Somotsoft speaks to students in Career Forum
Today, on 17th May 2008, from 1-5 p.m., at Quang Trung campus, the Foreign Language Center of Hoa Sen University (FLC-HSU) has collaborated with foreign businesses: Song Be Golf Resort, Navigos, Somotsoft, IIG-Vietnam, Pearson Longman, and Toastmaster Vietnam to organize a CAREER FORUM for over 200 students of Hoa Sen University. These students represent 2,000 students studying non-major English called LCBE (Lotus Communicative Business English) at FLC-HSU.
The Foreign Language Center of Hoa Sen University was established in 1997 and is known as a reputable language center in HCMC, thanks to its quality of teaching and learning English using the communicative approach. Since then, FLC-HSU has trained more than 10,000 students of Hoa Sen University, 5,000 adults of Real Life program, and 10,000 children of the Rainbow program.
For its LCBE program, FLC-HSU is making some changes, which includes the use of a new textbook called Powerbase and Powerhouse by Pearson Longman Publishers. This Business English textbook is in line with the aims and objectives of the LCBE program: to equip students with the life skills for confidence at work, travel, or social situations, and to score well for TOEIC. To encourage the use of original materials, Pearson Longman is introducing to FLC-HSU the “value pack” comprising student’s book, workbook, and CDs, at one-third of published price.
The Career Forum will be a regular activity of FLC-HSU to open up the working world to Hoa Sen University students with regards to the recruitment needs of established international companies, and the way to meet these requirements, especially by improving English communicative language competence, one of the keys to successful employment of today Vietnam.
On behalf of Hoa Sen University Management Board, Professor Phan Van Giuong, Dean of Languages and Culture Studies Faculty, delivered the Opening and Closing Remarks. Madam Ly Lan Phuong, MA & MBA, Director of Foreign Language Center, chaired the Forum. Following are activities that took place:
- Ms Vu Bich Ngoc, Vice Director of IIG Vietnam (of ETS - Educational Testing Service), presented “The importance of TOEIC in today’s recruitment in Vietnam”.
- Ms Winnie Lam, Director of Navigos Group specializing in HR Consulting Services, organized the workshop “Are you ready for work?” to prepare students well to enter the working world.
- Mr. Danny Tuan Lee, representative of Toastmaster International in Vietnam, presented “Building confidence in communication and improve English presentation skills via the Toastmaster Club”.
Last but not least were the company introductions followed by a dialogue session. The 200 Hoa Sen students had direct exchanges with the Directors of two international companies: Ms Margaret Van Ronk of Song Be Golf Resort, and Mr. Tran Manh Huy of Somotsoft. Song Be Golf Resort has more than 500 staff, and regularly recruits staff to service their restaurants, hotels and golf guests. Somotsoft is a software outsourcing company with 200 staff, and regularly recruits software experts. These are also two schools of Hoa Sen University: Tourism and Hotel-Restaurant Management, and Science and Technology. These two departments train about 600 students at university, college, and technician level.
A special aspect of the Career Forum is that the language used is totally in English, to create a natural environment for students to use English confidently. As planned, for every semester, FLC-HSU will organize a forum to motivate students of Hoa Sen University to study English, thereby helping them to have more chance to find temporary jobs during their studies and permanent jobs upon graduation, at established international companies.
Every year, Hoa Sen University has an increasing number of graduates. In 2007 there were 965 graduates. An average 90% of Hoa Sen University graduates manage to find jobs upon graduation, of which 100% are of university level (for joint international programs), 93% of College level, and 87% of Technician Level. Graduates of Hoa Sen University are highly appreciated by businesses for their expertise and adaptability into the proactive working environment.
Hochiminh City, 17th May, 2008
Foreign Language Center
Hoa Sen University
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