[b&company] survey of it industry and japanese language used in it companies in vietnam

FINAL REPORT

October 2011

SURVEY OF IT INDUSTRY

AND JAPANESE LANGUAGE

USED IN IT COMPANIES

IN VIETNAM Higher Education Development Support Program

on ICT (HEDSPI)

B&Company Vietnam Co., Ltd

SURVEY OF IT MARKET AND JAPANESE USED IN IT COMPANIES IN VIETNAM 2011

COPYRIGHTS

The “IT industry and Japanese language used in IT companies in Vietnam” survey was

held by the technical team of Higher Education Development Support Program on ICT

(HEDSPI), conducted by B&Company Vietnam Co., Ltd.

This report and all materials directly related to it are properties of Japan International

Cooperation Agency (JICA). All rights reserved.

B&Company Vietnam Co., Ltd is a Japan origin, market research and business management consultancy agency. For

further information, please visit www.b-company.jp

http://www.b-company.jp/


Copyright © JICA. All rights reserved. 1

SURVEY INTRODUCTION

1. Name and purpose

Named as “IT industry and Japanese language used in IT companies in Vietnam”, the

survey aims to improve syllabus and teaching materials of HEDSPI’s project,

strengthen IT employees’ ability in order to best fit to enterprises’ requirements.

2. Survey content

The survey includes:

(1) A desk research on IT industry and human resources in Vietnam

(2) A field research conducted in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh city – the 2 biggest cities of

Vietnam. The field research covers interviews with 10 major universities offering IT

courses and questionnaires answered by 52 Japan-related IT companies and their IT

employees who understand Japanese of at least N5 level.

The concept of “Japan-related IT companies” refers to IT companies which have

investment from Japan or relationship with Japanese clients.

3. Duration

The survey was conducted from June 2011 to September 2011.

4. Desk research

The desk research uses a variety of documents released by Vietnamese & international

trustworthy organizations. Details on the names of the organization can be found in the

report. Unless otherwise indicated, all years mentioned in desk research are calendar

years.

5. Field research

The field research was conducted with the following characteristics:

(1) All the interviews with universities were face-to-face. Meanwhile, most of

interviews with companies were conducted face-to-face or via email. Phone interviews

were also implemented, if interviewees desired.

(2) The university interviews were conducted among leaders of the universities,

especially the Heads of IT faculties. The survey on companies was targeted to people at

management level or in HR department of the companies. Employees interviewed are



those who work on IT positions and understand Japanese at a certain level (at least N5).

(3) Duration of each interview depends on what kind of questionnaire being used,

ranging from 10 to 30 minutes. There are an interview content for universities and 2

types of questionnaires for companies and IT employees. Details of the interview

content and questionnaires can be found in the Appendix.

(4) There are 3 types of questions being used in the questionnaires:

MA (Multi-choice Answered question): Interviewees can choose more than one

answer from the list of answers.

SA (Single-choice Answered question): Interviewees can choose only one answer

from the list.

FA (Free Answered question): Interviewees can give their own answer.

(5) Answers to questions were input to a database, analyzed and reported by

B&Company Vietnam Co., Ltd.



REPORT STRUCTURE

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ........................................................................................ 6

CHAPTER 1 – IT INDUSTRY AND HUMAN RESOURCES IN VIETNAM ........ 7

1.1. Overviewon IT industryin Vietnam ....................................................................... 7

1.1.1. Hardware industry ........................................................................................................... 8

1.1.2. Software industry ........................................................................................................... 11

1.1.3. Digital content industry ................................................................................................. 14

1.2. Foreign direct investment in IT industry ............................................................ 15

1.3. IT application in Vietnam .................................................................................... 17

1.3.1. IT application in the government sector ....................................................................... 17

1.3.2. IT application among companies .................................................................................. 18

1.3.3. IT application in households .......................................................................................... 19

1.4. Vietnam policies on IT sector ............................................................................... 20

1.4.1. IT industry development related policies ..................................................................... 21

1.4.2. IT application related policies ....................................................................................... 23

1.4.3. IT companies related policies ........................................................................................ 24

1.4.4. IT human resources related policies ............................................................................. 26

1.5. Human resources development in IT sector ....................................................... 28

1.5.1. IT human resources in Vietnam .................................................................................... 28

1.5.2. IT human resources development–a view from education system ............................. 29

LIST OF REFERENCES ............................................................................................ 35

CHAPTER 2 – IT TRAINING ACTIVITIES IN SOME MAJOR UNIVERSITIES

........................................................................................................................................ 37

2.1. University profile ................................................................................................... 37

2.2.IT education and training ...................................................................................... 39

2.2.1. Students and teachers ..................................................................................................... 39

2.2.2. Education standards ....................................................................................................... 40

2.2.3. IT majors ......................................................................................................................... 40

2.3. Infrastructure ........................................................................................................ 61



2.4. Cooperation and research .................................................................................... 63

2.5. About ITSS and HEDSPI ..................................................................................... 65

2.5.1. About ITSS and FE ........................................................................................................ 65

2.5.2. About HEDSPI ............................................................................................................... 66

CHAPTER 3 - JAPANESE LANGUAGE USED IN IT COMPANIES ................ 67

3.1. Companies ............................................................................................................. 67

3.1.1. Business fields ................................................................................................................. 69

3.1.2. Employment size ............................................................................................................ 70

3.1.3. Japanese language ability of IT employees .................................................................. 71

3.2. IT employees .......................................................................................................... 72

3.2.1. Employee profile ............................................................................................................ 72

3.2.2. Japanese learning history .............................................................................................. 74

3.2.3. Japanese usage of IT employees ................................................................................... 75

3.2.4. Japanese and English comparison ................................................................................ 84

3.2.5. Katakana usage .............................................................................................................. 85

3.2.6. Japanese development after joining Japanese companies .......................................... 89

3.2.7. Japanese usage besides work ........................................................................................ 92

3.2.8. Comparison of the being taught and using Japanese ................................................. 93

CHAPTER 4– CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ........................... 95

4.1. Situation of IT education and Japanese usage in IT companies in Vietnam ... 95

4.1.1. IT industry and IT human resources of Vietnam ....................................................... 95

4.1.2. Requirement of Japanese language at work ................................................................ 96

4.1.3. Situation of IT and Japanese education in Vietnam ................................................... 97

4.2. Japanese speaking IT human resources related issues ...................................... 97

4.2.1. Japanese learning agencies ............................................................................................ 97

4.2.2. Curriculums of Japanese training agencies ................................................................. 97

4.2.3. Necessity of different solutions for each Japanese level learner ................................ 98

4.3. Recommendations ................................................................................................. 98

4.3.1. For Japan-related companies ........................................................................................ 98

4.3.2. For Japanese education ................................................................................................. 99

4.3.3. For Japanese learners .................................................................................................... 99



CHAPTER 5 – APPENDIX ....................................................................................... 101

5.1. Questionnaires ..................................................................................................... 101

5.1.1. Questionnaire for companies ....................................................................................... 101

5.1.2. Questionnaire for employees ....................................................................................... 103

5.1.3. Questionnaire for universities ..................................................................................... 110

5.2. List of interviewed Companies and Universities .............................................. 115

5.2.1. Companies ..................................................................................................................... 115

5.2.2. Universities .................................................................................................................... 119



LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

No. Abbreviations Meanings

1. BPO Business Process Outsourcing

2 EGDI E-government Development Index

3. FDI Foreign Direct Investment

4. GDP Gross Domestic Product

5. GSO General Statistics Office of Vietnam

6. HCA Ho Chi Minh City Computer Association

7. ICT Information and Communications Technology

8. IT Information Technology

9. MIC Ministry of Information and Communications of Vietnam

10. MOET Ministry of Education and Training of Vietnam

11. MOF Ministry of Finance of Vietnam

12. MPI Ministry of Planning and Investment of Vietnam

13. ODA Official Development Assistance

14. UN United Nations

15. US United States



CHAPTER 1 – IT INDUSTRY AND HUMAN RESOURCES IN VIETNAM

1.1. Overview on IT industry in Vietnam

The Vietnam IT sector has been moving forward continuously, emerging as a leading

economic sector of the economy and contributing toward the growth of the country. IT

industry has been also considered to play an important role in the Vietnam’s strategy to

develop the national economy in the era of high technology.

Moreover, Vietnam is facing a risk of falling into the average-income trap1, as it was

seriously alarmed by many economic experts. The country is showing much concern on

finding a sustainable development strategy for the whole economy with focuses on

high-value-added industries like IT. In other words, IT industry is expected to be the

key for Vietnam to avoid the trap.

Aware of the necessity of IT industry in the development, Vietnamese government has

been more determined to promote the growth of this important sector. This

determination has been clearly shown for the last more than 10 years with the issue of

many directions, legal documents, decrees and projects involved with IT. Many

incentives have been given to enterprises in IT industry. Besides, the project to turn

Vietnam into a magnificent nation in ICT the period 2015 – 2020 is a clear evidence for

this determination.

1 An average – income trap occurs when the economy of a country reaches a threshold which it cannot

pass because of its reliance on natural resources and other limited economic advantages. The growth

based on FDI, ODA, natural resources, large investment projects, securities and realty is not sustainable

for the long term, which must rely on value created by people. (Source: Prof. Kenichi Ohno, National

Graduate Institute for Policy Studies, presentation at the Vietnam Business Summit, held in Hanoi,

Vietnam on May 3rd

2011).



Although receiving bad influences from global financial crisis, Vietnam IT industry

still kept high growth rate. The revenue growth rate dropped to 18% in 2009, down

from 20% the previous year, but rose up to about 24% in 2010.

There was no big change in the proportions of sub-industries in IT since 2008, except a

small decline in the proportion of hardware against a slight increase in the proportion of

digital content.

IT revenue by sub-industries IT industry revenue growth rate

1.1.1. Hardware industry

The total revenue of Vietnam hardware industry increased steadily year by year and

reached 5.6 billion USD in 2010. Nonetheless, its growth rate fluctuated remarkably.

The growth of hardware industry was at a high rate of 58.7% in 2006, then sharply fell

to about 18% in the following year. After some other ups and downs since then, the

hardware revenue grew nearly 22% in 2010.

Unit: %

100% = 5,220 6,167

79 75 74

13 14 14

8 11 12

2008 2009 2010

7,629 Billion USD

Digital content

Software

Hardware

Unit: %

20.018.1

23.7

2008 2009 2010

Source: White Book on Vietnam ICT 2009, 2010, 2011, MIC.



Source: White Book on Vietnam ICT 2010, 2011, MIC.

* Vietnam IT Outsourcing 2007, Department of Information Technology , MIC.

However, the main activity of Vietnam hardware industry is still the assembly of

products, relying on imported articles and components. These activities brings low

added value to the Vietnam economy.

The export turnover of computers, digital products and components increased steadily

from 2006 to 2010 in spite of hardships caused by the global economic crisis.

Meanwhile, the import turnover still outnumbered the export since 2006. It can be

estimated from the figures that the export and import imbalance shows no sign to change

in 2011 and the gap seems to get larger and larger.

Source: GSO, Vietnam Customs

*Estimated (from a calculation of doubling the figure of the first 6 months of 2011)

2.543.00

4.104.63

5.6358.7

18.1

36.7

12.9

21.7

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

0.00

1.00

2.00

3.00

4.00

5.00

6.00

2006* 2007* 2008 2009 2010

Revenue Growth rate

1.812.17

2.64 2.763.53 3.32

1.87

2.963.71 3.95

5.135.46

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011*

Unit: Billion USD Unit: %

Unit: Billion USD

Export and Import of computers, digital products and components

(from 2006 to 2011)

Import

Export

Revenue and growth rate of Vietnam hardware industry 2006 - 2010



It can be seen from the following charts that China, Korea and Japan were the main

exporters of computers, digital products and components to Vietnam, while the

countries imported much less than what they exported from Vietnam. In contrast,

Vietnam exported the products to US much more than importing from this country.

Source: Vietnam Customs

During the first half of 2011, China was Vietnam’s biggest business partner in both

import and export of computers, digital products and components. China ranks the first

among exporters of the products to Vietnam, with 892.3 million USD and, followed by

Korea with 685.3 million USD and Japan with 435.8 million USD.

In the meantime, Vietnam’s export turnover to these countries was far lower than that

of import. Whereas Vietnam has exported 264 million USD to China, Japan only

imported 174.8 million USD of computers, digital products and components from

Vietnam. Especially, United States ranked the second in Vietnam’s export markets of

computers, digital products and components with 234.8 million USD although Vietnam

imported few computers or digital products from this country.

35.8

41.6

60.3

71.4

89.4

137.1

174.9

435.8

685.3

892.3

Indonesia

Philippines

US

Thailand

Singapore

Taiwan

Malaysia

Japan

Korea

China

46.6

47.2

51.7

74.8

112.3

122.6

141.3

174.8

234.8

264.0

Korea

Arab

Mexico

Thailand

Singapore

Dutch

Hongkong

Japan

US

China

Unit: Million USD

Import of computers, digital products

and components by countries

(6 month period of 2011)

Export of computers, digital products

and components by countries

(6 month period of 2011)



1.1.2. Software industry

There was an upward trend in the revenue of Vietnam software industry for the past 5

years, making a record of more than 1 billion USD in 2010. The revenue growth rate of

the software industry showed a remarkable performance, reaching the peak at 48% in

2008 with 680 million USD. However, as the widespread consequences of the serious

global crisis, the software industry also suffered a considerable decline in the growth

rate during the 2 following years. The revenue of Vietnam software industry still kept

on an upward tendency, however, at a much lower growth rate than 2008, commonly

25% in 2009 and 2010.

Source: Vietnam Software and IT services Association.

*Forecasted

Vietnam’s software export has been rising steadily for the last decade. During the

period 2008 – 2010, the turnover of software export increased slightly, from 131

million USD in 2008 to 155 million USD in 2010.

325458

680

850

1064

30

4148

25 25

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010*

Revenue (million USD) Growth rate

131 130 155

2008 2009 2010

Revenue and growth rate of Vietnam’s software industry

Unit: Million USD Unit: %

Vietnam’s export of software 2008 -2010

Unit: Million USD

Source: HCA



Moreover, Vietnam off-shoring industry has been highly evaluated for the past years.

As stated in A.T.Kearney Global Services Location Index (GSLI) 2011, Vietnam rose

to 5.69 points and became the eighth country most appealing to the outsourcing in the

world.(A.T.Kearney, Inc is a globally prestigious 85 year-old management consulting

firm with its locations in 38 countries worldwide.)

Established in 2004, the GSLI analyzes and ranks 50 countries worldwide as the best

destinations for providing outsourcing activities, including IT services and support,

contact centers and back-office support. A.T.Kearney GSLI is designed as a tool to

understand and compare factors that make countries attractive for IT, BPO and other

business services. The Index measures the viability of countries as offshore destinations

based on their financial costs, people skills and availability, and business environment.

Especially, A.T.Kearney’s assessment of Vietnam’s financial attractiveness is really

impressive. Financial attractiveness is made up by 3 components including

compensation costs, infrastructure costs and tax and regulatory costs. Vietnam was the

leading location with 3.27 points, surpassing China, the second country with 2.62

points or Malaysia, ranked the third with 2.78 points. The business environment was

also reliable and captivating with 1.24 points. Nevertheless, Vietnam’s people skills

and availability was low and only got 1.19 points.

Source: The 2011 A.T.Kearney Global Services Location Index, A.T.Kearney Inc

Note: The weight distribution for the three categories is 40:30:30. Financial attractiveness is rated on a

scale of 0 to 4, and the categories for people skills and availability, and business environment are on a

scale of 0 to 3.

From 2005 to 2011 the score has seen the dramatic rise of Vietnam in A.T.Kearney’s

standings, implying that Vietnam is becoming a more attractive outsourcing provider of

the world.

Country Financial

attractiveness

People skills

and

availability

Business

environment

Total score Rank

India 3.11 2.76 1.14 7.01 1

China 2.62 2.55 1.31 6.49 2

Malaysia 2.78 1.38 1.83 5.99 3

Egypt 3.10 1.36 1.35 5.81 4

Indonesia 3.24 1.53 1.01 5.78 5

Mexico 2.68 1.60 1.44 5.72 6

Thailand 3.05 1.38 1.29 5.72 7

Vietnam 3.27 1.19 1.24 5.69 8

Philippines 3.18 1.31 1.16 5.65 9

Chile 2.44 1.27 1.82 5.52 10

The 2011 A.T.Kearney Global Services Location Index



Source: The 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011 A.T.Kearney Global Services Location Index, A.T.KearneyInc

Moreover, the low cost is a great advantage of Vietnam. According to Payscale, a

market leader in global online compensation data with the world's largest database of

individual employee compensation profiles, a software engineer in Vietnam can earn

just 17 percent of his counterpart in the US. The salary of the Vietnamese engineer was

slightly lower than that of a Malaysian or Chinese, and much cheaper than that of

Singaporean. However, software engineer salary in Vietnam was still higher than that

of India, Philippines and Indonesia.

Source: PayScale, Sourcing Line, February 2010

5.005.50 5.47 5.69

2005 2007 2009 2011

8.3

9.5

11

17

18.5

20.6

21.6

47

100

Indonesia

Phillipines

India

Vietnam

Thailand

China

Malaysia

Singapore

US

Index

Vietnam’s score rankings in

Global Services Location Index

26/50

17/50

10/50 8/50

Rank

Salary comparison of software engineers in different countries

(compared with US)

Unit: %



1.1.3. Digital content industry

The digital content industry in Vietnam has been developing remarkably. Between

2008 and 2010, the revenue of Vietnam digital content industry rose by twice, from 440

million to 934 million USD.

