Opening of the dual degree program in Tourism Studies

On November 6th, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities held the opening ceremony for the dual degree program in Tourism Studies, cohort QH-2009-X.Attending the ceremony was Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vu Duc Nghieu - Vice Rector of the University. Guests from outside the university included representatives from many partner organizations of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities: Dr. Nguyen Van Luu - Deputy Head of the Training Department, General Department of Tourism, Ministry of Culture, Communication and Tourism; Ms. Dinh Nguyet Anh - Managing Director of Vietran Tour Tourism and Sports Company; Ms. Tran Thi Van Huong - Training Director of Sofitel Metropole Hotel; Ms. Tran Thi Phuong Mai - Head of Human Resources Department of Melia Hotel. [img title="Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Pham Hung - Vice Dean of the Faculty of Tourism Studies - speaking at the opening ceremony." src="/images/stories/2009/11/10/nphung.jpg" align="left" width="240"/>
The dual degree program in Tourism Studies is a joint training program between the University of Social Sciences and Humanities and the University of Foreign Languages ​​- Vietnam National University, Hanoi. Admission is open to full-time students of the University of Foreign Languages ​​from their second year onwards. Admission is based on the cumulative GPA, ranked from highest to lowest until all slots are filled. Students will study at the University of Foreign Languages. The timetable will be arranged to combine the schedules of both majors: Foreign Languages ​​and Tourism Studies. Students will have to complete an additional 75 credits in Tourism Studies, mainly in specialized modules such as tourism geography, tourism culture, tourism psychology, tourist destinations, hotel management, tour guiding, and travel agency operations. Students will be recognized as having graduated from the first major, accumulated the required number of credits for the second major, and achieved a cumulative GPA of 2.00 or higher across all subjects in the program. Applicants must have an IELTS certificate with a score of 4.0 or higher, or an equivalent. The first course enrolled 75 students in 2009. [img class="caption" src="images/stories/2009/11/10/bangkep.jpg" width="580"/>
At the opening ceremony, students had the opportunity to exchange ideas with professors and human resource managers from large companies about labor demand in the Tourism Studies industry, the necessary skills for tourism workers, and job prospects after graduating from the dual degree program. Representatives from employers unanimously affirmed that the University of Social Sciences and Humanities' implementation of a dual degree program in Tourism Studies with foreign language entry is good news for businesses. Graduates will meet both essential requirements that employers expect: foreign language proficiency and specialized knowledge. This is a positive direction that helps training keep pace with societal needs and expands career opportunities for students.