Collaboration

On May 31st, DTU met with Dong Nai Technology University (DNTU) to extend the model of linking businesses with universities to meet workforce requirements in Dong Nai province. DTU is partnering with DNTU and the meeting was organized in Dong Nai by the DNTU Department of Business Relations.

 

 

Members of the Dong Nai Young Entrepreneur Association, Mr Nguyen Huy Hoang, the Deputy Executive Director of the Dong Nai Industrial Complex and representatives of companies in Dong Nai province attended. DTU was represented by ten key staff members and Dong Nai Technology University by the Board of Provosts, department heads and their deputies.

 

DTU overviewed its objectives and education strategy, and in particular its outstanding research achievements. DTU is the leading research university in Vietnam, measured by performance. Many of its faculty were educated at well-known universities worldwide and they complete dozens of projects every year. These include a Service Card system for Vingroup, a Driving Guidance system, an Emergency Alarm system for hospitals, an Automatic Gauze Folding and Coiling Machine and a robot that inspects welds in ship-building.

 

“DTU does not just receive money from businesses for research, but it teams up with them to create extra value,” explains Dr. Le Nguyen Bao, DTU Vice-Provost.

 

 Dr. Bao gives an introduction about Duy Tan University

 

On behalf of the Dong Nai Young Entrepreneurs Association, Mr Pham Van Diem, Chairman of the Association, mentioned some critical workforce requirements.

 

 

Problems include the current lack of quality of managers and workers and a serious shortage of experts in technology, electronics, automation, precision engineering and so on. Mr. Diem also pointed out  the weaknesses of university education, such as a lack of focus on business requirements, with  graduates falling short of many essential skills and being slow to implement them. He currently employs twelve diligent DNTU students and hopes to employ more from DTU.

 

Mr. Hoang explained that, in Dong Nai, there are 25 to 30 thousand new jobs available every year, creating significant changes in the workforce and labor quality. In developed countries, human resource departments have a fifty year strategy. This is why we must completely replace our programs and teaching methods and eradicate the obsolete ones.In order to link the 1,200 companies in the region to be connected, the need for professional workers is overwhelming. Universities must always focus on the development of soft skills, self-confidence and practical applications. He wondered how really loyal,responsible, enthusiastic, honest workers and managers could be trained.

 

Business and corporate representatives clarified the issues. The Pousung Company representative said: “We dearly need automation and electromechanical engineers with strong foreign language skills  who are loyal to their companies.” The Lotte Mart supermarket chain representative added: “We need to buy management software abroad, if only we could. We really need people who are loyal, honest, passionate in their work who love their companies.”

 

Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Tuan, Deputy Chairman of the Import and Export Association, was sad that his interns are deficient in essential “execution” skills. He also asked the universities to focus on developing talent and morality. He urged universities to permit local businesses to offer opinions, guidance and contributions on their curricula, in order to avoid wasting time and effort.

 

 

Distinguished Teacher Le Cong Co, DTU Provost, admitted that not linking universities with businesses is hugely wasteful, demonstrating clearly that such an education does not satisfy business needs. He stressed that everyone must be mobilized to refine academic skills, life skills and other special skills. He stated that universities are not businesses but cannot exist with only one objective, business must be brought into the educational process. The multi-disciplinary, multi-system process at Duy Tan University is certainly contributing positively to meeting business requirements. Dr. Phan Ngoc Son, the Dong Nai Technology University Provost, emphasized in his closing speech a strategy ofworking with business to provide an effective career-oriented education”.A breakthrough will surely made soon to create better job opportunities for graduates and close the existing gap between education and businesses.