1. Foundation and development
Foreign Trade University, the second campus in Ho Chi Minh City is a body directly – governed by Foreign Trade University. Initially, the university was Foreign Trade Department, part of the Faculty of International Relations, managed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs located at the University of Economics – Finance in 1960.
In 1963, according to a decision of the Prime Minister then, the Faculty of International Relations was separated from the University of Economics – Finance to establish the School for Diplomats – Foreign Trade Officials under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. By the request of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Foreign Trade, the Prime Minister then issued the Decision 123/CP dated August 5, 1967 to split the School for Diplomats – Foreign Trade Officials into two schools: The School of Diplomacy, under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade University, under the Ministry of Foreign Trade (now is known as the Ministry of Industry and Trade). The title Foreign Trade University has been officially used since then. In 1984, the administration of Foreign Trade University was transferred from the Ministry of Foreign Trade to the Ministry of University and Professional Schools (now is the Ministry of Education and Training).
The core values of Foreign Trade University have set to be:
Quality-Efficiency-Prestige-Professionalism-Modern
In 1993, to respond to the demand for workers in the field of economics and international business in Ho Chi Minh City and southern provinces as part of the process of international economic integration, Foreign Trade University, Ho Chi Minh City Campus (hereinafter referred to as Ho Chi Minh City Campus) was established under the Decision No. 1485/GD-DT on July 16, 1993 by the Minister of Education and Training.
After nearly 20 years of establishment and growth, Ho Chi Minh City Campus has continued its improvement and development in both quantity and quality, becoming a center for high-quality human resources training in the field of economics and international business for the wholesouthern region.
2. Facilities
Thanks to the attention and care of the University Board of Administrators and the local authority, Ho Chi Minh City Campus has been equipped new facilities for teaching and learning at the address of No. 15, D5 Street, Ward 25, Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City. With an area of nearly 5,000 m2, the existing facilities can satisfy the basic, current needs of teaching and learning. Classrooms and other functional rooms are well – equipped with modern teaching equipment.
3. The organizational structure, staff and lecturers:
Since its establishment, Ho Chi Minh City Campus has witnessed constant development in terms of quantity and quality among the staffs and lecturers. Currently, Ho Chi Minh City Campus has nine functional departments (Human Resourses & Administration, Training Management, Planning & Finance, Science & International Cooperation Management, International Coorperation & Research, Information – Library, Student Affairs, Facilities Management, Testing & Quality Assurance ) and four academic departments (Professional Operation, Basic Sciences, English, Japanese); with over 140 permanent officers and lecturers, many of whom are currently working and studying domestically and abroad, belonging to.
In addition, Ho Chi Minh City Campus has also established six centers : Vietnam – Japan Human Resources Cooperation Center (VJCC), Foreign Trade University English Center (FTUC), Center for International Human Resources Development (CIRD), International Commerce Consultancy Center (ICCC), Center for International Education Consultancy (CEC) and a Culture Division.
4. Training tasks
Overcoming huge difficulties and challenges in the early days of its establishment, Ho Chi Minh City Campus has gained a strong foothold in the higher education system in the economic sector in the southern region. Currently, Ho Chi Minh City Campus is training approximately 8,000 students from undergraduate to PhD levels.
In addition to training in Ho Chi Minh City area, Ho Chi Minh City Campus is also expanding its joint-training programs to provide better human resources in southern provinces including Binh Duong, Can Tho, Dong Nai, Ba Ria – Vung Tau and Binh Thuan.
Since its establishment, Ho Chi Minh City Campus has evolved from single-sector training institution to a multi-sector training one with many specialized majors at different levels.
Undergraduate level for Advanced Diploma:
– Business Administration and Management: Specialized in International Business Administration.
Undergraduate level for Bachelor Degree
– Economics: Specialized in Foreign Economics
– Business Administration and Management: Specialized in International Business Administration; International Business Law, Accounting.
– Finance – Banking: Specialized in International Finance.
– English: Specialized in Business English
Post-graduate level:
– Banking – Finance;
– Business administration;
– Commerce.