Source: White Book on Vietnam ICT 2010, 2011, MIC.

The digital content industry has been expanding rapidly for the last few years. Its fields

have been also branched off and specialized clearly. Electronic newspapers are no

longer dominant in the digital content industry. Games online and services for mobile

users have been growing incredibly.

440

690

934

2008 2009 2010

Revenue of digital content industry

Unit: Million USD



649

142

306

306

359

487

594

670

766

1,053

7,631

Others

Education and Training

Transport and Storage

Accommodation and catering

Real estate business activities

Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery

Wholesale, Retail and Repairing

ICT

Construction

Specialized Contracts

Manufacturing

17,597

346

3,217

11,803

46,431

3,171

1,821

4,841

11,917

795

99,891

1.2. Foreign direct investment in IT industry

With 670 projects, Vietnam ICT industry ranked the fourth in the number of FDI projects

licensed in Vietnam by August 2011. This figure also shows the potential and attraction of

Vietnam ICT industry. The amount of registered capital of valid FDI projects by the same

time was at remarkable number of about 4.8 billion USD.

Registered capital of valid FDI projects

(by August 20, 2011)

Number of FDI projects licensed in ICT

(by August 20, 2011)

Unit: Million USD Unit: Projects

Source: Foreign Investment Agency, MPI.



In the aspect of the average capital of valid FDI projects in Vietnam, ICT fell to the

sixth with about 7.23 million USD per project. It was far left by that in real estate

and business activities, the first at 129.34 million USD or manufacturing, the fourth

at 13.09 million USD.

The number of new FDI projects licensed has showed a downward trend for the last few

years, falling from 94 projects in 2008 to 55 projects in 2010. Accordingly, the new

registered FDI capital has sharply decreased from 2.4 billion USD to 71.5 million USD over

the years. By August 20th, 2011, with 27 new projects and 26 million USD of capital, the

situation has no sign of recovery in this year. It can be said that the decline implies bad

influences of the world economic slowdown. However, Vietnam with 4.8 billion USD

registered capital in the valid FDI projects on ICT, still has plenty of FDI capital for the

industry.

27.00

0.75

2.43

3.07

6.51

7.23

10.51

13.09

15.56

38.57

129.34

Others

Specialized Contracts

Training and Education

Wholesale, Retail and Services

Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing

ICT

Transport, Storage

Manufacturing

Construction

Accommodation and catering

Real estate business activities

2438.2

67.6 71.5

25.91

9.3

25.5

0.9

3.65

2008 2009 2010 by 20th, Aug

2011

16 177 4

94

6355

27

2008 2009 2010 by 20th, Aug 2011

Registered capital of FDI projects in

ICT (2008 – August 2011)

Number of yearly FDI projects

licensed in ICT 2008 – August 2011

Average registered capital of valid FDI projects in Vietnam by industries

(up to August 20, 2011)

Unit: Million USD

Unit: Projects

New FDI capital

Unit: Million USD

Supplementary

FDI capital

New projects

Supplemented projects





1.3. IT application in Vietnam

1.3.1. IT application in the government sector

According to E-government survey held by UN in 2010, Vietnam ranked the 90th

among 192 countries of the world, and the 6th

of 11 countries in Southeast Asia in the

E-government development index. The country has been successful in its determination

to apply IT but the progress of E-government application was slow and still limited by

many drawbacks related to awareness, communication fees and a shortage of human

resources.

E-government development Index* in South-East Asia (2010)

Source: E-Government survey 2010, UN

*E-government development index (EGDI) is a weighted average of the most important factors which

are online service Index, Telecommunication Index and Human Capital Index with the following weights

respectively: 0.34, 0.33 and 0.33. The maximum value is one and the minimum is zero.

EGDI = (0.34 x Online service Index) + (0.33 x Telecommunication Index) + (0.33 x Human Capital Index)

Vietnam E-government ranking (2004-2010)

Source: E-Government survey 2010, UN; Report on the Application of Information Technology 2010, MIC.

0.44

0.43

0.23

0.26

0.28

0.29

0.40

0.45

0.46

0.47

0.48

0.61

0.75

World average

Sub-regional average

Timor-Leste

Laos

Myanmar

Cambodia

Indonesia

Vietnam

Philippines

Thailand

Brunei Darussalam

Malaysia

Singapore

98112 105

91 90

2003 2004 2005 2008 2010



Vietnam E-government is also reflected by the Internet usage in ministries. However,

governmental organizations use the Internet mainly for E-mailing or uploading

information and guidelines about regulations, policies strategies or plans into the

Internet. Other functions are mostly unpopular.

In 2005, the Vietnamese government decided to carry out Project 112 which was

considered to be a milestone for the development of E-government in Vietnam. Project

112 focused on internal administration, almost ministries and national department and

64 provincial governments developed their websites linked to the government portal

(www.chinhphu.vn/portal). Particularly, its objectives were to have the State

administrative management computerized, integrate national information database,

train the State officials and provide online services and procedures to the public.

However, the project failed to carry out its proclaimed missions and was strictly

criticized for its wastefulness and weaknesses in implementing and management. In

2007, the Government discontinued Project 112 and since then, there has been no such

big project to carry out for the e-government development.

Besides the lack of a comprehensive and strategic plan, Vietnam E-government has

been also facing many difficulties such as the severe gap in IT infrastructure between

urban and rural area, the low proportion of Internet users among the population and the

shortage of well-trained government officials.

1.3.2. IT application among companies

According to a Report on the Application of Information Technology carried out by

MIC in 2010 on 1200 enterprises, it is revealed that the average number of computers

per company was 12, increased 20% comparing with 2009.

Internet usage purposes of companies kept remaining as searching, information

exchange which accounted for 92% and 87% respectively of all the surveyed

companies. Few companies used the Internet for more advanced application, such as

order management or online shopping.

Purposes of Internet usage in enterprise in 2010

Source: Report on the Application of Information Technology 2010, MIC

100%=1,200 companies

3.8

10.8

12.9

87.1

92.0

Online shopping

Order management

Advertising and marketing

Information exchange

Searching

http://www.chinhphu.vn/portal



E-mail and accounting were still the most popular software applications among

companies while software for salary and human resources management or product

management remained unpopular.

Purposes of software applications in enterprises (2010)

1.3.3. IT application in households

The percentage of Internet users among Vietnamese population has increased gradually

since 2004 and reached up to over 30% of the population in 2010.

Percentage of Internet users among total population

However, there are only a small proportion of Vietnamese households owning

computer. Even though the figures had been improved remarkably over the years, it

could reach 15% in 2010.

Percentage of households with computers

0.5

0.6

0.7

1.4

1.5

1.5

8.6

73.8

91.6

95.3

Supply chain management

Corporate management

Provider management

Customer relationship management

Dispatch management, storage software

Product management

Salary & HR management

Accounting

E-mail

Office software

7.6912.9

17.67 21.05 24.4 26.55 31.11

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

5.17.7

10.413.6 14.8

2004 2006 2008 2009 2010

100%=1,200 companies

Unit: %

Unit: %

Source: Report on the Application of Information Technology 2010, MIC.





In 2010, The Directorate for IT Application Promotion of MIC surveyed 603 people at

the age from 18 to 36 in the 2 biggest cities of Vietnam - Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh.

According to the survey results, almost all Vietnamese surveyed used the Internet for

reading news, e-mailing, or searching and downloading documents. Other main

activities were for relaxing purposes such as watching videos or photos, joining social

networks or forums. Whereas, other online services such as online shopping, online

banking remained unpopular in Vietnam.

Purposes of daily using Internet (2010)

100%= 603 people


1.4. Vietnam policies on IT sector

Considering the IT industry as one of the main industries in the national economy,

Vietnam promulgated a number of regulations, decrees and plans relating to IT for the

purpose of promoting the newly-born industry. All of them were published in order to

help the industry develop properly according to the Ministry of Information and

Communication’s plan.

On October 6th

2005, Vietnam issued the Decision 246/2005/QĐ-TTg, “Strategy for

ICT development of Vietnam till 2010 and orientations towards 2020”. The strategy

acted to basically formulate goals, ways and contents of the ICT development until

2020. The document emphasized the development of ICT application, industry,

infrastructure and human resources as the strategic contents for the development of ICT

in Vietnam. The law documents involved with IT afterwards either reinforced these

factors or gave more details of each factor.

5

8

10

13

21

30

35

52

60

74

89

95

Online payment, banking transactions

Online shopping

Game

Searching for job

Reading/writing E-diary (Blog)

Accessing retail website to search for sale

Joining in online forums

Joining in social networks

Watching videos or pictures

Searching and downloading documents

E-mail

Reading news



Besides, the publication of Law on Information Technology by the National Assembly

on July 12th

2006 with six chapters helped to build the legal frame for the activities

involved with IT. The Law dealt with IT application, IT development, disputes and

violations.

In the instruction “The taking-off strategy of the period 2011 - 2020” of July 7th

2007,

two main guidelines as following were put a strong emphasis on:

- Taking the development of the IT human resources with the high academic

standards as a breaking-through phase.

- Expanding stably into the regional and global market based on the rapid

development of the domestic market.

On the basis of these initial guidelines, the law documents continued to give more

details.

1.4.1. IT industry development related policies

Up to now, Vietnam has issued a range of legal documents for the purpose of making

good conditions for the promising IT industry which is as followed:

2

2 Draft 2.8 was made public for opinions from November 1st 2010 to November 12th 2010 by MIC. The

draft caught on many comments and there have been no supplementary law documents for the draft up to

the time of this report.

Allocating the national budget of 2,300 billion VND from 2011 to

2015 for projects of Vietnam IT industry development. The main

projects include a project of providing low-priced computers for

authorities in remote and difficult areas, teachers, students and

rural households (880 billions); a project of developing MIC’s IT

focus areas in Bac Ninh (450 billions); a project of establishing the

center of human resources development for Vietnam’s IT industry

(100 billion); a project of establishing the center to impulse the

open source software in Vietnam (95 billions); a project of

establishing the center to promote IT services in Vietnam (80

billions); a project of building the national brand of Vietnam IT

industry (50 billions); a project of standardizing the highly

qualified human resources in IT industry to meet the industrial

production requirements (47 billions); and a project of establishing

the information center about Vietnam IT industry.

1. Draft

2.8 by

MIC on

November

1st 2010

2

National program developing information technology till 2015 and

orientations to 2020



2.Decision

No.1755/

QĐ-TTg

by Prime

Minister

on

September

22nd

2010

Approval of the project “Making Vietnam become a magnificent

nation in information and communication technology”

By 2015:

- Vietnamese enterprises are able to design and produce

devices in replace of imported parts, manage to make Vietnam

branded hardware; developing IT corporations to meet

ASEAN standards, some of them have their revenue of over

10 billion USD.

- Vietnam becomes one of the leading 15 nations in

providing services of making software and digital contents.

By 2020:

- Founding organizations focusing on researching and

inventing high-tech new products; many Vietnamese

enterprises attain world standard, the revenue of some

enterprises reaches over 15 billion USD.

- Vietnam falls in the group of 10 nations leading in

managing software and digital content.

3. Decision

No.50/200

9/QÐ-TTg

by Prime

Minister

on April

3rd

2009

Management regulations on projects of software industry

development and projects of digital content industry in Vietnam

By 2012, the government will spend 980 billion VND on 18

content groups of the Program which include:

- Surveying on IT (20 billions)

- Improving the government’s management on IT (75.6

billions)

- Supporting powerful enterprises in software and digital

content industries (30 billions)

- Fund of software and digital content development (40

billions)

- Founding fund of HR development for software and digital

content industry (40 billions)

- Supporting enterprises to follow CMMI standards (60

billions)

Organizing short training courses for enterprises (30 billions).

4. Directive

No. 5/2008/

CT-BTTTT

by MIC on

July 8th 2008

Promoting the development of information technology industry in

Vietnam

MIC assigns the respective tasks of attaining the goals of IT

development set by the Government and Prime Minister to the

departments under MIC, IT enterprise associations.



It is obvious that the policies have shown positive changes. The systematic law

documents were issued reasonably chronologically. The responsibilities have been

given to the authorities. Despite a bit of lack of clarity, the directives provide more

expectation to the development of Vietnam’s IT industry.

1.4.2. IT application related policies

3

3According to MOF, there are four levels of public services applied to Vietnam E-government are as following:

Level 1: Full information of procedures and necessary documents

Level 2: Downloading forms, profiles for printing allowed

Level 3: Filling out and submitting forms and profiles online allowed.

Level 4: Charges payment made online, results sent and received by post or through the Internet.

1. Decree

No.43/201

1 NĐ-CP

by Prime

Minister

on June

13th

2011

- Differentiating the levels of the quality of public services

providing information

- Legal requirements of a public service and government’s

electronic portals

- Giving regulations on providing information, offering public

services and maintaining websites and electronic information

portals

3. Decision

No.1755/

QĐ-TTg by

Prime

Minister on

September

22nd

2010

By 2015:

- Providing the public service online3 to citizens and enterprises

at the level 2 and 3, 80% enterprises and social organizations apply

information technology in management and production.

- Applying information technology economic – social issues

By 2020:

Vietnam’s electronic government ranks good globally. Vietnam

stands in the group of the leading nations in terms of availability of

electronic governments. Main services are supplied online to the

citizens and enterprises at the level 4.

Regulations on supplying information and online services on the

government’s websites and electronic portals

Approval of "The scheme to early make Vietnam a country strong

in information and communication”

2. Circular

No.06/2011/

TT-BTTTT by

MIC on

February 28th

2011

Giving methods of calculating the total value of investment, the

total estimate, cost management in plans of IT application.

Regulations on setting up and managing investment cost in IT

application



The goals set in the documents are, to some extent, clear but the popularization of IT

applications may need more time than expected with Vietnam’s current conditions. The

effort of increasing Vietnam’s ICT power globally requires a lot of more detailed plans

and feasible steps. The optimism of Vietnam’s IT application is the basis of the

attainment of the above goals.

1.4.3. IT companies related policies

Aware of the great role of creating motivation for companies in IT industry, the

government and MIC have launched a range of documents and projects for purposes of

support and promotion. Since the early years of the 21st century, the awareness of

strengthening IT industry has been consistently raised with the issue of the decrees,

regulations and projects backing up the development of IT companies.

4. Decision

No.1073/

QĐ-TTg by

Prime

Minister on

July 12th

2010

By 2015:

- 80% enterprises have their websites

- 70% supermarkets, shopping centers and distributors allow

payments without cash.

- 50% water, electricity, communication providers accept

payments through electronic devices.

1. Draft

2.8 by

MIC on

November

1st 2010

National program developing information technology till 2015 and

orientations to 2020

- In support of firms in building and applying production process,

management according to international standards; favoring key

firms in developing IT.

- Investing preferentially in IT enterprises for magnificent ones;

assisting Vietnam’s powerful companies in taking the role of

general contractor of projects developing IT on state capital;

- Applying the most preferential policies for high technology

development in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh city, Da Nang and 3 hardware

and electronic industrial complex in the North, Central and South.

Approval of the gross project of developing E-commerce from 2011 to

2015



2. Circular

No.96/201

1/TT-BTC

by Ministry

of Finance

on July 4th

2011

Instruction on executing financial policy on developing some

supporting industries

- Materials unavailable in Vietnam and directly used for software

manufacture are exempted from import and export taxes.

3. Decision

No.1755/

QĐ-TTg

by Prime

Minister

on

September

22nd

2010


in information and communication technologies”

- Proposing a favorable legislative environment for domestic firms

to make investment abroad

- Give most advantageous treatment to investment projects in

remote areas

- Building preferential tax policies for companies in information

technology

- Varying the financial sources for the projects in information

technology such as government’s capital, ODA capital, credit capital

-Decreasing or exempting fee of land use for companies in

information technology.

4. Decree

No.124/20

08/NĐ-CP

by Prime

Minister

on

December

11th

2008

Detailed provisions and instructions of executing law of corporate

income tax.

- Applying the tax rate 10% to newly founded enterprises from the

projects in making software products. (since 2005)

- Tax exemption for 4 years and decrease the tax by 50% for the

next 9 years for newly founded enterprises from the projects in

making software products.

- Time for tax exemption is counted consecutively from the first

year the enterprises gain taxable income from the projects. In case

of those not getting taxable income for the first 3 years, since the

first revenue gained from the project, the time for tax decrease or

exemption takes effect since the fourth year.



\

1.4.4. IT human resources related policies

Vietnamese government has launched a variety of legal documents giving general

directions for the development of Vietnamese IT human resources. In general, the

targets in the documents showed little sign of feasibility while practical strategies to

achieve the goals have not been clearly publicized.

5. Circular

No.123/20

04/TT-

BTC by

Ministry of

Finance on

December

22nd

2004

Instructions on implementation of tax incentives for software

enterprises (founded from 2000 - 2005)

- Corporate income tax: Similar to the above but since the

corporate’s day of foundation and business commence.

- VAT: exempt for software products and services consumed in

Vietnam and 0% for software products and services for export.

- Import and export tax: exempt for materials unavailable in

Vietnam and directly used for software manufacture.

6. Circular

No.31/200

1/TT-BTC

by

Ministry of

Finance on

May 21st

2001

Instructions on implementing tax incentives for investment

promotion and software industry development (those founded

before 2000).

