Entrepreneurial spirit of VNU-USSH students: Want to succeed without fear of failure

The seminar was attended by Associate Professor, Dr. Dang Thi Thu Huong - Vice Principal of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities; Dr. Dinh Tien Hieu - Deputy Head of the Department of Politics and Student Affairs; Dr. Ta Bich Ngoc - Secretary of the Youth Union, and Mr. Duong Tat Thanh - Chairman of the Student Association of the University.
The seminar received the participation and sharing of three prestigious speakers: Ms. Luu Thi Hoa - Director of Po My Agricultural - Forestry and General Trade Service Cooperative, Deputy Head of Luong Dinh Cua network nationwide, Former student of the Faculty of International Studies - University of Social Sciences and Humanities - VNU; Mr. Phan Quoc Dung - Brand founder, Communications Director of Gu candles, author of the book "Okay, let's fly" and "365 days to embrace yourself"; student Khuat Thanh Mai - Vice Head of SurE Club - Startup Networking Club; Top 24 of VNU Innovation Startup 2021 Startup Competition, Co-founder - Head of Human Resources - Reditex Company.
In particular, the 8th floor hall of building E was filled with the exciting atmosphere of nearly 200 students from all faculties/institutes of the whole school. Speaking at the opening of the seminar, Associate Professor, Dr. Dang Thi Thu Huong - Vice Principal of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU emphasized: “Starting a business is the aspiration of many young people, including VNU-USSH students. Many generations of students from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU have achieved success on the path of building their own businesses. By preparing students with good professional knowledge and soft skills with a variety of elective courses, the school also accompanies them in opening up opportunities to meet and learn from CEOs and successful entrepreneurs. The school will be the cradle to support their dreams and aspirations on their entrepreneurial journey.”
The Vice President of the school was delighted that the seminar was attended by alumni and students of VNU-USSH, people who have found their own path and achieved success. It was you who have inspired generations of students of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities to confidently nurture and realize their dream of starting a business.    
From zero to success on the path of starting a business with hometown agricultural products
The story begins with the "boring" days with the pressure of a desk job at a business after a period of working in an office, Ms. Luu Thi Hoa decided to quit her job to find her own path. The specialty products of her hometown Ha Giang brought Ms. Hoa a lot of inspiration. With the small amount of capital accumulated after working, Ms. Luu Thi Hoa decided to establish a business to trade in local specialties. However, the initial enthusiasm of a young person was met with many failures because the products did not meet the requirements, and the number of buyers was decreasing. Ms. Hoa had to worry a lot.
From her mother's dejected words, "Please stop!" and the image of her mother diligently picking up the finished product, Ms. Hoa was lifted up in spirit, because behind every step she took was her whole family. Her mint honey products have regional characteristics, with cultural advantages of Ha Giang land. However, to make her products different from local specialty businesses, Ms. Luu Thi Hoa spent a lot of time and effort to research a new production model. Accordingly, mint honey products are exploited from 100% of households who are ethnic minorities, have long honey-raising days, apply high technology, and retain over 90% of the nutrients of mint essential oil. From the business owner's careful research on technology to bring the best products to customers, her products have gradually won the hearts of users.

Learn interesting things from studying abroad to return to start a business
That is the story of Mr. Phan Quoc Dung about his days of studying and experiencing life as a student in Copenhagen, Sweden. Feeling the "healing" trend of the world, especially after the Covid-19 pandemic, Mr. Dung came up with the idea of ​​producing scented candles for business in Vietnam. Not all paths to success are paved with roses. From the idea to bringing the product to the market and letting users know about the product, Mr. Dung also encountered many difficulties. That is bringing the thoughts and perspectives from another country to Vietnam, a place with its own traditions and culture. Mr. Dung also shared the challenges and opportunities when competing with the "big guys" in the market. Startups need to find niche markets to develop strategic products. Choosing to follow the path that you have a lot of knowledge and understanding, seizing opportunities, combined with the spirit of "wanting to succeed without fear of failure", students will find their own achievements.
“The fire of entrepreneurship is still burning brightly like candles blowing in my soul” – that is the spirit that Mr. Dung inspired more than 200 VNU-USSH students at the talk show.

From university startup competition to real-life lessons
Khuat Thanh Mai is a familiar name to USSH students when she was in the Top 24 of the VNU Innovation Startup 2021 competition, a member of the second prize team of the VNU Innovation Startup 2022 competition. Thanh Mai shared that these were the first steps to help her, a K65 student of the Faculty of Sociology, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU, improve her knowledge from two elective courses on startups of VNU-USSH. However, the third-year student encountered difficulties in identifying the target customers as well as products that meet market tastes. The experiences, learning and determination with the startup idea have brought Thanh Mai initial achievements.
Thanh Mai and her friends have found green, creative products, using “electronic waste” to recycle into green, sustainable products. Thanh Mai’s products have been well received by customers, and that is the reward for the 2K2 girl’s passion. What are the advantages and challenges of students of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU in Entrepreneurship?
“Many people think that students majoring in Social Sciences and Humanities will have less advantages and opportunities to start a business, however, reality proves thatVNU-USSH studenthas many advantages in the process of starting a business". This is the sharing of Ms. Luu Thi Hoa as well as the guests of the discussion.
So what are the advantages of VNU-USSH students when starting a business? That is, they have great strengths in market research and survey with many methods that have been practiced in the courses as well as in the process of doing group assignments, essays, scientific research topics or graduation theses. On the other hand, some courses on entrepreneurship have explored, aroused and promoted the creativity of VNU-USSH students, in which courses such as Creative thinking and idea design, Entrepreneurship... are loved and interested by many students. The "pocket" skill of students of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities is also the ability to write well, which is highly appreciated by businesses in creating content to communicate and promote startup products.   Ms. Luu Thi Hoa shared that VNU-USSH students have high social empathy, learn about people and are sensitive to social issues, along with the scientific research movement that is developing strongly during their study time, which has helped students of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU, Hanoi have effective business solutions. In particular, the startup competitions, scientific research awards organized annually by the school, the VNU Innovation Startup competition for students of Hanoi National University... are solid foundations to promote students' startup aspirations.
“However, USSH students need to improve their knowledge of business administration to develop start-up models effectively,” said the Director of Po My Agricultural - Forestry and General Trade Service Cooperative.
The seminar “GenZ Start-up: Want to succeed without fear of failure” is not only a place to meet, exchange and share lessons learned in the process of starting a business from previous alumni, but also a place to connect generations of students from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities in a USSHer network to cooperate and succeed together.