Things students need to remember

Mr. Agustaviano Sofjan (second from right) commented, “When I see students, I see the future there.”

The information was shared at the international seminar “Jobs in ASEAN: Opportunities and Challenges” organized by the Center for Entrepreneurship and Job Introduction and the Center for Vietnam and Southeast Asia Studies under the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City) on November 26.

Participate in scholarship and internship programs

The Thai Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City is recruiting for the position of “office secretary (consular section)”, in addition to implementing an internship program. This information was shared by Ms. Wiraka Mudhitaporn, Consul General of Thailand in Ho Chi Minh City.

“A few months ago, there was only one student majoring in Thai studies who became an intern. I hope students can consider participating in this internship program, or apply for a permanent position at the Thai Consulate General,” added Ms. Wiraka Mudhitaporn.

In addition to the opportunity to work or intern at the Thai Consulate General, students can also conquer jobs at Thai companies thanks to their foreign language and professional skills. Ms. Wiraka Mudhitaporn presented: “After more than 30 years of investing in Vietnam, many Thai businessmen can now speak Vietnamese. They are focusing on finding graduates who are fluent in Thai, trained in fields such as accounting, engineering, information technology…”.

Meanwhile in Singapore, Mr. Pang Te Cheng, Singaporean Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City, said that graduates from Singapore's education system have many job opportunities thanks to "about 7,000 multinational corporations and about 4,500 startups".

Mr. Pang Te Cheng shares about Singapore's education system

In addition to the wide-open job opportunities in Singapore, students have more opportunities to exchange jobs through the Singapore-Vietnam Innovation Talent Exchange program. According to Mr. Pang Te Cheng, the program will be implemented in 2025, allowing 300 young talents from each country to work in related fields in the host country, for a maximum period of 2 years.

Meanwhile, Indonesia is implementing various scholarship programs. Mr. Agustaviano Sofjan, Consul General of Indonesia in Ho Chi Minh City, said that the number of candidates participating in the Darmasiswa language and culture scholarship program has increased. “In 2023, 25 Vietnamese students were selected, most of them from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City). The number of candidates will increase to 50 in 2024, most of them from this school,” Mr. Agustaviano Sofjan informed.

Mr. Agustaviano Sofjan also suggested that students apply for the Kemitraan Negara Berkembang Educational Cooperation Scholarship. Applicants from developing countries are allowed to study at one of the top 30 universities in Indonesia. However, applicants must undergo one year of Bahasa language study before starting formal studies.

According to Mr. Angus Liew Bing Fooi, Vietnam has great potential to contribute to the development of smart cities in ASEAN.

High skills, foreign languages, cultural understanding: Factors that increase employment opportunities

Currently, in the ASEAN community, smart cities are being developed, with many job opportunities in fields such as technology and engineering, urban design and planning, education and training, social sciences and humanities. However, in this context, the workforce in Vietnam still faces various challenges.

At the seminar, Mr. Angus Liew Bing Fooi, Chairman of Malaysia Business Charmber Vietnam, General Director of Gamuda Land Joint Stock Company, identified two challenges including low-skilled labor force and replacement by technology, language barriers and lack of investment in education.

According to the chairman, despite having a large workforce, Vietnamese workers lack highly specialized skills. Vietnamese workers also face the risk of being replaced in some jobs due to rapid technological advances such as AI. He also said that “Vietnam’s English proficiency rate is low compared to neighboring countries such as Malaysia and Thailand.”

Associate Professor, Dr. Phan Thi Hong Xuan advises students to know knowledge about culture and diplomacy.

In addition to English, students need to learn the languages ​​of ASEAN countries. Explaining this, Associate Professor Dr. Phan Thi Hong Xuan, Director of the Center for Vietnam and Southeast Asia Studies, President of the Vietnam - Southeast Asia Friendship Association in Ho Chi Minh City, said: “People often say that Vietnamese students are making very fast progress, but we cannot just 'stumble around in the bamboo fence of the village' but need to look outside. So learning a foreign language is an important thing, not only English but also the languages ​​of Southeast Asian countries.”

In addition, Associate Professor Xuan also emphasized the importance of cultural understanding. “Along with professional knowledge and skills, cultural understanding is also important. Only then can no one do our job for us. When we clearly understand the cultural story, we can confidently step out into the world, see what is ours and what is other people’s,” Associate Professor Xuan presented.

In the context of digital transformation, Associate Professor Xuan suggested that students develop an attitude of "working in a commendable way instead of receiving praise", a spirit of self-reliance, solidarity, community service, as well as developing physical and mental health.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/tang-co-hoi-viec-lam-tai-dong-nam-a-nhung-dieu-sinh-vien-can-nho-185241126223004109.htm