- Corporate income tax

+ For foreign invested companies subject to Vietnam’s Law of

investment: 10%

+ For Vietnam’s and foreign enterprises not subject to Vietnam’s

Law of foreign investment): 25%; 20% to those located in the

socially and economically poorly conditioned areas and 15%

located in extremely poorly conditioned areas

+ Tax exemption for software companies: 4 consecutive years

from the time of gaining taxable income.

- VAT and import – export tax: Similar to the regulations in the

Circular No.123/2004/TT-BTC by MOF.



1. Decision

No.1755/

QĐ-TTg

by Prime

Minister

on

September

22nd

2010


in information and communication technologies”

By 2015:

- 30% ICT graduates have enough expertise and foreign language

ability to join the global labor market.

- 100% students and high school pupils are taught with IT.

- 80% elementary pupils are taught with IT.

By 2020:

- The labor power in information technology reaches 1 million.


ability to join the global labor market.

2. Decision

No.698/

QĐ-TTg

by Prime

Minister

on June 1st

2009

Master plan on IT human resources development by 2015 and

orientations towards 2020

By 2015:

- Similar to the goals of the Directive No.1755/QĐ-TTg.

- The expected expenditure for the plan of 2009 - 2015 is 9000

billion VND

By 2020:

- 90% IT lecturers at universities and 70% IT lecturers at colleges

have at least Master’s degree.

- 30% IT lecturers at universities have PhD degree.

3. Decision

No.05/200

7/QĐ-

BTTTT by

MIC on

October

26th

2007

The development plan on Vietnam’s IT human resources by 2020

By 2015:

- 70% lecturers at universities and over 50% lecturers at colleges

have at least Master’s degree.

- Over 50% lecturers at universities and at least 10% lecturers in

colleges have PhD.


ability to join the global labor market

- 250,000 IT employees are available for enterprises, in which 50%

are at least bachelors, 5% get at least Master’s degree.

By 2020:

The rate of ICT graduates able to join the global labor market

increases to 90%.



1.5. Human resources development in IT sector

1.5.1. IT human resources in Vietnam

The number of employees in IT industry increased gradually from 2008 to 2010.

According to the White Books of MIC, in 2010 there were over 250 thousand people,

half of those were working in the hardware industry. The proportion of employees in

the digital content industry rose slightly while that in the software industry remained

unchanged at about 30%.

According to the global services location index of A.T.Kearney, Inc, education and

labor force (both of scale and availability) were not highly evaluated. While the former

only got 0.68 point, the latter was marked at 1.22 points, only better than the two other

Southeast Asian nations, Thailand and Indonesia. It is clear that there have been still a

variety of issues in Vietnam human resources in off-shoring industry.

55 54 51

29 28 29

16 18 20

2008 2009 2010

1.08

1.38

1.77

1.91

1.18

2.61

3.9

4.34

0.68

0.83

0.63

1.72

2.22

2.22

1.22

1.94

1.16

1.24

1.09

1.52

1.33

1.39

0.97

1.22

1.03

1.22

1.1

1.38

1.06

1.25

Vietnam

Philippines

Thailand

Malaysia

Indonesia

Singapore

China

India

Relevant Experience

Size and availability

of labor force

Education

Language capabilities

Digital Content industry

Hardware industry

Software industry

Employees in IT Industry

Source: White Book on ICT 2011, MIC.

100%=200,000

people

226,300 250,290

Source: The 2011A.T.Kearney Global Services Location Index, A.T.Kearney Inc

Quality and availability of the labor force in off-shoring Industry

9.2

8.51

5.54

5.09

4.6

4.59

4.38

3.96

http://www.citehr.com/60426-levels-grades-employees-industry.html

http://www.citehr.com/60426-levels-grades-employees-industry.html



In particular, Vietnamese’s language capabilities score was only 0.97, lower than many

countries in the same region. In the aspect of relevant experience and language

capabilities, Vietnam stood at the bottom compared with the other Asian countries with

1.08 and 0.97 points respectively.

Disadvantages in the workforce are an obstacle for Vietnam IT industry while efforts in

education, training, policy and investment need more time to bring about positive

effects. However, MIC predicts in 2015, the IT domestic companies will demand

411,000 peoples who have the expertise in ICT. Among them, 217,000 people graduate

from universities and colleges, and 194,000 people graduate from vocational schools.

Comparing with the total workforce of about 250 thousand employees in IT industry,

Vietnam apparently have to improve both of the number and quality of its IT

employees to obtain the policy targets mentioned above.

1.5.2. IT human resources development - a view from education system

The IT training system in Vietnam grew in both scale and variety. The number of

universities and colleges* offering IT courses increased gradually from 192 in 2006 to

277 in 2010.

* University and College

The Vietnamese conceptions of „Đại học‟ and „Cao đẳng‟ which are respectively translated as

„University‟ and „College‟ in English refer to 2 different level schools of higher education in Vietnam.

As defined by MOET, college programs which last 3 years are for those with high school or secondary

vocational school certificates. College education can provide students with fundamental knowledge as

well as practical and problem-solving skills for specific careers.

Undergraduate programs normally known as „Đại học‟ take four to six years for those with upper

secondary school or secondary vocational school certificates, and one to two years for those having

completed college programs of the same area. Undergraduate studies provide the student with

consolidated professional knowledge and practical skills for a specific career, and with skills

necessary for identifying and solving problems arisen in the field of studies.

Universities can offer college, undergraduate, master and doctorate programs as assigned by MOET

and students that graduate from undergraduate programs of University are awarded with Bachelor

Degrees. Colleges can offer college programs and other lower level programs and students that

graduates from colleges are awarded with College Diplomas.

Source: Website of MOET (http://en.moet.gov.vn)

http://en.moet.gov.vn/



Along with the increase in the number of training agents, the number of IT enrolment

quotas4 has also increased for some years. In 2010, the total quota of IT student

enrolment rose to more than 60 thousand students, about twofold as many as in 2006

and equivalent to approximately 12% of the total enrolment quota.

As reported in the 2011 Vietnam e-Government Symposium by the Department of

Information Technology, MIC, in 2010 there were over 169,000 students studying ICT

and about 35,000 ICT graduates in Vietnam.

4Quota: It is laid down in the decision 795/QĐ – BGDĐT and 649/QĐ – BGDĐT of MOET on the

regulations of defining enrolment quotas for universities and colleges that the enrolment target will be at

the request of each university and college with permission from the Ministry. The enrolment target is

named “Quota”. The final quota is made based on the two factors including ratio between teachers and

students and usable area per student.

Particularly, to ICT universities and colleges, the ratio of teachers to students must reach a minimum of

1 to 20 and the usable area for a student is at least 2 square meters. The quota will be decided on the

basis of the lower one in the case that one of the two requirements is not met.

Number of ICT

Universities and Colleges

ICT Enrolment quota of

Universities and Colleges

192

219

271 271 277

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

30

40

50

56

60

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Source: White Book on ICT 2011, MIC.

Unit: Colleges/Universities Unit: Thousand students



Besides universities and colleges, there are a number of IT training centers providing IT

courses. As a report of HCA, in 2010 there were roundly 100 IT training centers in

Vietnam, among them, there were 5 IT training centers with the best training quality in

Vietnam.

IT centers ranking training and education

Rank Name of IT center

1 APTECH Vietnam

2 FPT Aptech Training Center

3 FPT Arena

4 NIIT Vietnam

5 IT center of natural sciences HCMC

Source: ICT ranking 2011, HCA

Furthermore, in 2010, there were 82 vocational colleges and 220 vocational centers and

schools training IT technicians.

According to the Global Competitiveness Report, the score of how well the education

system meets the need of the economy rose from 2.6 points in 2008 to 3.8 points in

2010, overcoming Cambodia and Thailand.

Score of how well the education system meets the need of a competitive

economy from 2008 to 2010

Singapore 1

United States 26

Japan 35

India 39

China 53

Vietnam 61

a

China Japan Japan

Thailand 66

a

Vietnam

China Japan Japan

China Japan Japan

Cambodia 82

a

Vietnam

China Japan Japan

China Japan

Japan

6.2 6.26.1

54.8 4.8

4.5 4.5 4.5

4.34.4 4.3

3.83.8

4

2.63.3

3.83.8

3.63.73.7

3.5 3.4

2008 2009 2010

Unit: Score Rank (2010)

Source: The Global Competitiveness Report 2008-2009, 2009-2010, 2010-2011, World Economic Forum



The rate of teaching staff with Master degree and PhD degree has both escalated for the

last 2 years. As the scale of the teaching staff has risen from 69,151 teachers in 2010 to

73,296 in 2011, the proportion of those with Master degree and PhD degree also

reached 41% and 11% respectively. Meanwhile, the rate of those with University

degree showed a downward trend, from 52% in 2009 to just 48% in 2011.

Source: Statistics on Education from 1999 to 2011, MOET

Note: In Vietnam, a school year lasts 9 months and students have a yearly summer holiday. A school

year commences in September and comes to an end in May of the following year. Therefore, a school

year is denoted by 2 continuous years.

52 51 48

38 39 41

10 10 11

2008-2009 2009-2010 2010-2011

100%=60,347 people 69,151

73,296

Degrees of the teaching staff at universities 2008-2011

PhD Degree

Master Degree

University Degree



Investment in education proves to be a good sign of showing the nation’s awareness of

the importance of education. In 2008, Vietnam spent a large sum of money on

education, accounting for about 5.3% of GDP. The others in Asia spent a lower

proportion of GDP on the essential sector, for example, China with 2.8%, Singapore

with 3.2% or Thailand with 4.9%. However, the different scale of these nations’ GDP

considerably alternated the real sum of money spent on education in different countries.

With GDP of 90.3 billion USD in 2008, Vietnam turned out to spend about 4.79 billion

USD on education, only above Philippines in the table with 4.51 billion USD. By

contrast, China appeared to spend about 126.6 billion USD, just following the US with

roundly 786.3 billion USD.

Recently, more and more attention has been paid to the development of the human

resources in IT industry. The quality of labor has been regarded as deciding the future

of Vietnam’ IT industry. However, despite the government’s high determination, this

factor needs more and more attention. The changes of the targets in the IT labor

development show the instability of the government’s guidelines. Besides, the solutions

given in the directives or regulations seem to be in the form of the formal instructions.

The solutions need to be more detailed and effective. But making a detailed plan of

human resources development is of much importance to the whole IT industry from

now on.

In conclusion, Vietnam government takes the issue of developing its IT industry

seriously. This is indicated by the range of policies and law documents supporting the

Proportion of education

expenditure to GDP 2008

GDP 2008 Education expenditure

2008 Unit: Billion USD Unit: Billion USD

Source: The World Bank

2.6

3.5

2.8

3.2

3.2

4.5

4.9

5.3

5.5

Philippines

Indonesia

China

Singapore

India

Malaysia

Thailand

Vietnam

US

Unit: %

Source: A calculation of

B&Company Vietnam Co., Ltd.

173.6

510.2

4522

189.3

1214

221.8

272.6

90.3

14296

4.51

17.86

126.62

6.06

38.85

9.98

13.36

4.79

786.28

Source: Global Education

Digest 2010, UNESCO



new born industry. Short-term and long-term strategies of IT industry development also

showed Vietnam’s ambition and targets. However, the feasibility of these policies is

still under the question. The optimistic view of Vietnam’s information industry is quite

reasonable but the goals of the policies are really difficult to meet with Vietnam’s

current IT conditions while the steps of attaining the goals are still not clear,

impractical and general.



LIST OF REFERENCES

1. A.T.Kearney, Inc: The 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011 A.T.Kearney Global Services

Location Index.

2. General Statistics Office of Vietnam: Statistic database.

3. Ho Chi Minh city Computer Association: Vietnam ICT Out Look 2011; ICT ranking

2011.

4. Ministry of Education and Training: Statistics on Education from 1999 to 2011.

5. Ministry of Information and Communications: Report on the Application of

Information Technology 2010.

6. Ministry of Information and Communications, Department of Information

Technology: Vietnam IT outsourcing 2007.

7. Ministry of Information and Communications: White Book on Vietnam ICT 2009,

2010, 2011.

8. Ministry of Planning and Investment: Foreign Investment Agency: Report on

Foreign Direct Investment 2009, 2011.

9. PayScale: SourcingLine, February 2010.

10. The World Bank: World Bank national accounts data.

11. UNESCO: Global Education Digest 2010, Comparing Education Statistics Around

the World.

12. United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs: E-Government survey

2010.

13. Vietnam Customs: Customs statistic, Vietnam International Merchandise Trade

Statistics (IMTS) 2009, 2010, 2011.

14. Vietnam Software and IT services Association: Statistic database.

15. World Economic Forum: The Global Competitiveness Report 2008-2009, 2009-

2010, 2010-2011, Professor Xavier Sala-i-Martin, Columbia University.



CHAPTER 2 – IT TRAINING ACTIVITIES IN SOME MAJOR UNIVERSITIES

2.1. University profile

The survey was targeted at major universities which offer IT training programs in

Vietnam. Most of universities in Vietnam are located in Hanoi city and Ho Chi Minh

city – the two biggest cities of the country. Therefore, the survey was conducted in ten

large universities in the two cities which are well-known for IT training. The

representative of universities or IT related faculties were interviewed.

University profile

No. University name Establish

ed year

IT related

faculties

Majors

1 University of

Transport and

Communications

(UTC)

1962 - Information

Technology

- Mechanics

- Transport - Business

- Information Technology

- Others

2 Military

Technical

Academy

(MTA)

1981 - Information

Technology

- Mechanical technology

- Electricity - Electronics

- Construction


- Others

3 Hanoi University

of Industry

(HAUI)

2005 - Information

Technology

- International

Cooperation

& Training

- Mechanical Engineering


- Automobile Technology

- Economics

- Others

4 Hanoi University

of Business and

Technology

(HUBT)

1996 - Information

Technology


- Business Administration

- Finance – Banking

- Others

5 FPT University

(FU)

2006

- Finance & Banking

- Business Administration

- Software Engineering

6 Vietnam National

University, HCM

city - HCM city

University of

Technology

(HCMUT)

1974 - Computer

Science and

Engineering

(CSE)



- Electrical-electronics

Engineering

- Others

Public Private



No. University name Establish

ed year

IT related

faculties

Majors

7 Ho Chi Minh

City University

of Industry

(HUI)

2004 - Information

Technology

- Computer

Science and

Engineering

(CSE)

- International

studies


- Electrical Engineering


- Computer Science and

Engineering

- Others

8 Vietnam National

University, HCM

city – University

of Information

Technology

(UIT)

2006 - Computer Science

- Computer Engineering

- Software Engineering

- Computer Network and

Communications

- Information System

9 Ho Chi Minh

City of Foreign

Languages –

Information

Technology

(HUFLIT)

1994 - Information

Technology

- Foreign language


- International Business

Management

- Others

10 Ho Chi Minh

City University

of Technology

(HUTECH)

1995 - Information

Technology


- Business Management

- Electrical – electronics

Engineering

- Others



2.2. IT education and training

2.2.1. Students and teachers

Nowadays, IT is being taught in a variety of universities in Vietnam. Some of them

have IT as the only/main program offered, such as FU, UIT. In general, IT students in

each university participated in the survey vary from 630 to 3,000 people while the

number of IT teachers is from 30 to 250.

University

name

Total

students*

Total IT

students*

Total IT

teachers**

HUBT 26,500 630 60

HUI 20,000 1,000 109

UTC 16,000 800 30

HAUI 15,000 2,312 68

HCMUT 13,500 1,400 50

MTA 10,000 1,100 100

HUTECH 10,000 1,000 78

HUFLIT 9,000 1,200 75

FU 3,200 3,000 250

UIT 3,000 3,000 190

The graph below illustrates the proportion of IT students among all students, and the

ratio of IT students per IT teacher in the surveyed universities. As can be seen, the

percentages of IT students compared to total students of UIT and FU were completely

high, 100% and 94% respectively. This also means that almost no subjects are taught

except for IT. In the mean time, that of other universities was 15% or even lower.

However, in terms of the ratio between IT students and IT lecturers, the leading

university is HUI with 9 students per teacher, followed by MTA and HUBT with 11

students/teacher, and FU with 12 students/teacher. In general, most of the surveyed

universities have a good ratio of IT students to IT teacher.

255

1010111315

94100

HUBT

HUI

UCT

HUTECH

HCMUT

MTA

HUFLIT

HAUI

FU

UIT

119

2713

2811

1634

1216

Unit: %

Proportion of IT students Ratio of IT students to IT lecturer

Unit: Students per IT lecturer

Note: * Approximately given figures

** Including permanent lecturers and visiting teachers.



2.2.2. Education standards

It is obligatory for universities to get their IT training courses meet regulations and

requirements of MOET on subjects, duration, etc. The compulsory subjects are

regulated by MOET. Besides, the universities can apply some foreign education

standards into their courses. While HCMUT, UTC, HUBT and FU follow ACM

(Association for Computing Machinery) standard, MTA and UIT apply AUN (ASEAN

University Network - Quality Assurance).

2.2.3. IT majors

Computer Science, Software Engineering, Information System and Computer Network

& Communications are the most popular IT majors among the universities.

IT majors

UT

C

MT

A***

HA

UI

HU

BT

FU

HC

MU

T

HU

I

UIT

HU

FL

IT

HU

TE

CH

Computer Science 〇〇〇〇〇〇

Computer

Engineering

〇〇〇*

Software

Engineering 〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇〇

Information System 〇〇〇〇〇〇

Computer Network

& Communications 〇〇〇〇

**

〇**

Applied Informatics 〇

*Computer Engineering and embed system

**Computer network

***No further details were provided by the representative.

〇Available majors

Note: The universities have different allocation of the majors into divisions faculty or

course. But in general, their majors can be divided as above.

