In 2008, the Ministry of Education and Training authorized DTU
to offer a distance learning course in Danang, which has since drawn large
numbers of students all the way from Danang to Ca Mau. A new version was
announced at the end of 2011, which offered many new useful features. Up to
now, there have been 178 graduates out of 1,000 entrants into the first
e-Learning course, which can be considered to be a great accomplishment for
DTU.
The
graduates specialized in Business Administration, Accountancy, Finance and
Banking and live in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Kien Giang province. Having
successfully completed the course, they are now ready to contribute to the
development of Vietnam and help satisfy current workforce requirements. These
are the goals that DTU first established when it launched the e-Learning
program.
Dr. Le Nguyen Bao, DTU Vice-Provost, confers diplomas
Aware of the vital needs in Vietnam for a
highly-qualified workforce, DTU has pioneered an innovative e-Learning academic program. Under the program, DTU has
designed and provided comprehensive study materials, which include both printed
and audio-visual materials, comprising CDs, DVDs and books. This makes learning
more efficient, flexible and interesting. Instructors and students can
communicate directly with each other online and questions can be directed to
lecturers via email and answered within 24 hours. Other activities, such as
practice exercises, discussions and group meetings, can be conducted using a
tool called 3D Second Life. Students have the impression of being connected to
real people throughout the course.
Another advantage of e-learning is the
flexible scheduling of online lessons. Students can work at their own pace
towards graduation. It takes four years to get a Bachelor’s degree and just
three for a Vocational Certificate. University and college students spend
between two and two and a half years on e-Learning courses. In addition, the
credit-based system is big plus for those who want to shorten or extend their
study time, according to their individual abilities. Students are able to
register for as many courses as they want.
Distinguished Teacher Le Cong Co, center, with new graduates
Mr. Le
Van Chung, Director of DTU e-University Center, said: ”The DTU e-Learning program fits the needs of current
participants perfectly and has been widely recognized by the business
community. Using innovative methods, students can easily put what they have
learnt into practice. Interestingly, thirty students from Kien Giang province
are branch-directors and vice-directors of the Vietnam Bank for Social
Policies. This has proved that the DTU e-Learning program has quickly filled a
void in the education of local communities.”
“As
the schedules of e-Learning program are flexible, you don’t need to worry about
being absent from class. You just show up at DTU on the first day of the course
to receive study materials and on the last day to take part in review lessons
and a final examination, once a semester. All the work is done online, so that
you can be always be actively involved in your studies.” said Dr. Le Nguyen
Bao.
So far, there have been 178
graduates of DTU distance
learning course. Most of them now have steady jobs. The program has helped to facilitate
local staff to meet their job requirements and to improve their professional
skills at many different companies in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Kien Giang
province.
Mr. Nguyen Hieu Trung, Director of the Vietnam Bank for Social
Policies, at the Phu Quoc Branch in Kien Giang province said: ”Since I graduated from Can Tho University of
Economics, I have been working for a bank. I wanted to study Finance and
Banking but I could not arrange a convenient time. After enrolling in the DTU distance learning course, I was very impressed by its flexible scheduling. Students can
access a sophisticated array of study materials and have the impression of
being connected to real people during their lessons. I have now gained more
qualifications for my job.”
An objective
assessment by businesses and students nationwide has affirmed the effectiveness
and suitability of the DTU e-Learning program. With a solid education strategy
and strong potential, DTU will definitely reap further rewards from this
program in the near future.
(Board of Website Editors)