5. International co-operation
Recognizing the importance of international cooperation for the development of educational activities at the university level, Ho Chi Minh City Campus has established international relations and implemented cooperation activities with foreign universities to enhance training and scientific research capabilities. Ho Chi Minh City Campus has carried out careful research on documents and guidelines for international cooperation activities to act in accordance with the reality, namely to promote training cooperation with foreign institutions, implement overseas training programs for students, etc.. The international co-operation has been carried out in accordance with the state regulations
The effectiveness of international cooperation activities in training is reflected through the cooperation training programs. As of the year 2012, Ho Chi Minh City Campus has conducted seven joint-training programs in total, consisting of two undergraduate training programs and five graduate ones. Specifically, the Bachelor of Business (with the University of Bedfordshire, United Kingdom), Bachelor of Finance Management and Services (with Neils Brock School of Business, Denmark), Master of Business Administration (with MeiHo University, and ShuTe University, Taiwan), Master of Finance (with the University of Rennes 1, France), Master of International Business (with Latrobe University, Australia), Master of Finance and International Shipping (with the University of Nantes, France) and more. The joint training programs of Campus II are popular among students who appreciate highly the effectiveness of teaching, learning environment, facilities and career opportunities after graduation. All training programs are officially-permitted by the Ministry of Education and Training.
Ho Chi Minh City Campus has also issued numerous policies and incentives to encourage its staffs and lecturers to participate in international co-operation training programs for deeper insights in their professions.
6. Library, learning equipment
Ho Chi Minh City Campus has been equipped with good facilities, a library, and adequate studying resources that can meet the requirements for training and scientific research of lecturers and students. All library staffs underwent professional training and provide satisfactory services to readers. The library has a good organizational structure, scientific and disciplined working methods with innovations, improvement and development for ever-increasing demands of better services.. The library has also been installed an electronic studying and reference resource system, which has helped readers be more convenient and efficient in searching for information. The Board of Directors of Ho Chi Minh City Campus has put in great focuses on improving the quality and quantity of references, especially foreign materials.
For the past few years, Ho Chi Minh City Campus has invested in equipping and upgrading classrooms, lecture halls, laboratories and experimental facilities to serve learning and teaching purposes. The layout and efficiency classrooms have been significantly improved. Hitherto, the current facilities have met the requirements of ongoing training activities.
Lecturers have been provided sufficient means to aid their teaching and studying. Students are better supported with presentations and group discussions, which gives them passion for learning and scientific research. The number of classrooms, lecture halls, practice rooms satisfy basic needs of formal teaching and learning hours. Computers are well -connected to broadband Internet and Intranet. The library for the international cooperation programs has also come into use to serve the entire staffs, lecturers and students of these programs. With more than twenty modern computer systems permanently connected to the Internet and diverse database, the library has able to host the needs of learners of the programs. In addition, the library is also equipped with specialized titles and up-to-date printed books in various languages published by trusted sources: Cengage, Longman, Pearson, Cambridge, Oxford, etc… for both language and professional research purposes.
7. Employment after graduation
Thanks to its positive and valuable contributions in the education and training in the past 20 years, Ho Chi Minh City Campus was honored to receive one Certificate of Merit by the Prime Minister and one by the Minister of Education & Training for its outstanding achievements and the title of “Excellent Organization” ” for many consecutive years.
In recent years, Ho Chi Minh City Campus has trained an average of 600-700 bachelor degree holder a year. Statistically, 100% of HCM City Campus students gain employment after graduation, among which90% are working in the trained fields. The majority of students have been recruited to work for leading state-owned businesses and government agencies such as the HCMC Department of Industry and Commerce, HCMC Department of City Planning and Investment. HCMC Institute for Research and Development, HCMC Customs Bureau; businesses and agencies in many southern provinces; companies and transnational corporations such as Unilever, Proctor & Gamble, APL, Maersk, Prudential, KPMG and so on.
Continuing the past achievements, all the staffs and lecturers of Ho Chi Minh City Campus will continue to try to overcome all challenges, uphold the spirit of solidarity and common effort to push Ho Chi Minh City Campus to new heights of successes, to become a central training institution of high quality human resources in the field of economics and international business for the south of Vietnam