Education program comparison:

A- Fundamental subjects

There are a considerable number of fundamental subjects in all IT undergraduate

programs. In many universities, the fundamental subjects may take 2 years to finish.

The subjects are devoted to some social and scientific knowledge which is expected to

set a basis for further knowledge acquisition in IT. Some of the subjects are compulsory

as regulated by MOET, such as The principles of Marxism-Leninism, Ho Chi Minh

ideology, Revolution guideline of Vietnam Communist Party, Introduction to psychology.



Interestingly, Soft skills such as Communication skills and teamwork skills which are

rarely available at Vietnamese universities, are being taught in FU and UIT. At FU,

Professional ethics is also on the curriculum.

No. Subjects

UT

C

HA

UI

HU

BT

FU

HC

MU

T

HU

I

UIT

HU

FL

IT

HU

TE

CH

Number of credit

I Social Sciences

1

The principles of Marxism-

Leninism 5 --- 6 5 5 5 5 7 5

2 Ho Chi Minh ideology 2 --- 3 2 2 2 2 3 2

3

Revolution guideline of Vietnam

communist party 3 --- 3 3 3 3 3 5 3

4 Introduction to laws --- 2 2 2

5 Introduction to psychology --- 2

6 National defense study 6 --- 3 〇〇 4 〇 5 11

7 Physical education 5 --- 6 6 〇 4 〇 5 5

8 Foreign language (English) 9 --- 72 20 8 13 12 35 15

9 Foreign language (Japanese) --- 20

10 Corporate governance --- 4 2 2

11 Humans and the environment --- 2

12 Introduction to sociology --- 2

13 Management --- 2

14 Vietnamese culture --- 2

15 History of civilizations --- 2

II Natural Sciences

16 Physics 3 --- 9 6 6 4 6

17 Chemistry --- 4 5 2

18 Probability and statistics 2 --- 3 2 2 3 4 3

19 Computing methods --- 2 2 4 2

20 Calculus 6 --- 8

21 Linear algebra 3 --- 3

22 Introduction to graph theory --- 3 4 3



No. Subjects

UT

C

HA

UI

HU

BT

FU

HC

MU

T

HU

I

UIT

HU

FL

IT

HU

TE

CH

Number of credit

23

Fundamentals of information

technology 3 --- 4 4 4

24 Linear programming --- 2 2

25

Complex variables and Laplace

transform --- 2

26 Experimental fluid mechanics --- 3

27 Applied mechanics --- 3

28 C Programming --- 3

III Soft skills ---

29 Communication skills --- 1 2 4

30 Teamwork skills --- 1

31

Communications and teamwork

skills --- 4*

IV Others

32 Logic 2 --- 2

33 Professional ethics --- 3

Optional

--- No information provided

*This subject is a part of curriculum in the majors of Software Engineer and Information System.

B- Specialized subjects

After finishing the fundamental subjects, students will be taught with other specialized

subjects in accord with their major. As listed above, the five most popular majors are

Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, Information System

and Computer Network and Communications.

B-1. Computer Science

There are a wide range of subjects available for students in the five universities

providing the major of Computer Science. Notably, at UIT, the number of subjects

optional for students is the largest in the table. The important subjects for computer

science also appear at most of the universities. For instance, Data structures and



algorithms, Basic computer network and Artificial intelligence are available at all the

universities with 3 or 4 credits.

No. SUBJECTS

UT

C

HA

UI

HC

MU

T

HU

I

UIT

Number of credit

1 Information system security 3 〇 3 4

2 System maintenance 2

3 Web technologies and applications

4

4 Artificial intelligence engineering

4

5 Data structures and algorithms 3 〇 4 4 8

6 Compiler 3

4

7 Computer science monograph 3

8 Database 3 〇

4 3

9 Distributed and object orientated databases

3

10 Software development tools and environment

〇

11 NET technology

4

12 Java technology 3

13 J2EE technology

4

14 Oracle technology 3

15 Software engineering

〇 4 3 3

16 Knowledge technology and applications

4

17 Multimedia communications technology

4

18 XML technology

〇

19 Formal specifications

3

20 Software specifications 3

21 Computer algebra

3

22 System performance evaluation

3

23 Computer graphics 3 〇 3

4

24 Non-photo graphics

4

25 Fuzzy logics: Theory and applications

4

26 Advanced algorithms

3

27 Human-computer interface

〇

4

28 Experts systems

〇



No. SUBJECTS

UT

C

HA

UI

HC

MU

T

HU

I

UIT

Number of credit

29 Database systems

4

30 Knowledge-based system 3

4 4

31 Operating systems 3 〇 4 4 3

32 Linux operating system 2

4

33 Database management system (SQL Server) 3 〇 3 4 4

34 Fuzzy inference systems

4

35 Real-time systems

3

36 Distributed systems 3

37 Intelligence systems

3

38 Multimedia information system

4

39 Data mining

3 4

40 Model checking 3

41 Software quality assurance

3

42 Computer architecture 3 〇 3 3 3

43 Software architecture

3

44 Programming technique

〇 4

45 Database programming

4

46 Object orientated programming 3 〇 4 3 4

47 Advanced Java programming

4

48 Advanced programming 2

49 Parallel programming 3

50 Artificial intelligence programming

4

51 Visual programming 3

52 Web programming 3

53 Windows programming

〇

54 Fuzzy logics

3

55 Theory of automata and formal languages

3 3

56 Theory of automata and applications

4

57 Probability and statistics

3

58 Information encryption

4

59 Basic computer network 3 〇 4 3 4



No. SUBJECTS

UT

C

HA

UI

HC

MU

T

HU

I

UIT

Number of credit

60 Advanced computer network

4

61 Neural network and genetic algorithm

4

62 Cryptography and network security

3

63 Machine learning 3

3

4

64 Advanced machine learning

4

65 Simulations and applications 3

66 Video and audio data compression

4

67 C# programming language

4 4

68 Java programming language

4

69 Principles of programming languages 3

4 4

70 Recognition

4

71 Introduction to computing

4

72 Introduction to theory of recognition

〇

73 Ontology and knowledge representation

4

74 Object orientated systems analysis and design

〇

3

75 Information system analysis and design

4

76 UML object orientated analysis and design

4

77 Algorithm analysis and design 3

3 4 3

78 System analysis and design 3 〇 3

79 Information technology project management

〇

80 Software project management

3

81 Database design 2

82 Digital logic design

3

83 Design of experiments

3

84 Microprocessor based design

3

85 Design and verification of ASIC

3

86 Computer aids for VLSI design

3

87 Information on Entropy 2

88 E-commerce

3 4

89 Computer organization and assembly language

3

90 Advanced mathematics

9 9



No. SUBJECTS

UT

C

HA

UI

HC

MU

T

HU

I

UIT

Number of credit

91 Discrete mathematics 3 〇 6 6 3

92 Combinatorial optimization

3

93 Logic synthesis

3

94 Artificial intelligence 3 〇 4 4 4

95 Advanced artificial intelligence

4

96 Uncertainty in artificial intelligence

3

97 Information extraction

4

98 Geographic visual

4

99 Computer visual

4

100 Embedded system

3

101 Semantic web

4

102 Compiler construction

3

103 Object-orientated software constructions

4

104 Image processing 3 〇

105 Image processing and recognition

4

106 Image processing and computer vision

3

107 Natural language processing

3 4 4

108 Advanced natural language processing

3

109 Parallel processing and distributed systems

3

110 Digital signal processing 3

4

Optional

〇 No information provided on the number of credit



B-2. Computer Engineering

Computer Engineering is the major available at 3 universities including HCMUT, UIT

and HUTECH. In this major, the common subjects of the 3 universities are Data

structures and algorithms, Operating systems, Computer architecture, Computer network

and Discrete mathematics. HCMUT leads the table in terms of the number of optional

subjects available for students. This university seems to put the role of computer

network at the top with 8 credits.

No. SUBJECTS

HC

MU

T

UIT

HU

TE

CH

Number of credit

1 Network security 3

2 Information system security 3 3

3 Electronic circuits and devices 3

4 Data structures and algorithms 4 4 4

5 Database 4 4

6 Distributed and object orientated databases 3

7 Formal specifications 3

8 Computer algebra 3

9 System performance evaluation 3

10 Automatic control 3

11 Advanced automatic control 3

12 Electronic components and tools 2

13 Advanced algorithms 3

14 Operating systems 4 3 3

15 Advanced operating systems 4

16 Database management systems 3 3

17 Real-time systems 3

18 Embedded systems 4 3

19 Intelligence systems 3

20 Data mining 3

21 Software quality assurance 3

22 Computer architecture 3 3 3

23 Advanced computer architecture 4

24 Software architecture 3

25 Programming technique 4 4

26 Data transmission 4 4 3

27 Embedded system programming 3



No. SUBJECTS

HC

MU

T

UIT

HU

TE

CH

Number of credit

28 System programming in Java 4

29 Object orientated programming 4 3

30 Basic embedded programming 4

31 Windows programming 3

32 Mobile programming 4 3


34 Fuzzy logics 3

35 Theory of automata and formal languages 3

36 Information theory 3

37 Circuits 3

38 Electronic circuits 3

39 Computer network 8 4 3

40 Cryptography and network security 3

41 Machine learning 3

42 Introduction to software engineering 4 3

43 Introduction to computing 4

44 System analysis and design 3

45 Information system analysis and design 3

46 Software project management 3

47 Network administration 3

48 Digital system design 3

49 Logical design 1 3

50 Logical design 2 3

51 Printed circuit board design 3

52 Network design 4

53 Design of experiments 3

54 Microprocessor based design 3

55 Integrated circuit design 3 3

56 Design and verification of ASIC 3

57 Digital integrated circuit design with HDL 4

58 Computer aids for VLSI design 3

59 Integrated circuit design with VHDL 4

60 Computer hardware practice 3



No. SUBJECTS

HC

MU

T

UIT

HU

TE

CH

Number of credit

61 E-commerce 3

62 Advanced mathematics 9 9

63 Discrete mathematics 6 3 2

64 Combinatorial optimization 3

65 Logic synthesis 3

66 Artificial intelligence 3

67 Uncertainty in artificial intelligence 3

68 Embedded system applications 3 3

69 Microcontroller 3

70 Microprocessor – Microcontroller 3 4

71 Compiler construction 3

72 Image processing and computer vision 3

73 Natural language processing 3

74 Parallel processing and distributed systems 3 3

75 Digital signal processing 4 4

Optional

B-3. Software Engineering

Software engineering, the most popular major which is available at 8 universities, has

the highest number of subjects involved, reaching 135. Data structures and algorithms,

Database, Software engineering, Operating systems, Object-orientated programming,

Computer architecture, Computer network and Discrete mathematics seem to be

irreplaceable in this specialty with their appearance at almost all the universities.

Besides, HUBT seems to pay much attention to the subjects of Data structures and

algorithms, Relational database, Structure programming, Visual programming and

Computer network with the duration of 6 credits for each. Especially, FU highly

regards the importance of Business internship with its duration of 10 credits in the

education program.



No. SUBJECTS

UT

C

HA

UI

HU

BT

FU

HU

I

UIT

HU

FL

IT

HU

TE

CH

Number of credit

1 Internet database security

4

2 ASP/ Java script/ PHP/ VB script

6

3 Information system security 3 〇

2

4 3


5 Advanced web design technologies

3

6 Internet services in e-commerce

4

7 Knowledge base systems

4

8 Programming methodology

5 3

9 Web design engineering

3

10 Data structures and algorithms 3 〇 6 3 4 4 8 4

11 Software quality and testing

3

12 Compiler application 3

13 Special subject on C#

4

14 Special subject on software engineering 3

15 Special subject on Delphi

4

16 Special subject on advanced graphics

4

17 Special subject on e-commerce

3

2 4

18 Special subject on e-government

2

19 Special subject on e-learning

2

20 Special subject on Java

4

21 Special subject on software development

2

22 Special subject on visual basic

4

23 Database 3 〇

4 4 4 4 4

24 Advanced database

3

25 Relational database

6

26 Object-oriented database

3

27 Programming fundamentals

3

9

28 Digital fundamentals

3

29 Software development tools and

environment 〇

4 3

30 NET technology

4

4



No. SUBJECTS

UT

C

HA

UI

HU

BT

FU

HU

I

UIT

HU

FL

IT

HU

TE

CH

Number of credit

31 J2EE technology

4


3


4 3

34 Software engineering 3 〇

3 3 3 4 3

35 Advanced software engineering

〇

4

36 Portal technology

3

37 Virtual reality technology

〇

38 E-commerce

4

3

39 Web application technology

4

40 XML application technology

〇

4

41 Formal specifications

4

42 Business internships

10

43 Computer graphics 3 〇 3

4

44 Pricing on the Internet

4

45 Human-computer interface 3

3

4

46 Experts systems

〇

4

47 Database systems

5

48 Operating systems 3 〇

4 3 4 3

49 Network and operating system

4

50 Linux operating system

3 4

51 Unix operating system 2

3

4

52 Database management systems 3

3

53 Database management system

(SQL Server) 〇

54 Geographic information systems 3

55 Enterprise resource planning

3

56 Java and distribution process

〇

57 Data mining

3

58 Introduction to parallel algorithms

3

59 Software entrepreneurship

3

60 Software checking

3



No. SUBJECTS

UT

C

HA

UI

HU

BT

FU

HU

I

UIT

HU

FL

IT

HU

TE

CH

Number of credit

61 Model checking 3

62 Computer architecture 3 〇 3

3 3

3

63 Computer architecture and assembly

language 4

64 Software architecture design

3

65 Program testing and debugging

4


〇

4

67 Multimedia technique

4

68 New technologies in software

engineering 3

69 Basic programming

4

70 Structure programming

6

71 Basic C++

programming

3

72 Advanced C# programming

3

73 Games programming

4

74 Assembly languages programming

3

75 Network system programming

4

76 Basic Java programming

3 2 4

77 Advanced Java programming

2 4

78 Object orientated programming 3 〇 3 3 3 4 4 3

79 Logic programming

4


81 Network programming 3

82 Basic embedded programming 3

3

83 Management programming

4

84 Real-time parallel computing

4

85 Mobile programming

4 4

3

86 Artificial Intelligence for games

4


6

88 Web programming 3 〇

4 3

89 Windows programming 3 〇

4

3



No. SUBJECTS

UT

C

HA

UI

HU

BT

FU

HU

I

UIT

HU

FL

IT

HU

TE

CH

Number of credit

90 Advanced windows programming

4

91 Fuzzy logics

3 4

92 E-commerce law

3

93 Computer network 3 〇 6

3 4 4 3

94 Java programming language

4 4

95 Principles of financial accounting

3

96 Introduction to computer sciences

3

97 Introduction to games development

3

98 Introduction to management science

3

99 Designing embedded hardware

3

100 Designing embedded communications

software 3

101 Systems analysis and design 3 〇 3

3

102 Object orientated systems analysis and

design 〇


4 4 3

104 Object-orientated analysis and design 3

4 3


106 Statistical analysis for business and

economics 4

107 Object-orientated software development

4

108 Open source-based software

development 3 〇

3

109 Component-based software development

〇

110 Web development

4

111 Advanced web development

4

112 Multimedia website development

4

113 Software development, operation and

maintenance 3

114 Model methodology

3

115 Supply chain management

4

116 Information technology project

management 〇

3

4


4

4 3



No. SUBJECTS

UT

C

HA

UI

HU

BT

FU

HU

I

UIT

HU

FL

IT

HU

TE

CH

Number of credit

118 Network management

3

4


6 9 9 13 9

120 Discrete mathematics 3 〇 6 6 6 3 3 2

121 3D game engine design

4


123 Game design

4


125 Artificial intelligence 3 〇 3

4 3

126 Internet services organization and

management 4

127 IT applications in enterprises

3

128 Software requirements

3

129 Software construction

3

130 Information system construction

3

131 Advanced e-commerce website

construction 4

132 Advanced XML

3

133 Distribution processing

3

134 Parallel processing

4


3

Optional


B-4. Information System

Database, Data structure and algorithms, Information system security, Software

engineering, Operating systems, Object-orientated programming and Discrete

mathematics are the most widely taught at 5 universities offering Information System

major. At HUFLIT, the number of optional subjects hits the top of the table.



