WORK project coordinator at HCMUSSH; one included businessmen from 23 companies; one included alumni and one included students of Faculty of International Relations.

Moderator panel: Mr. Tran Van Lieng (left), Dr. Bui Hai Dang (middle), Dr. Tran Dinh Lam (right)

Delivering the opening remark, Dr. Pham Tan Ha – Vice president of HCMUSSH, wished for the success of the forum and expressed his eager to listen to different opinions from business and students.

Dr. Pham Tan Ha - Vice President of HCMUSSH

English standard output

According to Mr. Tran Van Lieng and Ms. Siren Mai (Aster Group) and other representatives, the English standard output should be IELTS 6.5 band since it is suitable for working conditions. Besides, Ms. Mai also encouraged students to apply at foreign countries for their apprentice as it helps students broaden their vision and experience actual foreign working environment and enrich one’s knowledge. Replying to Ms. Mai, Dr. Bui Hai Dang asserted that there was a few intern working at Bangkok, Thailand last year.

Ms. Siren Mai (Aster Group) 

On soft skills training

Representatives addressed some of students’ limit when working in an actual environment, specifically, student’s attitude and some basic soft skills like writing. Prominently, Atty. Tran Hai Duc expressed his frustration as he retold stories about students making grammatical errors in writing letters or simple documents that were assigned to them. Others concerned about student’s attitude. They noted that some students when working in a different environment want the environment adapt to their style of working rather than adapt oneself to the strange environment.

Atty. Tran Hai Duc

On curriculum

On this matter, alumni gave their remarks on some of the faculty’s courses including teaching content and courses’ names. Besides, Mr. Nguyen Hoang Dung proposed to add some subjects such as Risk management, Branding construction and development, Portrait and skills of the new leader, International institutions.

Mr. Nguyen Hoang Dung

Other opinions

Dr. Duong Ngoc Dung emphasized the importance of learning is not about finding a job but to complete oneself. For him, study is an outlet to find meaning in life and to actually live happily. 

Dr. Duong Ngoc Dung (middle, black T-shirt)