HCM CITY The Department of Education and Training in HCM City has asked the business community to create more practical opportunities for students, including internships at their companies.
Pham Ngoc Thanh, the department s deputy head, said his staff would be meeting with business leaders to seek solutions, particularly for vocational school students.
Nguyen Thi Cam Van, a former student at South Sai Gon Technical and Professional School, said that most students were worried about finding internships related to their field of study.
Ton Nu Boi Ngoc, a former student at HCM City Economics College, said that keeping an eye on the foreign currency rate was her main job during her internship at a bank.
"This did not relate to my business administration study," she said.
Truong Thi Thuy Trang, a student at Van Tuong Technical and Economics School, said companies often offer internships that are unrelated to their studies.
She was at a loss when she was asked to work on accounting balance sheets and tax reports, she said.
A lecturer at a vocational school said some students who had studied mechanics were asked to clean machines only during their internships.
Many companies do not want to share their technology or records, he said.
Some students, however, do find useful internships.
Nguyen Ngoc Thao, a former student of HCM City Pedagogy University, said she was fortunate to intern at an English newspaper in the city, which helped her translation skills.
An official of Sao Viet Auditing Co.Ltd said it welcomed students for internships and assigned its staff members as mentors. VNS