No. SUBJECTS

UT

C

HA

UI

UIT

HU

FL

IT

HU

TE

CH

Number of credit


4

2 Information system security 3 〇 3 4 3



4


4

6 Database management systems

4

7 Data structures and algorithms 3 〇 4 8 4

8 Advanced data structure and algorithms

4


4


4


4

12 Special subject on information system 3


4


4

15 Database 3 〇 4 4 4

16 Advanced database 3

4 3

17 Distributed database

4 4 3


9



4

21 Software engineering 3 〇 3 4 3

22 Portal technology

4

23 XML technology

〇 4

24 Introduction to global positioning systems

4

25 Digital electronics 3

26 Computer graphics 3 〇

4


4

28 Numerical analysis 2

29 Human-computer interface

〇

30 Grid computing

4

31 Experts systems

〇

4

32 Knowledge-based system 3

4

33 Operating systems 3 〇 3 4 3


4 4



No. SUBJECTS

UT

C

HA

UI

UIT

HU

FL

IT

HU

TE

CH

Number of credit


4


3

37 Database management system (SQL Server)

〇 4

38 Multimedia database management systems

4

39 Oracle database management systems

4



4

42 Accounting information systems

4

3

43 Decision support system

〇

44 Data mining 3

45 Data exploitation

4

46 Data warehouse and mining methods

〇

47 Data warehouse and OLAP

4

48 Computer architecture 3 〇 3

3

49 Computer architecture and assembly language

4


4


〇

4

52 Multimedia engineering

4


4

54 Database programming

4


4

56 Object orientated programming 3 〇 4 4 3


4




4


4

62 SQL client programming

〇


3

64 Programming on website

4


66 Client/Server database applications programming

〇

67 Web programming with Java

4



No. SUBJECTS

UT

C

HA

UI

UIT

HU

FL

IT

HU

TE

CH

Number of credit


4 3

69 Fuzzy logics

3 4

70 E-commerce law

3

71 Computer network 3 〇

4 3

72 Introduction to management

3

73 Open-source software 3

74 Spatial analysis

4

75 System analysis and design 3 〇


4 4 3

77 Object-orientated analysis and design

〇

78 UML object orientated analysis and design

4


80 Statistical analysis for business and economics

4

81 Enterprise resource planning system development

〇

82 Web applications development

4


4

84 Information technology project management

〇 4


4


87 Information system management 3

88 Business and accounting management

4

89 Network management 3

4

90 Database design 2 〇 4

91 Web programming and design

4

92 Information on entropy 2

93 E-commerce

〇 3 4

94 Internet services organization and management

4


9 13 9

96 Discrete mathematics 3 〇 3 3 2

97 Artificial intelligence 3 〇

4 3

98 Information extraction

4

99 Advanced e-commerce website construction

4

100 Image processing

〇

101 Image processing for remote sensing

4

102 Parallel processing

4


Optional




B-5. Computer network and communication

Data structure and algorithms, Database, Operating system, Object-orientated

programming, Computer network and Discrete mathematics are most often caught at 4

universities.

HUFLIT goes on to be the university with the widest range of optional subjects in this

major. Programming fundamentals is uniquely offered at this university. The 9-credit

subject is considered to play an important role at the university.

No. SUBJECTS

UT

C

UIT

HU

FL

IT

HU

TE

CH

Number of credit 1 Information security 3

4 3


4

3 Network security

4

3

4 Advanced network security

3



4


4

8 Data structures and algorithms 3 4 8 4


4


4


4

12 Special subject on e-commerce

4


4

14 Special subject on computer network 3


4

16 Database 3 4 4 4


9


19 Communication network technology

4


4

21 IP technology

3

22 Network performance evaluation 3

23 Electronics for information technology

3

24 Digital electronics 3

25 Computer graphics 3

4



No. SUBJECTS

UT

C

UIT

HU

FL

IT

HU

TE

CH

Number of credit


4

27 Fuzzy calculus

3

28 Numerical calculus 2

29 Experts systems

4

30 Operating systems 3 3 4 3


4 4 3

32 Network operating systems

4


4


3


36 Real-time systems

3


38 Mobile distributed calculation system

3

39 Computer architecture 3 3

3

40 Computer architecture and assembly language

4


4


4

4

43 Linux programming technique

3

44 Multimedia technique

4

45 Digital television technique

3


4

47 System programming

4


4

49 Object orientated programming 3 4 4 3


4


52 Basic network programming

4

53 Computer network programming

3

54 Network programming with Perl

3



4


4


3

59 Mobile programming

3



No. SUBJECTS

UT

C

UIT

HU

FL

IT

HU

TE

CH

Number of credit


61 Applied network programming

3


4 3

63 Fuzzy logics

4

64 E-commerce law

4

65 Information theory

3

66 Computer network 3 4 4 3

67 Advanced computer network 3

4

68 Mobile communications network 3 3

69 Introduction to software engineering

4 3

70 Introduction to management science

4

71 Open-source software 3

72 Systems analysis and design 3 3


4 3


75 Statistical analysis for business and economics

4


4


4

78 Network system management

3

79 Information system management 3

80 Network management 3

4 3

81 Network multimedia devices

4


83 Network design

4


85 Network practices 3

86 Signals and circuits

3

87 Grid computing

3

88 Internet services organization and management

4


9 13 9

90 Discrete mathematics 3 3 3 2

91 Artificial intelligence 3

4 3

92 Data transmission

4

3

93 Multimedia communication 3



No. SUBJECTS

UT

C

UIT

HU

FL

IT

HU

TE

CH

Number of credit

94 Optical communication

3

95 Satellite communication

3

96 Information security policies standards

development in enterprises 3

97 Web applications construction

3

98 Advanced e-commerce website construction

4

99 Image processing

4

100 Digital signal processing 3 4 4

Optional

2.3. Infrastructure

It is revealed from the number of IT students per computer that many students have to

share computer facilities. It is a difficulty that most of the surveyed universities have in

common. What they try to do is to allocate effectively the computers to IT training

classes and even for others from non-IT majors. However, it does not seem to be a

annoying problem as only 2 universities said that they lack of computers for IT

training. That is understandable as many IT students can afford their own laptop

computers.

Universities infrastructure of teaching IT

University name Practice

rooms

Computers (for IT training purposes)

Most of the

computers are used

since?

UTC 1 65 2011

MTA 5 200 Unknown

HAUI 15 700

IT faculty 9 350 Unknown

International

Cooperation and

Training faculty

6 350 2009

HUBT 37 1290

(shared with other

faculties)

Unknown



FU 1 3000 student-owned

laptops

(FU supports 400$ for

each student to buy the

laptops)

Unknown

HCMUT 10 440 Unknown

HUI 35 1220

Computer Science

and Engineering

faculty

30 1000

(shared with other

faculties)

2008

IT faculty 3 100 2008

International studies

faculty

2 120

(Not including shared

computers of the

university)

2009

UIT 10 420 2009

HUTECH 16 1500

(shared with other

faculties)

HUFLIT 10 300 2007

Number of IT students per computer*

* In some universities having computers shared among all faculties, the above number is the number of

students per computer, not only IT student.

1

3

4

6

7

7

12

16

21

31

FU

HAUI

HUFLIT

MTA

HUTECH

UIT

UTC

HUI

HUBT

HCMUT

Unit: students per computer



Most of computers at universities are already to be connected to the Internet. In some of

universities, the Internet is available on computers all day, but in some others, the

Internet is limited and only connected when necessary. This policy is to ensure that

their students are not attracted by entertainment facilities on the Internet instead of

studying.

Wireless network is also widely available in the surveyed universities. All universities

have their wireless network in their campus, or at least within areas of IT faculties and

students can easily access to the Internet.

2.4. Cooperation and research

Although the interviewees did not share much on their university’s researching

activities exept their hardships of lacking capital and human resources. Whereas,

cooperation is considered as an important role in the universities. 5 (MTA, HUTECH,

HUBT, UTC, HUFLIT) of 10 universities have not any official cooperation with any

overseas universities or organizations yet, although their teachers may have shared

experience and knowledge to their counterparts in other countries.

Cooperation with Japanese Universities/ organizations:

(1) FU

The university is in cooperation with Japan Overseas Development Corporation –

JODC. Two programs have been promoted in accordance with the cooperation.

The first one is that experts from JODC are sent to FU on a yearly basis. They will

spend roundly 100 hours teaching a subject to one class sized about 30 students.

Students at FU can go to Japan for a couple of weeks on the Tet holiday (Vietnamese

lunar New Year celebration) for knowledge and cultural exchange. About 15 students

are selected to join this program yearly.

Moreover, the university also has student exchange programs with Shinshu University

and Kyushu Institute of Technology. Every year, there are about 4-8 students eligible to

the programs.



(2) UIT

The university has been in cooperation with a number of organizations including Tokyo

Institute of Technology, Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (JAIST)

and Center of the International Cooperation for Computerization (CICC). The content

of the cooperation is teacher and student exchanges.

Cooperation with non-Japanese Universities/ organizations:

(1) HAUI

Meanwhile, HAUI is in cooperation with TAFE South Australia to use its curriculum in

Diploma program. Accordingly, students learn only English during their first year and

learn IT in English for the next 2 years.

(2) FU

FU is running an exchange program for students with Furtwangen University in

Germany.

(3) HCMUT

Since 2003, HCMUT has been cooperating with National University of Singapore

(NUS) to send students to write the graduation thesis in NUS. The students will be

instructed by teachers of NUS during 6 months. Full scholarships are provided by NUS.

The theses are evaluated by NUS, while the thesis defense is held in Vietnam. Some

teachers of NUS visit Vietnam sometimes and join the thesis defense presentation.

There are about 3-5 students sent to NUS for this program every year.

A similar program is that with Ecole Federale Polytechnique de Lausanne –

Switzerland. Starting from 2010, HCMUT sent 2 students to EFPL to making thesis

during 4 months with full scholarships provided by EFPL.

Moreover, there is other affiliate programs such as that the 2.5+2 or 2.5+1 program

with University of QueensLand (Australia) which offer a course of 2 years at HCMUT

and 2 or 1 year at Queensland; or the 2+2 one with La Trobe University and Catholic

University of America.



(4) HUI

The university uses the curriculum of TAFE South Australia for 3 year courses. Similar

to HAUI, students will spend the whole first year for learning English, then 2 more

years studying IT by English.

(5) UIT

UIT has been cooperating with Oklahoma State University (United States), University

of Arkansas (United States), Wroclaw University of Technology (Poland) to provide a

2 + 2 program (2 years in UIT and 2 other years in overseas universities).

2.5. About ITSS and HEDSPI

2.5.1. About ITSS and FE

All of the surveyed universities have no intention of applying ITSS to their education.

HAUI cooperated with VITEC (Vietnam Training and Examination Center –

established by Minister of Science and Technology) in 2008 to teach FE to 1 class

(with about 40-50 students) and the course lasted 6 months. However, it proved not to

be effective and successful. Only 25 students still learned until the end of the course.

In fact, none the ten universities have encouraged or suggested their students to sit for

FE. Some universities like FU, HAUI or UTC just mentioned about the test.

Reasons for not applying ITSS

First, 4 of 13 representatives (MTA, HUBT, HUI – IT faculty, HUTECH) shared their

opinion that they have not ever heard about the ITSS. In fact, ITSS is not really well

known and publicly recognized in Vietnam. Therefore, according to the representatives

from HAUI, FU, HCMUT, HUI – CSE faculty, HUFLIT, ITSS is only demanded by a

limited number of companies.

Particularly, HCMUT and HUI – International studies faculty showed more preference

for the standards of European and American organizations than those of Asian ones.

According to the opinion of HCMUT’s representative, ITSS focuses on what to be

taught, but ACM mentions what students can achieve after studying, and which skills to

be gained from the course.



Meanwhile, the representative of HUI – International studies faculty reckoned that the

standards from Australia and America offer better courses on project management and

quality management.

Besides, 2 representatives (HCMUT, HUI – International studies faculty) indicated that

Japanese is difficult to learn while most of the students have learnt English at high

school. This turns out to be another hindrance to deploying Japanese standard.

UTC representative, the dean of IT faculty, said that ITSS is a good standard. He highly

evaluated the operational modeling of ITSS. In fact, UTC has been deeply longing for

an international standard for a better educational program. However, up to now, IT has

not been the focus of the university. Thus, the number of teaching staff is small and, as

a matter of fact, teachers are not very encouraged with their low salary. The

organization and management of the faculty is not good, either. Besides, facilities

condition for information technology teaching has not been much invested.

The dean also emphasized that his university would be quite able to deploy the

application of the standard. However, in his opinion, the implementation will only

begin in such a long time as there are a lot of things to do with the preparation. The IT

faculty needs to improve the organization and management ability. Moreover, the

facilities for the faculty of information technology also need to be modernized and

equipped with new machines. The introductory documents and supporting methods are

also necessary for the faculty of information technology at UTC.

2.5.2. About HEDSPI

Most of universities representatives have not heard about HEDSPI, for example, those

from MTA, HAUI - Faculty of International Cooperation and Training, HUBT, HUI,

UIT, HUFLIT, HUTECH.

UTC: “That’s good! We are for this and want to gain more knowledge!”

HAUI – IT faculty: “I think it is good for students and the relationship between

2 countries, but besides Japanese, English is also important.”

FU: “HEDSPI is an educational program of JICA, in HUST, training students to

become IT engineers who can speak Japanese. I have got no comment since I

have just heard of it and do not know much about this program.”

HCMUT: “HEDSPI is an education program applying ITSS, I do not know

about its curriculums.”



CHAPTER 3 - JAPANESE LANGUAGE USED IN IT COMPANIES

The survey was conducted on companies which have relation to Japan (having Japanese

investment or Japanese clients). There are 52 companies and 108 of their IT employees

who know Japanese participating in this survey.

3.1. Companies

The 52 surveyed companies are located in Hanoi (29 companies) and Ho Chi Minh

City (23 companies).

List of interviewed companies

No. Company name Japanese

understanding

IT employees

Interviewees

(people) (people)

1 ACT Brain Vietnam Co., Ltd. 13 2

2 Advanced Intelligence &Technology JSC 9 1

3 AKB Software Vietnam 2 2

4 Applistar Vietnam 5 1

5 Bridge System 1 1

6 Cuvel Software Co., Ltd. 5 2

7 Cybozu Vietnam Inc. 5 2

8 Dank Hearts Vietnam JSC. 2 2

9 Data Design VietNam 3 2

10 Delivery Vietnam 5 2

11 Emar Vietnam Co., Ltd. 5 2

12 FPT Software 483 12

13 Fujitsu Vietnam 24 4

14 Global Cybersoft, Inc. 9 5

15 Global Data Service JSC 0 0

16 Global network technologies Vietnam Co., Ltd. 4 2

17 Grapecity Vietnam 2 1

18 HiWorld JSC 11 1

19 Ichi Corporation Japan 4 2

20 IM Link 4 2

21 Information intergration management solution JSC 1 0

22 ISB Vietnam Co., Ltd 5 2

23 IT HaNoi JSC 5 1

24 KDDI VietNam 0 0

25 Kobelco Viet Control System Co., Ltd. 17 2



No. Company name Japanese

understanding

IT employees

Interviewees

26 Lifetime Technologies Vietnam-Japan 10 7

27 Luvina Software JSC 35 11

28 Material Automation Thailand (MAT) Vietnam 1 1

29 NCS Technology 7 0

30 Netmarks Vietnam 2 0

31 New System Vietnam Co., Ltd. 3 2

32 Nippon Cloud 7 0

33 NTT Communication 17 1

34 NTT Data Vietnam Co., Ltd. 7 1

35 Panasonic R&D Center Vietnam Co., Ltd. 12 3

36 Pasona Tech Vietnam 6 2

37 Photron Vietnam 26 2

38 Renesas Design No answer 1

39 Runsystem JSC 23 3

40 Seta-cinqVienam 26 3

41 SMS Viet Nam 6 2

42 Sprite Communication Co., Ltd. 0 0

43 Strawberry Jam Vietnam 56 5

44 Suntas International JSC 0 0

45 System Exe Inc 5 4

46 Tazmo Vietnam 1 0

47 Toshiba Software Development Vietnam Co., Ltd. 4 4

48 Tri-vision JSC 5 0

49 USOL Vietnam 45 1

50 V.N.E.X.T JSC 0 0

51 Vietnam Image Partner Systems 9 1

52 We Are Engineering Co., Ltd 16 1

Total 953 108



3.1.1. Business fields

Most of the surveyed companies are doing business on software manufacturing or out-

sourcing. While the number of software manufacturing companies holds a high rate at

75%, these rates of hardware manufacturing and digital content ones are relatively

small, only 4% for both of them.

Business fields of interviewed companies

12

4

4

13

29

40

44

48

60

75

Other

Hardware

manufacturing

Digital content

Network management

and security

Intergration service

IT consulting service

IT products vendor

Web design service

Out-sourcing

Software

manufacturing

0

4

4

21

34

48

45

41

66

76

26

4

4

4

22

30

43

57

52

74

Q1MA: Which business field(s)

do your company belong to?

100%=52 companies

Total Hanoi Ho Chi Minh

29 23

Unit: %



3.1.2. Employment size

Most of interviewed companies have small and medium employment size. There are a

few companies which have over 100 employees. Nearly 80% of the 52 companies have

no more than 50 employees. Companies with 26 to 50 employees are the most popular

which account for 35% among 52 companies, while those with 11-25 IT employees are

40%, far outnumbering other company groups.

Over half of 4,153 employees in the 52 interviewed companies are programmers. It is

followed by tester and project manager position with about 18% and 10% respectively.

The proportions of system engineer and designer are very low, 8% and 6%

respectively.

53

18

10

8

6 5

Programmer

Project manager

Designer

System engineer

Q3FA: How many IT

employees in each position? 100 % = 4,153 people

15 21

23

41

35

15

1515

12 8

Employees IT Employees

100%=52 companies

Employment size

Over 100

From 51 to 100

From 26 to 50

Other

The number of IT employees in each

position (Vietnamese only)

From 11 to 25

Up to 10

Q2FA: How many employees are

there in your company?

Unit: %

Unit: %

Tester



The number of programmers in each company is normally up to 20 employees, as can

be seen from the figure of over 70% of the surveyed companies.

3.1.3. Japanese language ability of IT employees

The Japanese understanding level which is equivalent to the level 2 of Japanese

proficiency, ranked the 1st among the number of qualification holders, with nearly 30%

of the whole 953 Japanese understanding IT employees in the surveyed companies.

Meanwhile, only 10% of the IT employees were at N1 level.

71

15

14

29

2322

16

10

Over 50

Q4MA: Which levels of Japanese

language of your IT employees are they?

