HCM CITY — International-standard training programmes are being used at many universities in HCM City to help improve the quality of human resources, representatives of higher education institutions said at a conference held yesterday.

Dr Nguyễn Hữu Huy Nhựt, deputy rector of the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City, said the university had changed its training programme since it became autonomous in 2014.

The school uses international educational methodology and advanced training programmes for the majority of students.

English copyrighted textbooks are translated into Vietnamese to teach first- and second-year students who study to obtain a bachelor’s degree. In the third and final years, students use English-language textbooks.

“Using international advanced training programmes helps graduates compete in the global labour market and transfer to universities in the US, Australia, New Zealand and other countries,” Nhựt said.

Dr Trần Đình Lý of Nông Lâm University in HCM City said the university’s training programmes had been modernised to improve the quality of training with the aim of becoming autonomous by 2020.

Other attendees have urged that universities pay attention to labour demand and choose appropriate faculties that can attract students.

Shortcomings

Dr Vũ Hồng Vận, head of HCM City-based University of Transport and Communication’s basic sciences faculty, said that innovation in training and methodologies had been carried out, but it had not been comprehensive.

Traditional methodologies are still popular at many universities in the country, Vận said.

Dr Phạm Huy Cường of University of Economics and Law under Việt Nam National University HCM city said that English had been taught but effectiveness was not high.

Students’ English skills still fail to meet the demand of employers, according to Cường.

He said that universities should continue changing English teaching methodologies and improve how students communicate and use English in jobs after graduation. —VNS