"Choosing solutions to bridge the gap between university education in the social sciences and humanities and the needs of the labor market" was the theme of a scientific seminar held on October 26, 2012, organized by the Center for Policy Research and Analysis (CRI) - University of Social Sciences and Humanities in collaboration with the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation (Federal Republic of Germany).At the seminar, scientists, managers from research institutions and universities, and recruiters representing businesses exchanged and discussed solutions to bridge the gap between current university education and the needs of the labor market.
In the introductory report, Associate Professor Dr. Vu Cao Dam - Director of the Center for Policy Research and Analysis - stated that Vietnam's education system has been experiencing a series of paradoxes between training and societal needs. The report focuses on the weaknesses of the macro-management system. Specifically, these include: society is constantly modernizing, but training programs remain outdated; aiming for creative individuals, yet training content produces clumsy robots; science is developing rapidly, but standardized training programs are stagnant; the need for scientific development is constantly increasing, but academic titles are misplaced; educational philosophy is in crisis, and the research system is dogmatic; training needs are fluctuating, but training plans are bureaucratic; urgent training needs are met, but licensing is cold and bureaucratic. There is frustration regarding autonomy in education, but the idea of "empowerment" is hesitant; social development is urgent, but the education management system is authoritarian. Training soft skills for students is a solution to connect training in the social sciences and humanities with the labor market. This is the result of an experiment from the Rosa Luxemburg project on "Education Policy Innovation" conducted by a research team led by Dr. Dao Thanh Truong (Center for Research and Development of Social Sciences and Humanities) and Ms. Dang Kim Khanh Ly (Faculty of Sociology). Within the framework of the project, the research team organized six training courses on soft skills for students of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, covering specific skills such as: career goal setting skills, self-worth identification skills, career search and development skills, teamwork skills, and job application preparation… From the perspective of an employer, Ms. Vu Thu Ha - Director of Hoa Mat Troi Psychological Application Joint Stock Company - stated that her company's work is unique in providing The company, which provides training and human development services, has conducted numerous recruitment drives for graduates in the social sciences and humanities. Based on the recruitment experience at the company, Ms. Ha stated that most successful candidates faced significant difficulties upon starting work; many required retraining or were dismissed. Candidates who were not hired or were forced to leave all encountered problems adapting to the job: lack of professional skills, lack of career goals, lack of enthusiasm and a positive work attitude, and lack of communication and interpersonal skills. From the feedback of employers and alumni regarding the quality of training, Dr. Le Huu Phuoc – Vice Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City – expressed his thoughts on career support programs for social science and humanities students in his presentation. According to Dr. Le Huu Phuoc, from the perspective of supporting career opportunities, the university needs to: provide employers with training products and services that the university is currently offering. and soon to be; gathering information on the human resource and training needs of employers; designing training programs that meet employer requirements; introducing students to employers and connecting employers with students… Also from the perspective of a training institution, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Kim – Vice Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi – particularly focuses on the goals, challenges, and solutions for training high-quality human resources – one of the top priorities of Vietnam's education sector. Dr. Kim emphasized that a strong university wanting to enhance its position, develop sustainably, and engage in international dialogue always needs a long-term vision; strong management and organizational capabilities; a team of experts; and financial resources. And to fundamentally reform Vietnam's education system, to build some leading universities that meet regional and international standards, it is necessary to cherish and promote existing factors and legacies…
Many other opinions discussed at the seminar also offered specific solutions to narrow the gap between training and the needs of the labor market: Solutions to improve the quality of information, job placement, and training effectiveness assessment at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities - Mr. Pham Viet Hoan (Director of Mywork Job Portal, ISS Vietnam Joint Stock Company); Helping students integrate into the profession through building career guidance and counseling models: The case of Vietnam National University, Hanoi - Dr. Trinh Van Tung (Faculty of Sociology - University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi)...