(Vietnamese only)

N3

N4

N2

N1

N5

100% = 953 Japanese understanding IT employees

Up to 20

Unit: %

Employment size of programmer

100 % = 52 companies

From 21 to 50

Proportion of Japanese understanding IT employees by level



The number of Japanese understanding IT employees in the surveyed companies was

small, over half of them had not more than 5 people.

Most of the companies have IT employees who were at N2, N3, N4 level, while about

40% companies had IT employees with N1 level.

Employment size of Japanese understanding IT employees

3.2. IT employees

The results below are analyzed from survey on 108 IT employees of 52 companies.

3.2.1. Employee profile

88% of the IT employees joined this survey have learned IT in their universities. A

small proportion learned IT at IT Centers (5%) or Colleges (3%). In addition, 8% of the

IT employees learned IT through on-the-job-training programs of their companies.

IT education background

56

17

11

12

4

Total

61

4234 36

31

4654 54

46 8 2

2 4 2 62 2 2 2

N1 N2 N3 N4

8

3

5

88

In company

College

Center

University

100% = 108 people Unit: % Q1FA: Where did

you learn about IT?

Don’t know exact number

Over 10

From 6 to 10

From 1 to 5

0

From 0 to 5

From 6 to 10

From 11 to 20

From 21 to 50

Over 50

100% = 52 companies

100% = 52 companies



Programmers occupied the largest proportion of 108 surveyed IT employees with 45%.

Project managers or higher positions accounted for a considerable percentage with

19%.

Job positions

The majority of IT employees have Japanese level of N3 or N2. There were 35% of

them with the Japanese level of N3 and 30% of them were at N2. Those at N1 level

were very few.

Unit: %

1

1

1

1

1

1

2

2

9

10

13

19

45

Team Leader

Engineer

Helpdesk Engineer

Test game for mobile and PC

Install automatic equipment for computer

Consulting and maintain network

Bridge software engineer

Software engineer

Designer

System engineer

Tester

Project manager or higher

Programmer

Q5MA: In which position

are you working?

100% = 108 people Unit: %

35

30

19

11

5 N1

Japanese level of IT employees

100% = 108 people

Q3SA: What is your

Japanese level?

N2

N4

N5

N3



3.2.2. Japanese learning history

Japanese training center is considered as the most popular place for IT employees to

learn Japanese. Meanwhile, those who studied Japanese at universities/colleges as an

undergraduate program account for only 25% of the employees.

Japanese training center is the most popular choice for getting N3, N4 or N5 level.

However, for those who gained the level of N1 or N2, it is not only Japanese training

center, but also University or College contributed a great deal. This proves University

and College with better motivation and knowledge to train for higher level of Japanese.

18

1

2

6

25

44

67

Other

High school

Japanese tutor

Studying in Japan

University/college in Vietnam

Self-studying

Japanese training center

5

0

0

16

30

49

49

Other

High school

Japanese tutor

Studying in Japan

Self-studying

University/college

in Vietnam

Japanese training

center

21

3

3

3

55

18

82

27

0

3

0

48

6

70

N1 and N2

100% = 37 people

N3

38

N4 and N5

33

Q2MA: Where did you

learn Japanese?

working?

100 % = 108 people

Place to learn Japanese of IT employees-by Japanese level

Unit: %

Place to learn Japanese of IT employees

Q2MA: Where did you

learn Japanese?

working?

Unit: %

Japanese courses held by

the company



There are a variety of methods to learn Japanese, among which doing Japanese

exercises and communicating with Japanese people are the most common way of the IT

employees.

3.2.3. Japanese usage of IT employees

Japanese external usage is much less popular than internal usage. There are only 75 IT

employees or 69% of 108 surveyed IT employees using Japanese in transactions with

clients and external partners compared with 92% for internal usage.

1

26

27

33

34

41

44

67

68

Other

Reading Japanese manga

Listening Japanese news

Reading Japanese

books/news, magazines

Writing in Japanese

Practising Japanese with other learners

Watching Japanese dramas, animes

Communicating with Japanese people

Doing Japanese exercise

100% = 108 people

Q4MA: How did you

learn Japanese?

working?

Unit: %

Japanese learning ways of IT employees



A. Internal usage

There are 99 out of 108 interviewed IT employees use Japanese in internal.

The charts below show the proportion of circumstances in which Japanese is often used

internally. In general, listening and reading documents were the most common

situations in which Japanese is used with 72% and 70% of employees respectively.

Writing documents was not popular in compared with other activities, with only 47%.

The IT employees use Japanese almost every day for normal conversation, reading and

writing emails. Speaking, listening in work-related conversation and writing documents

are not frequently used internally. Only 20% of the employees speaking Japanese in

work-related conversation use this skill almost every day.

4

47

60

65

66

69

70

72

Other

Writing documents for internal use

Writing emails

Normal conversation

Speaking in work-related conversation

Reading emails

Reading documents

Listening in work-related conversation

2435 43

20

44 4126

4239

50

42

3349

40

34 267

3823

10

34

Listening in

work-related

conversation

Reading

documents

Reading

emails

Speaking in

work-related

conversation

Normal

conversation

Writing

emails

Writing

documents

for internal

use

Almost every day

Several times

per week

Less frequently

100% = 72 people 70 69 66 65 60 47

Q6MA-A: In which circumstances in

your job do you often use Japanese? 100% = 99 people

Unit: %

Internal Japanese usage – by frequency

Internal Japanese usage


your job do you often use Japanese? Unit: %



N1, N2 could deal with complicated Japanese usage such as reading and writing mails,

while N3 remained at normal conversation. Employees with N4 or N5 level had very

limited Japanese usage in their companies.

B. External usage

Only 75 out of 108 employees using Japanese for external relationships but they use

Japanese in a variety of circumstances, ranging from normal conversation, mailing,

work-related discussions or even writing documents to clients.

3

24

24

26

41

41

44

53

Other

Speaking in work-

related conversation

Writing documents for

internal use

Listening in work-


Normal conversation

Reading documents

Writing emails

Reading emails

3

14

8

17

36

22

19

22

3

0

3

7

3

7

7

10

3

52

59

71

71

73

73

Other

Writing documents to clients

Speaking in work-related conversation with clients

Listening in work-related conversation with clients

Writing emails to clients

Normal conversation with clients

Reading emails from clients

100% = 75 people

100% = 34 people

N1 and N2 N3

36

N4 and N5

29



Almost every day Japanese internal usage - by Japanese level

External Japanese usage

Unit: % Q6MA-B: In which circumstances in

your job do you often use Japanese?



At a glance, almost all skills are only used several times per week or even less

frequently. Among 44 employees who speak Japanese in work-related discussions with

clients, over 60% use the language infrequently. 55% of those listening to Japanese in

work-related conversations with clients are infrequent users. Meanwhile, the frequency

of writing e-mails to clients is relatively high. 53% of 53 IT employees using Japanese

for writing e-mails to clients have to do this skill several times per week and 32% of

those have a daily habit. The frequency of using Japanese for reading emails from

clients is also considerable. The rates of “several times per week” and “almost everyday”

frequency for those using this skill are respectively 47% and 38 %.

38

2232

11 7 10

47

27

53

34

30

49

15

51

15

5563

41

Reading

emails from

clients

Normal

conversation

with clients

Writing

emails to

clients

Listening in

work-related

conversation

with clients

Speaking in

work-related

conversation

with clients

Writing

documents

for clients

100% = 55 people 55 53 53 44 39

Almost everyday

Several times

per week

Less frequently

External Japanese usage – by frequency

Q6MA-B: In which circumstances in




In the other aspect, Japanese is also most frequently used when reading emails from

clients with 28% of 32 IT employees at N1 and N2 level and 38% of 29 IT employees

at N3 level. Writing e-mails to clients also often requires Japanese with 22% of N1 and

N2, and 34% of N3.

Difficulty of using Japanese

A. Internal usage

IT employees feel most difficult when they have to discuss in Japanese at work.

Listening and speaking in work-related conversation are biggest challenges to the

Japanese learners, according to nearly half of interviewed IT employees. They are

followed by reading and writing documents.

Difficulty in Japanese internal usage

6

9

13

19

22

28

Speaking in work-related

conversation with clients

Listening in work-related



clients

Normal conversation

with clients


Reading emails from

clients

3

10

0

21

34

38

0

0

0

0

0

7

Q7MA-A: What kind of difficulties do

you face while using Japanese at work?

N1 and N2 N3 N4 and N5

100% = 32 people 29 14

Almost every day Japanese external usage - by Japanese level

Unit: % Q6MA-B: In which circumstances in

your job do you often use Japanese?

Unit: %

16

1

20

20

21

33

39

47

50

No difficulty

Other

Reading emails

Writing emails

Normal conversation

Writing documents for internal usage

Reading documents



100% = 104 people



As it can be seen in the graph below, the higher Japanese level is, the less difficulty IT

employees have to face. 33% of the IT employees at N1 or N2 level had no difficulty

when using Japanese in work. Those at N4 or N5 level cannot use Japanese much in the

company so they face many difficulties, especially in speaking or listening in work-

related conversation and reading documents.

33

0

3

8

14

14

19

22

39

No difficulty

Other

Reading emails

Writing emails

Normal

conversation

Reading documents

Listening in work-


Writing documents

Speaking in work-


11

3

14

17

19

42

56

28

50

3

0

47

38

31

66

69

50

63

100% = 36 people

N1 and N2 N4 and N5 N3

36

32

Difficulties in Japanese internal usage – by Japanese level

Q7MA-A: What kind of difficulties do

you face while using Japanese at work?

Unit: %



B. External usage

It’s difficult to communicate with clients in Japanese, not only listening skill but also

speaking skill. Even a normal conversation is an obstacle to IT employees. For that

externally used Japanese is quite different from internally used one, listening and

speaking skills are always a big difficulty when communicating with clients.

Another problem here is that many IT employees do not have chances to communicate

with clients.

28

2

13

17

28

31

32

39

No difficulty

Other



Writing documents for clients




100 % = 99 people

Q7MA-B: What kind of difficulties do you face

while using Japanese at work in External?

Difficulties in Japanese external usage

Unit: %



Even normal conversation with clients is difficult to many IT employees. Work-related

speaking is also a challenge to 30% among 37 N1 and N2 employees and 38% of the 34

N3 people. In the meantime, 30% of IT employees capable of Japanese at N1 and N2

level feel at ease during using Japanese without any trouble. At N3 level, 24% feels no

difficulty.

30

3

5

11

16

22

30

35

No difficulty

Other




clients





Normal conversation with

clients

24

0

12

15

32

50

38

38

N1 and N2 N3

38 100%=37 people 100% = 37 people 34

Unit: %

Difficulties of Japanese external usage – by Japanese level

Q7MA-B: What kind of difficulties do you face

while using Japanese at work in External?



The main reasons for misunderstanding when communicating with Japanese people are

lack in Japanese capacity, different mindset and culture. Other reasons include the

unawareness of IT knowledge or business, social knowledge.

Employees at different Japanese levels have different explanations for their

misunderstandings during their communication with Japanese people. 88% of 33 IT

engineers at N4 and N5 blame the reason for their Japanese ability. Meanwhile, at N3,

differences in mindset and culture are considered to be the biggest reason, besides their

limited Japanese skills. At N1 and N2 level, besides the reasons of Japanese ability and

differences in mindset/culture, unawareness of IT knowledge (24%) and social

knowledge (27%) are also indicated as reasons for misunderstanding of 37 IT

employees respectively.

7

8

14

22

57

66

Because the

Japanese did not

know some other

business or social

knowledge

Because the

Japanese did not

know some IT

knowledge

Because I did not

know some other

business or social

knowledge

Because I did not

know some IT

knowledge

Because of

differences in

mindset/culture

Because my

Japanese was not

good enough

11

14

27

24

54

54

8

3

11

16

61

58

3

9

3

27

58

88


38 33

Main reasons for misunderstanding while communicating with

Japanese people

37

Q8MA: What are main reasons of misunderstanding,

if any, when you communicate with Japanese people? Unit: %

100% = 108 people

Total



3.2.4. Japanese and English comparison

In most cases, English is considered to be more convenient than Japanese. In particular,

English is thought to be easier than Japanese when writing documents or emails,

communicating or reading documents. Since IT employees have big difficulties in

speaking and listening Japanese, they seem to be much more convenient in using English.

30 29 29 32 30 27 24

35 31 33 28 3530 32

2320 20 28 20

26 27

1220 18 12 15 17 17

Writing

documents

Writing

emails

Reading

emails

Normal

conversation

Reading

documents

Listening in

conversation

Speaking in

conversation

Any case

Some case

Most of case

No case

100% = 104 people 102 101 99 99 95 95

Q9MA: Is there any circumstance at work that

English is more convenient than Japanese?

Unit: %

Proportion of cases at work that English is more convenient than Japanese



3.2.5. Katakana usage

Approximately 50% of the IT employees said they learned Katakana words through

working. The other ways to get to know Katakana is by self-studying and through

books, Internet or TV. A small proportion of them learned Katakana at university,

college or Japanese training center.

Learning from work is the most widely applied method of learning Katakana to IT

employees at all levels. 49% of 37 IT employees at N1 and N2, 50% of 38 at N3 and

45% of 33 at N4 and N5 chose this method. About 49% at N1 and N2 and 34% at N3

learned Katakana by self-studying via books, Internet or TV.

Katakana learning method of IT employees

21

2

22

27

35

48

I do not know

any IT Katakana

words

Other

Through Japanese

curriculum at

university/college

Through Japanese

curriculum at

Japanese training

center

Self-studying via

books, the

Internet, TV, etc.

Through working

8

3

35

24

49

49

18

0

16

29

34

50

39

3

15

27

21

45

37

N1 and N2 N3

38

N4 and N5

33 100 % = 108 people

Q10MA: How did you get to know

Katakana words which are related to IT?

Unit: %

Total



Only a very small percentage (2%) uses IT related Katakana words at all times. 41%

uses Katakana words usually and 44% uses them sometimes.

2

41

44

121

Total

60 0

55

39

20

36

3965

3

22 10

0 05


Always

Usually

Sometimes

Rarely

Never

100 % = 84 people 100 % = 33 people 31 20

The frequency of using IT related Katakana words at work

Q 10-1SA: How often do you use IT related

Katakana words at work? Unit: %



Among difficulties when using IT specialized Katakana words, writing Katakana is the

biggest problem. The second problem is reading and understanding Katakana words.

The reason for those seems that the frequency of using Katakana is not often in

comparison with Hiragana. Especially, IT employees face much more difficulty with IT

specialized words.

In general, writing is the biggest challenge to most of IT employees; 50% of 34 N1 and

N2 level employees, 39% of 31 employees at N3 and 35% of 20 employees at N4 and

N5. Besides, reading and understanding of Katakana words are also considered to be a

remarkable hindrance to them.

Difficulty of using IT specialized Katakana words

26

4

12

20

35

42

No

difficulty

Other

Pronouncing

is difficult

Listenning

is difficult

Reading, un

derstanding

is difficult

Writing is

difficult

29

0

3

9

29

50

35

3

26

26

29

39

5

10

5

30

55

35

100 % = 85 people


34 31 20

Q 10-2MA: What kind of difficulties do you face

while using IT specialized Katakana words?

Unit: %

Total



Almost all employees prefer to use English to Katakana when mentioning IT related

words. 14% of answers show that English is not easier to understand or more

convenient than Katakana.

15％ of 82 IT employees think that Katakana is really important and cannot be replaced

by English. Nearly 60% of the surveyed employees appreciate the significance of

Katakana in some cases and 25% of those realize that Katakana is not really essential

and English can be an alternative for Katakana.

The essentiality of Katakana

100% = 82 people

100% = 85 people

Q10-3SA: Do you think that English is easier

to understand and more convenient than

Katakana while mentioning IT related words?

Q10-4SA: Do you think that Katakana

is really essential to your work?

Really essential, English cannot be

used as an alternative for Katakana

Essential in some cases

Not essential, English can be used

as an alternative for Katakana

Comparison between English and Katakana in IT words

Unit: %

Unit: %

No

Yes

86

14

15

60

25



3.2.6. Japanese development after joining Japanese companies

For most of IT employees, their Japanese skills have become better after working for a

Japanese company, especially listening skill.

Japanese development of IT employees after joining Japanese companies

84 79 81 75

9 14 1519

7 7 4 6

Listening Speaking Reading Writing

Better

The same

Worse

100% = 107 people 107 107 106

Q11SA: Have your Japanese skills become better,

remained the same, or become worse since the

day you worked for a Japanese company?

Unit: %



Around 80% of IT employees think that their Japanese skills became better thanks to

talking with Japanese people while working or reading Japanese documents at work.

Over 60% said that the frequency of writing Japanese at work also contributed to the

improvement of their Japanese skills. Besides those, in their opinions, Japanese can be

improved through many activities such as communicating with Japanese people

through social network, reading Japanese materials, watching dramas or anime,

listening to Japanese news, participating in Japanese courses, etc.

Activities that improve Japanese skills

7

18

26

29

31

34

41

42

63

76

76

Going to Japan on vacation

Listening to Japanese news

Going to Japan for business

Writing in Japanese besides work


Taking a Japanese course(s)

Reading Japanese materials besides work

Talking with Japanese through social network

Writing Japanese at work

Reading Japanese documents at work

Talking with Japanese people through work

Q11-1MA: Why do you think your Japanese skills

became better since the day you worked for a

Japanese company?

