A common theme is emerging from discussions about student career services and alumni support in Vietnam: efforts across member universities are taking place, but are fragmented and lack cohesiveness. 

In Q2/Y2, USAID Partnership for Higher Education Reform project had focused discussions with targeted universities including the Hanoi University of Engineering and Technology (UET), Ho Chi Minh city  University of Economics and Law (UEL), Da Nang University of Economics to learn more about their needs of support from the project. There have been an increasing number of activities being developed by universities to support students and alumni in exploring and developing career pathways. However, there has not yet been a comprehensive structure of activities. The targeted universities express a strong interest in having the project’s support in building an intelligent job portal and alumni database management system. The meetings and discussions resulted in the member universities developing a TOR for a technical review by the project experts.

Member universities were also connected with experts from Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana University in the area of alumni engagement and career development. Based on the comprehensive the project Work Plan Y2 and the TOR proposed by targeted universities, the IU experts have broken down each intervention into sub activities to be implemented in Q3 and Q4 of Y2, satisfying the Scope of Work for international experts. The TORs of Alumni and Fundraising, Career Services were also transmitted  to experts for review and analysis.  Ms. Lori Garraghty, CFRE, Adjunct Instructor; Executive Director of Development and Alumni Relations has agreed to be the leading expert in alumni engagement and fundraising for the project, while Ms. Jennifer Schepers, Adjunct Instructor; Director, Career Hub will be the leading expert in career development services for students.

The goal of having more cohesive, coherent, and consistent career guidance and alumni services at universities in Vietnam is to improve career prospects of graduates and improve the responsiveness to the labor market and to the talent pool emerging from university programs.