LookAtVietnam – Students have not paid appropriate attention to developing skills needed for their jobs, especially intangibles like analysis, synthesis and team-work skills.

Vinh said that Vietnamese students still lack dynamism, while their English remains problematic.

A recent survey conducted by the Ministry of Education and Training and Educational Testing Service – ETS showed that only around 50 percent of students can meet requirements in English.

The survey also pointed out that very few undergraduates are capable of using English proficiently in studies, research and daily communication.

Vietnamese students also have problems in study and research skills. Associate Professor, Dr Nguyen Cong Khanh from the Hanoi University of Education, said that more than 40 percent of students believe that they are not able to guide their own studies, and nearly 70 percent of students say they are not able to direct their own research.

Nguyen Anh Hong, MA, Lecturer of the HCM City University of Social Sciences and Humanities, said that only 30 percent of students have a passion for studying and are enthusiastic about joining social activities. Other students are leading “close-hearted” lives: They do not want to participate in community activities or would rather party and socialise than learn.

Meanwhile, according to Le Quoc Phong, Chairman of the HCM City Students’ Association, the problem of Vietnamese students is that they lack soft skills, including presentation, communication and teamwork skills. Moreover, they also lack the skill of using the knowledge they get from universities in their jobs.

Phong’s note coincides with the results of many recent surveys on students’ capabilities. Namely, that graduates of universities, junior colleges and vocational schools are too weak at some skills necessary for their jobs.

A recent report by the Ministry of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs showed that 13 percent of graduate students need retraining or to attend training courses to get more skills.

Vinh said that activities for volunteers, forums, workshops and clubs are environments in which students can practice necessary skills. He went on to say that in the time to come, the students’ association will focus on heightening the awareness of its students about the need to improve soft skills to help students more quickly adapt to their jobs after graduation.

VietNamNet/TP