100% = 97 people

Unit: %



There are a small number of IT employees who did not make any progress in their

Japanese skills. They considered that this is because they had few chances to talk with

Japanese people at work or read Japanese documents as well as write Japanese, or

because they gave up Japanese courses.

The reason why Japanese skills became worse

Choices Number of

employees

I had little chance to talk with Japanese people through my work 6

I had little chance to write Japanese at work 4

I gave up Japanese courses 3

I had less chance to talk Japanese people

through my social network than I used to 3

I had little chance to read Japanese document at work 2

I did not listen to Japanese news as I used to 2

I did not watch Japanese dramas, anime as I used to 2

I did not read Japanese materials besides work

(manga, books, magazines, etc) as I used to 2

I did not write in Japanese (diary, email, letter, etc) as I used to 1

Other reason 1

Q11-2MA: Why do you think your Japanese

skills became worse since the day you worked

for a Japanese company?

N=8



3.2.7. Japanese usage besides work

Besides job, people often talk with Japanese such as friends, teachers or their own

relatives and acquaintances. Many people like listening to Japanese news or music or

watching Japanese movies and dramas. Not many people participated in Japanese

conferences or seminars.

The proportion of the IT employees at N1 and N2 level using Japanese besides work

greatly dominated other levels. For these levels Japanese is most frequently used when

communicating with Japanese. The rate is 78% of 36 employees at N1 and N2, 69% of

36 employees at N3 and just 34% of 32 employees at N4 and N5. 28% of those at N4

and N5 even do not use Japanese outside their work.

Japanese usage outside job

10

2

17

20

38

42

42

62

I do not use

Japanese

besides my job

Other

Participating

Japanese

conferences, etc

Listening to

Japanese news

Reading

books, newspap

er, stories

Listening to

Japanese music

Watching

Japanese

movies, dramas

Communicating

with Japanese

3

6

25

36

42

50

58

78

0

0

19

14

39

47

39

69

28

0

6

9

34

28

28

34

36 36 32

Q12MA: Besides your job, in which

situation do you often use Japanese?

100% = 104 people

N1 and N2 N3 N4 and N5 Total

Unit: %



3.2.8. Comparison of the being taught and using Japanese

Being asked about the differences between Japanese taught at school and Japanese

needed at work, almost all IT employees said that there is a severe gap between what

they were taught and what they use. This means that the Japanese taught at school does

not seem to be suitable for practical use. Sometimes it is too complicated while it can

be simpler for using at work. They need more specialized words while they were not

taught enough at university or college. Even when specialized vocabularies are taught,

they seem to be not applicable for work.

The differences between Japanese taught at school and needed at work

Q13MA: What are the differences between

Japanese which is taught at school and

Japaneseneeded at work do you think?

100% = 106 people

Unit: %

17

4

5

18

41

57

Japanese at school can be applied fulfilly at

work.

Other comment

Japanese at school included specialized

vocabulary which is not needed at work

Japanese at school is sometimes old, and not

close to the modern Japanese

Japanese at school is too complicated, while

what needed at work is more

simple

Japanese at school did not provide enough

specialized vocabulary



Listening is regarded as the most important skills when working for a Japanese

company. It is followed by Speaking and Reading skill.

Japanese skills regarding to the importance of work

10

13

30

49

Writing Japanese

Speaking Japanese

Reading Japanese

Listening Japanese

20

50

12

22

18

11

43

24

Q14FA: Please rank the following Japanese skills

regarding to their importance for your work.

Rank 1st

100% = 106 people

Rank 2nd

106

Rank 3rd

106

Unit: %



CHAPTER 4 – CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

4.1. Situation of IT education and Japanese usage in IT companies in Vietnam

4.1.1. IT industry and IT human resources of Vietnam

Vietnam’s IT industry has performed a remarkable growth for recent years, despite the

slow-down of the world economy and difficulties that Vietnam has been facing. The

country is now more determined to invest in the IT industry to boost up the economy

and avoid the average-income trap.

The application of IT as well as utilization of Internet is still limited and remains at

simple level. Searching and emailing are popular, but online shopping and other

applications are yet to be utilized well even in enterprises.

Vietnam has recently issued some outstanding policies, such as Decision No.1755/QĐ-

TTg by Prime Minister on September 22nd

, 2010, approval of "The scheme to early

make Vietnam a country strong in information and communication technologies”, Draft

2.8 by MIC on November 1st 2010, “National program developing information

technology till 2015 and orientations to 2020”, etc. This shows the intention of the

country to develop IT industry and necessity to train more thousands skillful IT

employees for the country.

Through the analysis made in this report, we have come to the conclusion that

Vietnam's IT labor force is lack in quantity and low in quality. Although the number of

IT employees has increased in recent years, improvement in quality is slow. Especially,

working experience and foreign language skills seem the biggest weak points of

Vietnamese IT employees.

Japan is an important investor and client for Vietnam IT industry. The demand for

Japanese speaking IT employees is considered high. The survey on 52 Japan related

companies reveals that there is always a shortage of IT employees who can speak

Japanese, which is one of the important key skills to work in Japan related companies.

Out of 4,153 IT employees surveyed 953 employees (23%) can understand Japanese at

least of N5 level. N1, N2 level accounts for approximately 40% of 953.



4.1.2. Requirement of Japanese language at work

(i) Japanese using opportunity at work

The opportunities of using Japanese at work for IT employees differ considerably level

by level. The higher the level of Japanese is, the more chances they can get of applying

Japanese. IT employees at N1, N2 can deal well with a variety of Japanese using

circumstances, while N3 employees have less chances of using Japanese. Further, those

at N4, N5 have very limited Japanese usage.

Also in this survey, it has become evident that Japanese is used more internally than

externally among IT employees. In the case of internal usage, while over 40% IT

employees at N1 and N2 level use Japanese on mailing, reading documents or normal

conversation, people at N3 level mainly use Japanese on normal conversation followed

by reading documents. IT employees at level N4 and N5 almost have less occasion of

using Japanese both internally and externally.

(ii) Difficulties of using Japanese

In general, IT employees have many difficulties in using Japanese such as speaking,

listening in work-related issues and writing documents. Even those IT employees at

high level (N1, N2) encounter many difficulties with speaking in work-related

conversations. For external usage, normal conversation is also hard for many

employees.

Regarding Katakana usage, English is more preferred by IT employees than Katakana

words. Comparing with English, Katakana words are more difficult for IT employees

not only to pronounce, but also to listen to and write.

The higher the Japanese level is, the more frequent they use Katakana words at work. It

implies that their Japanese ability prevents them from using Katakana words, because

they have little opportunities to use them. Although Katakana is thought to be difficult

when using, a majority of employees surveyed indicate that Katakana is essential in

some cases or really essential. That shows its importance in Japanese IT companies.



4.1.3. Situation of IT and Japanese education in Vietnam

(i) IT education

The number of training agencies providing IT related courses has been increasing

gradually. The quality also has been improved considerably, but it is still far from

satisfying the need of the market and targets.

This research includes a survey on 10 major universities offering IT courses in

Vietnam. The survey shows the difficulties of the universities, such as many students

must share computers, the ratio of students to teacher was still high. Some of the

universities cooperate with overseas agencies, including Japanese to train IT students.

(ii) Japanese education

A majority of IT employees learned IT at university, while many of them took Japanese

courses at Japanese training centers. However, it is indicated from the survey that

teaching Japanese as a part of the undergraduate program at university contributes

remarkably to enhancing Japanese level, especially to gaining N1, N2 levels.

There is a key finding stated by IT employees on the difference of Japanese teaching

and using. They said that there is a big gap between what they were taught and what

they need at work. Moreover, it was indicated that listening and speaking are the most

important skills at work, followed by reading.

4.2. Japanese speaking IT human resources related issues

4.2.1. Japanese learning agencies

The result of the survey shows that most of IT employees did not learn Japanese in

University since there are few IT major Universities providing Japanese courses. Those

who need Japanese at work often have to take part in Japanese courses at Japanese

training centers. However, there are many Japanese centers with different quality.

Moreover, these employees often learn Japanese after work, in the evening or even in

weekend, which seems hard for learning or to get a completely effective learning hours.

4.2.2. Curriculums of Japanese training agencies

There is a big gap between the Japanese taught and the Japanese needed at work,

according to the survey results. In details, the IT employees find that they use quite

more simple Japanese at work than what they were taught. There is a problem lying in



the fact that IT employees do not have a chance to apply the complicated Japanese that

they learned, but they are still in need of improving their fundamental skills such as

listening and speaking. One more problem is that at school they are not provided

enough specialized vocabularies, which are necessary for work. Therefore they have to

learn vocabulary through working or by themselves.

4.2.3. Necessity of different solutions for each Japanese level learner

It is necessary to find different solutions to improve Japanese skills for Japanese

learners at each level. For those at low level (N4, N5) who cannot often use Japanese

even in normal conversation, it is hard for them to learn by themselves (such as reading

books, listening to Japanese news, etc) or learn by practicing Japanese at work.

4.3. Recommendations

4.3.1. For Japan-related companies

Since the Japanese taught at university is rather different from Japanese at work, it is

essential for companies to have some Japanese programs for their own employees.

Some effective ways for enhancing IT employees’ Japanese ability are recommended

as following:

Firstly, companies should understand the Japanese level of their staff and classify them

into appropriate level groups. Based on that, companies can make suitable training

programs for each group. At low level, companies can support IT employees to learn

Japanese by sending them to Japanese training centers, or open training courses at their

own companies. At high level, assigning them to advanced Japanese courses or opening

special Japanese courses (specialized vocabulary, etc) is also effective way to improve

their language skills. On the other hand, dispatching IT employees to Japan for training

is also a good way for them to enhance both specialty and Japanese capacity.

It is important not only to focus on Japanese training but also to encourage IT

employees to participate in Japanese exams such as Japanese - Language Proficiency

Test (JLPT) held in July and December every year. Companies may help employees to

pay for the exam fees or even tuition fees. Companies also need to provide them with

incentives such as offering wage subsidies for those employees who get a high level

certificate. This not only stimulates them to learn Japanese but also increases

inspiration at work as well.



In terms of internal activities, companies can organize Japanese clubs, Japanese

speaking clubs and other activities so that employees can communicate with each other

and improve their Japanese together.

4.3.2. For Japanese education

One of the survey findings is that speaking is harder than listening to many learners. It

indicates most Japanese learning ways are more observe-oriented rather than

interactive. In other words, they listen more but do not speak less. Therefore, it is

strongly advised that Japanese training agencies should focus more on encouraging

communication skills while keeping a balance between listening and speaking skills.

For example, discussion and presentation lessons should be applied to give learners

more chance to communicate in Japanese; extra-curricular activities such as Japanese

contest, Japanese conference, cultural exchange with Japanese should be organized.

Regarding specialized words in need, training agencies should research on Japanese

words needed at work by consulting experienced people, or cooperate with IT

companies and share opinions with them.

In addition, Universities may open Japanese courses at night for working people to

provide them more choices to improve their Japanese skills.

4.3.3. For Japanese learners

It is strongly recommended that IT engineers should try to get N2 or above level for

their own sake if they work for a Japan-related company.

Communicating with Japanese is considered as a very important way of learning

Japanese, which contributes greatly to improve Japanese ability into higher levels.

Besides doing exercises, Japanese learners are strongly advised to listen to Japanese

news or watch dramas and animes. They should also take part in Japanese extra-

curricular activities as much as possible to practice the language.

Moreover, the cooperation of IT companies is also recommended for training agencies

to improve Japanese language skills. For example, IT companies may send employees

to universities and share their points of view about both IT and Japanese with students.



CHAPTER 5 – APPENDIX

5.1. Questionnaires

5.1.1. Questionnaire for companies

QUESTIONNAIRE

Part 1 Basic information

Company name : ………………………………..

Address : ………………………………..

Website :………………………………..

Telephone number :………………………………..

Interviewee :………………………………..

Position :………………………………..

Mobile phone : ………………………………..

Part 2 Questions

2.1. Introduction

Q1MA Which business field(s) do your company belong to?

1

Software manufacturing

2

Hardware manufacturing

3

Out-sourcing

4

Web design service

5

Network management and security

6

IT products vendor

7

Digital content

8

Intergration service

9

IT consulting service

10

Other

Note:

1. IT consulting service: supporting their customer to access and select the

most suitable IT solutions provider.

2. IT solutions provider: providing software, hardware, IT

services.



2.2. Human resources

Q2FA How many employees are there in your company?

Total Japanese Vietnamese Other

nationality

IT employee

Non-IT employee

Q3FA How many IT employees are there in each position? (Vietnamese only)

1 Project manager

2 Programmer

3 Tester

4 Designer

5 System engineer (SE)

6 Other (……………………)

Q4MA Which levels of Japanese language of your IT employees are they?

(Vietnamese only)

1 N1 (equivalent to 1 kyu) No. of employees

2 N2 ( equivalent to 2 kyu) No. of employees

3 N3 (equivalent to the level

between 3kyu and 2kyu)

No. of employees





5.1.2. Questionnaire for employees


Name : ……………………………………………

Gender Male

Female

Age : ……………………………………………

Company name : ……………………………………………

Phone number : ……………………………………………

Part 2 Questions

Q1FA Where did you learn about IT? (Which university/college/center?)

Q2MA Where did you learn Japanese?

1

High school

2

University/college in Vietnam

3

Japanese training center

4

Japanese tutor

5

Self-studying

6

Studying in Japan

7

Other

Q3SA What is your Japanese level? (It is not necessary to hold the certificate)

1

N1 (equivalent to 1 kyu)

(Advanced, understand Japanese used

in a variety of circumstances)

2


(Intermediate, understand Japanese used

in a variety of circumstances to a certain degree)

3

N3 (equivalent to 2.5 kyu)

(Pre-intermediate, understand Japanese used

in everyday situations to a certain degree)

4


(Basic, understand basic Japanese)

5


(Basic, understand some basic Japanese)



Q4MA How did you learn Japanese? (Please choose the main activities that

besides school and work)

1

Doing Japanese exercises

2

Listening Japanese news

3


4

Reading Japanese manga

5

Reading Japanese books/news,

magazines

6

Communicating with Japanese people

7

Practicing Japanese with other learners

8

Writing in Japanese (diary, email, letter, etc.)

9

Other activities

Q5MA In which position are you working?

1

Project manager or higher

2

Programmer

3

Tester

4

Designer

5

System engineer

6

Other

Q6MA In which circumstances in your job do you often use Japanese?

A Internal (i)

Almost

every day

(ii) Several

times per

week

(iii) Less

frequent

than (ii)

1

Normal conversation

2


conversation

3


conversation

4

Reading emails

5

Writing emails

6

Writing documents

(reports, information, etc.)

for internal use

7

Reading documents

8

Other

9

I do not use Japanese in my company



B External

(i)

Almost

everyday

(ii)Several

times per

week

(iii) Less

frequent

than (ii)

1

Normal conversation with

clients

2



3



4


5


6

Writing documents

(reports, quotation,

guidelines, etc.) for clients

7

Other

8

I do not use Japanese in external cases

Q7MA What kind of difficulties do you face while using Japanese at

work?

A Internal

1

Normal conversation

2


3


4

Reading emails

5

Writing emails

6

Writing documents (reports, information, etc.)

for internal use

7

Reading documents

8

Other

9

No difficulty

B External

1


2


3


4


5


6

Writing documents (reports, quotation, guidelines, etc.) for clients

7

Other

8

No difficulty



Q8MA What are main reasons of misunderstandings, if any, when you

communicate with Japanese people?

1

Because my Japanese was not good enough

2

Because of differences in mindset/culture

3

Because I did not know some IT knowledge

4

Because I did not know some other business or social knowledge

5

Because the Japanese did not know some IT knowledge

6

Because the Japanese did not know some other business or

social knowledge

7

Other

Q9SA Is there any circumstance at work that English is more convenient than

Japanese?

Any cases Most of

cases

Some

cases

No case

1. Normal conversation

2. Listening in work-related

conversation

3. Speaking in work-related

conversation

4. Reading emails

5. Writing emails

6. Writing documents

7. Reading documents

8. Other

Q10MA How did you get to know Katakana words which are related to IT?

(If you do not know any IT related Katakana words, please choose option 6

and answer Q11SA)

1

Through working

(Please answer the following questions)

2

Through Japanese curriculum at university/college


3

Through Japanese curriculum at Japanese training center


4

Self-studying via books, the Internet, TV, etc.


5

Other (Please answer the following questions)

6

I do not know any Katakana words which are related to IT

(Please answer questions from Q11SA)



Q10-1SA How often do you use IT related Katakana words at work?

1

Always

2

Usually

3

Sometimes

4

Rarely

5

Never

Q10-2MA What kind of difficulties do you face while using IT specialized

Katakana words?

1

Reading and understanding Katakana is difficult

2

Writing Katakana is difficult

3

Pronouncing Katakana is difficult

4

Listening Katakana is difficult

5

Other

6

No difficulty

Q10-3SA Do you think that English is easier to understand and more convenient

than Katakana while mentioning IT related words?

1

Yes

2

No

Q10-4SA Do you think that Katakana is really essential to your work?

1

Really essential, English cannot be used as an alternative for

Katakana

2

Essential in some cases

3

Not essential, English can be used as an alternative for Katakana

Q11SA Have your Japanese skills become better, remained the same, or become

worse since the day you worked for a Japanese company?

Skill Better The same Worse

1 Listening

2 Speaking

3 Reading

4 Writing



Q11-1MA Please answer this question if your Japanese skills become better:

Why do you think your Japanese skills became better since the day you

worked for a Japanese company?

My Japanese skills became better because I started doing or envolved

more than before in the following activities:

1

Taking a Japanese course(s)

2

Talking with Japanese people through my work

3

Talking with Japanese people through my social network

4


5


6

Reading Japanese documents at work

7

Reading Japanese materials besides work (manga, books,

magazines, etc)

8

Writing Japanese at work

9

Writing in Japanese besides work (diary, email, letter, etc…)

10

Going to Japan for business

11

Going to Japan on vacation

12

Other reason

Q11-2MA Please answer this question if your Japanese skills become worse:

Why do you think your Japanese skills became worse since the day you

worked for a Japanese company?

My Japanese skills became worse because after joining a Japanese

company:

1

I gave up Japanese courses

2

I had little chance to talk with Japanese people

through my work

3

I had less chance to talk Japanese people

through my social network than I used to

4

I had little chance to read Japanese document at work

5

I had little chance to write Japanese at work

6

I did not listen to Japanese news as I used to

7

I did not watch Japanese dramas, animes as I used to

8

I did not read Japanese materials besides work

(manga, books, magazines, etc) as I used to

9

I did not write in Japanese (diary, email, letter, etc)

as I used to

10

Other reason



Q12MA Besides your job, in which situations do you often use Japanese?

1

Reading books, newspaper, stories in Japanese

2


3

Listening to Japanese music

4

Watching Japanese movies, dramas

5

Communicating with Japanese (friends, relatives, acquaintances,

teachers, etc.)

6

Participating Japanese conferences/seminars, etc.

7

Other

8

I do not use Japanese besides my job.

Q13MA What are the differences between Japanese which is taught at school and

Japanese needed at work do you think?

1

Japanese at school is sometimes old, and not close to the modern

Japanese.

2

Japanese at school is too complicated, while what needed at

work is more simple

3

Japanese at school did not provide enough specialized

vocabulary which is needed at work.

4

Japanese at school included specialized vocabulary which is not

needed at work

5

Other comment

6

Japanese at school can be applied fully at work.

Q14FA Please rank the following Japanese skills regarding to their importance for

your work (with 1 is most important factor)

1

Listening Japanese

2

Speaking Japanese

3

Reading Japanese

4

Writing Japanese



5.1.3. Questionnaire for universities

INTERVIEW CONTENT


Name of university : …………………………………………………….

Name of faculty : …………………………………………………….

Address : ……………………………………………………

Website : ……………………………………………………

Telephone : ……………………………………………………

Interviewee : ……………………………………………………

Position : ……………………………………………………

Mobile phone : ……………………………………………………

Part 2 Questions

2.1. About HEDSPI (Higher Education Development Support Program on ICT)

Q1 Do you know about HEDSPI (Higher Education Development Support Program on

ICT) at Hanoi University of Technology? If yes, please give your comments on

HEDSPI.

2.2. About students and teachers

Q2 How many full-time, undergraduate students are there in your university?

Q3 Among those, how many students are there in your faculty?



Q4 Please give us information on number of teachers in your faculty

1 Total number of teachers

2 Number of permanent teachers

3 Number of visiting teachers

4 Number of other teachers (if any)

Q5 Please describe department structure of your faculty

Department Number of teachers

2.3. Training program

Q6 What are special characteristics of your IT curriculum?

Does your faculty apply any IT training program from other countries?

If yes, please answer its name and origin

COUNTRY NAME OF CURRICULUM

1

2

3

4

5



Q7 Please give more details on your IT training program. You can provide information

which is requested as below, by giving a description on your IT training program.

Sector Sub-

sector

Subject (IT

related)

No. of

credit

No. of classes Subject description

2.4. About infrastructure

Q8 How many computers are being used for IT training activities of your faculty?

Q9 How long have they been being used until now?

Ex: How many years do you use computers? How often do you replace the computers?

Q10

Are computers connected to the Internet?

Q11 Is there Wifi in your campus?



Q12 Is there any IT practice room for students? Can we take some pictures of the room?

If yes:

How many rooms are there?

How many computers are there?

Q13 Is there any room with computers available for students to use after classes?

If there is:

What time are the rooms open?

Q13-2 Do you think that the computers are sufficient in your faculty?

2.5. About cooperation and research

Q14 Does your faculty cooperate with any foreign university and/or organization or

company in IT training?

If yes, please describe briefly the cooperation.

No. University/Organization

(which country?)

Type of

cooperation*

Details

(Ex: Number of students,

comments, etc,)

* Type of cooperation: Ex: Dispatch teachers, Joint research ; Scholarship for students,

teachers, etc.

Q15 When your faculty conducts the research activities, what kind of problem you have

faced? For example, equipment is not enough, shortage of researchers, low quality of

postgraduates, lack of funds, etc.

What were the reasons for those problems?

What kind of countermeasures are to be taken?



2.6. About ITSS - Information Technology Standard Skills

Q16 Does your faculty apply the Japanese ITSS in your IT curriculum? Since when?

If no, do you have any plan to apply it? When?

If yes, since when? Is there any difficulty? How many students have been

trained? Etc.

If you used to apply ITSS but no longer apply it now in IT training

When was it applied? Why was it stopped being applied?

Q17 Do you recommend students to apply for FE (Fundamentals of Engineering exam)

conducted by VITEC?

Q18 1 Number of your faculty students applied FE exam in 2010:

2 Number of your faculty students passed FE exam in 2010:



5.2. List of interviewed Companies and Universities

5.2.1. Companies

No. Name Address Website Phone number

1 ACT Brain Vietnam

Co., Ltd.

107-109 -111 Nguyen

Dinh Chieu, Ward 6,

Dist.3, HCMC

www.actbrain-

vn.com

(84-8) 6290 5784

2 Advanced

Intelligence

&Technology JSC

G4 Block, La Thanh

Hotel, 218 Doi Can,

Ba Dinh Dist, Hanoi

www.ai-t.vn (84-4) 3762 4015

3 AKB Software

Vietnam

Room 1806, The

Garden Building, My

Dinh new urban area,

Me Tri, Tu Liem,

Hanoi

www.akb.com.

vn

(84-4) 3787 7529

4 Applistar Vietnam Lot 95 TT4, My Dinh

new urban area,

Tu Liem, Hanoi

www.applistar.

com

(84-4) 3787 6331

5 Bridge System R502A Floor 5 , A

building, Incubation

Center, Lot D, 01 Tan

Thuan, Tan Thuan

EPZ, Dist.7, HCMC

www.bridgesys

tem.me

(84-8) 3770 0807

6 Cuvel Software Co.,

Ltd.

140 Co Bac, Co Giang

Ward, Dist.1, HCMC

www.cuvel.co

m

(84-8) 3920 8215

7 Cybozu Vietnam Inc. Etown1, Cong Hoa Str.,

Tan Binh Dist., HCMC

www.cybozu.c

o.jp

(84-8) 3813 1101

8 Dank Hearts Vietnam

JSC.

7F, CMC Bldg, Dich

Vong, Cau Giay Dist,

Hanoi

www.dank-

hearts.co.jp

(84-4) 3795 9171

9 Data Design Vietnam P407 , 123 Truong

Dinh, Ward 7,

Dist.3,HCMC

www.datadesig

n.co.jp

(84-8) 3932 1520

10 Delivery Vietnam Floor 6, Etown 2

Building, No 364 Cong

Hoa Str., Ward 13,Tan

Binh Dist., HCMC

www.deliv.co.j

p

(84-8) 3812 3395

11 Emar Vietnam Co.,

Ltd.

Floor 7, Zen Plaza 54-

56 Nguyen Trai, Dist.

1, HCMC

www.emar.co.j

p

(84-8) 3925 4445

12 FPT Software FPT Bldg, Duy Tan St.,

Cau Giay Dist, Hanoi

www.fpt-

software.com

(84-4) 3768 9048

http://www.actbrain-vn.com/

http://www.actbrain-vn.com/

http://www.ai-t.vn/

http://www.akb.com.vn/

http://www.akb.com.vn/

http://www.applistar.com/

http://www.applistar.com/

http://www.bridgesystem.me/

http://www.bridgesystem.me/

http://www.cuvel.com/

http://www.cuvel.com/

http://www.cybozu.co.jp/

http://www.cybozu.co.jp/

http://www.dank-hearts.co.jp/

http://www.dank-hearts.co.jp/

http://www.datadesign.co.jp/

http://www.datadesign.co.jp/

http://www.deliv.co.jp/

http://www.deliv.co.jp/

http://www.emar.co.jp/

http://www.emar.co.jp/

http://www.fpt-software.com/

http://www.fpt-software.com/




13 Fujitsu Vietnam 8th floor, 535 Kim Ma,

Ba Dinh Dist., Hanoi

www.fujitsu.co

m/vn/vi/

(84-4)-2220 3113

14 Global Cybersoft,

Inc.

Helios Building, Quang

Trung Software Park,

Tan Chanh Hiep Ward,

Dist. 12, HCMC

www.globalcyb

ersoft.com

(84-8) 5437 1199

15 Global Data Service

JSC

204A, Thang Long

Bldg, 105 Lang Ha St.,

Hanoi

www.gds.vn (84-4) 3562 6996

16 Global network

technologies Vietnam

Co., Ltd.

67 Thu Khoa Huan,

Ben Thanh Ward,

Dist.1, HCMC

www.gnt.com.

vn/gnt_vietnam

.htm

(84-8) 3822 6023

17 Grapecity Vietnam 6 Yen The, Ba Dinh

Dist, Hanoi

www.grapecity

.com

(84-4) 3747 8074

18 Hi World JSC 4, 111Alley, Nguyen

Phong Sac St, Cau Giay

Dist, Hanoi

www.hiworld.c

om.vn

(84-4) 6269 1686

19 Ichi Corporation

Japan

F7, Estar Building, No

147-149, Vo Van Tan

Str., Ward 6, Dist.3,

HCMC

www.ichi-

corp.vn/

(84-8) 3930-8042

20 IM Link 40-42 Phan Boi Chau,

Dist.1, HCMC

www.imlink.co

.jp /

www.imlvietna

m.co.jp

(84-8) 3827 2651

21 Information

intergration

management solution

JSC

No 14, Alley 193/32,

Bo De, Long Bien Dist,

Hanoi

www.itms.vn (84-4) 3719 2728

22 ISB Vietnam Co., Ltd Room 3.1,Floor 3,

E Town 2 Building,

364 Cong Hoa Str.,


www.isb-

vietnam.com

(84-8) 3812 7145

23 IT Ha Noi JSC No 14/90 Yen Lac Str.,

Hai Ba Trung Dist.,

Hanoi

www.ithanoi.c

om

(84-4) 3636 9490

24 KDDI Vietnam Unit 7, 4F,

International Centre, 17

Ngo Quyen, Hanoi

www.kddivietn

am.com

(84-4) 3826 2001

25 Kobelco Viet Control

System Co., Ltd.

Floor 5. Etown2. 364

Cong Hoa Str., Tan

Binh Dist., HCMC

www.kvics.co

m.Vietnam

(84-8) 3812 1602

http://www.fujitsu.com/vn/vi/

http://www.fujitsu.com/vn/vi/

http://www.globalcybersoft.com/

http://www.globalcybersoft.com/

http://www.gds.vn/

http://www.gnt.com.vn/gnt_vietnam.htm



http://www.grapecity.com/

http://www.grapecity.com/

http://www.hiworld.com.vn/

http://www.hiworld.com.vn/

http://www.ichi-corp.vn/

http://www.ichi-corp.vn/

http://www.itms.vn/

http://www.isb-vietnam.com/

http://www.isb-vietnam.com/

http://www.ithanoi.com/

http://www.ithanoi.com/

http://www.kddivietnam.com/

http://www.kddivietnam.com/

http://www.kvics.com.vn/

http://www.kvics.com.vn/




26 Lifetime

Technologies

Vietnam-Japan

3F, 3D creative Bldg,

Duy Tan, Cau Giay

Dist, Hanoi

www.lifetimete

ch.vn

(84-4) 3795 1025

27 Luvina Software JSC 1001, Hoang Quoc Viet

Str., Cau Giay Dist,

Hanoi

www.luvina.ne

t

(84-4) 3793 1103

28 Material Automation

Thailand (MAT)

Vietnam

4F, No 24, Alley 12,

Dao Tan St, Ba Dinh

Dist., Hanoi

www.mat.co.th (84-4) 3211 5790

29 NCS Technology 6Floor, LuckyB

Building, No 66, Tran

Thai Tong St., Cau

Giay Dist., Hanoi

www.ncstech.c

om.vn

30 Netmarks Vietnam Room 301, Technology

center Floor, Thang

Long IZ, Dong Anh

Dist., Hanoi

www.netmarks.

com.vn

(84-4) 3955 0180

31 New System Vietnam

Co., Ltd.

Room 503, Hoa Lam

Building, No 2 Thi

Sach, Dist.1, HCMC

www.newsyste

mvietnam.com

(84-8) 3824 6350

32 Nippon Cloud 23 Ton Duc Thang,

Dist.1, HCMC

www.vn.jp-

cloud.com/vn

(84-8) 3824 3288

33 NTT Communication Floor 11, Sailing Tower

Building, 51 Nam Ki

Khoi Nghia Str., Dist.1,

HCMC

www.vn.ntt.co

m

(84-8) 3827 3646

34 NTT Data Vietnam

Co., Ltd.

R401, V-Tower, 649

Kim Ma, Ba Dinh Dist.,

Hanoi

www.nttdata.co

m.vn

(84-4) 3766 7973

35 Panasonic R&D

Center Vietnam Co.,

Ltd.

11F, CMC Bldg, Dich

Vong Hau, Cau Giay

Dist, Hanoi

NA (84-4) 3553 7211

36 Pasona Tech Vietnam M Floor, E.Town, 364

Cong Hoa, ward 13,


www.csfactory

-vn.com

(84-8) 3812 7150

37 Photron Vietnam Room 7A2, Floor 7,

Han Nam building. 65

Nguyen Du Str.,Dist. 1,

HCMC

www.photron.c

o.jp

(84-8) 3823 9638

38 Renesas Design Tan Thuan EPZ, Dist.1,

HCMC

www.vietnam.r

enesas.com

(84-8) 3770 0255

39 Runsystem JSC 118 Nguyen Ngoc Nai,

Thanh Xuan Dist.,

Hanoi

www.runsyste

m.net

http://www.lifetimetech.vn/

http://www.lifetimetech.vn/

http://www.luvina.net/

http://www.luvina.net/

http://www.mat.co.th/

http://www.ncstech.com.vn/

http://www.ncstech.com.vn/

http://www.netmarks.com.vn/

http://www.netmarks.com.vn/

http://www.newsystemvietnam.com/

http://www.newsystemvietnam.com/

http://www.vn.jp-cloud.com/vn

http://www.vn.jp-cloud.com/vn

http://www.vn.ntt.com/

http://www.vn.ntt.com/

http://www.nttdata.com.vn/

http://www.nttdata.com.vn/

http://www.csfactory-vn.com/

http://www.csfactory-vn.com/

http://www.photron.co.jp/

http://www.photron.co.jp/

http://www.vietnam.renesas.com/

http://www.vietnam.renesas.com/

http://www.runsystem.net/

http://www.runsystem.net/




40 Seta-cinqVienam 4th Floor, 3D Creative

Center Building, Duy

Tan Str., Cau Giay

Dist., Hanoi

www.setacinq.

vn

84-4) 3795 1298

41 SMS Vietnam 10F, CTM Bld, 299

Cau Giay Str., Cau

Giay Dist, Hanoi

www.bm-

sms.co.jp/

(84-4) 2220 1403

42 Sprite

Communication Co.,

Ltd.

No 10, AgriBank

Dormitory, 106 Alley,

Hoang Quoc Viet Str.,

Cau Giay Dist., Hanoi

www.sprite.co

m.vn

(84-4) 3748 0475

43 Strawberry Jam

Vietnam

DC Tower, 111D Ly

Chinh Thang, Ward 7,

Dist.3, HCMC

www.strawberr

y-jam.vn

(84-8) 6292 1355

44 Suntas International

JSC

Cienco1 Bldg, R 1205,

Hoang Dao Thuy Str.,

Nhan Chinh, Thanh

Xuan Dist., Hanoi

www.suntas.ne

t

(84-4) 3772 4304

45 System Exe Inc Floor 3. Etown. 364

Cong Hoa, Tan Binh

Dist., HCMC

www.system-

exe.co.jp/

(84-8) 3770 0255

46 Tazmo Vietnam Road 12, Tan Thuan

IZ, Dist.7, HCMC

www.tazmo-

vn.com

(84-8) 3770 0664

47 Toshiba Software

Development

Vietnam Co., Ltd.

16F, VIT Bldg, 519

Kim Ma Str., Ba Dinh

Dist., Hanoi

NA (84 - 4) 2220

8801

48 Tri-vision JSC Room 707, Sunrise

Tower, 123 Tran Thai

Tong, Cau Giay Dist.,

Hanoi

tri-vision.com (84-4) 3557 7926

49 USOL Vietnam Floor 14, 20 - Hoa Binh

Tower - 106 Hoang

Quoc Viet Str., Cau

Giay Dist., Hanoi

www.usol-

v.com.vn

(84-4) 3755 6500

50 V.N.E.X.T JSC R1407, 34T Building,

Trung Hoa Nhan

Chinh, Hoang Dao

Thuy Str., Thanh Xuan

Dist., Hanoi

www.vnext.vn (84-4) 0906 249

886

51 Vietnam Image

Partner Systems

4th floor, No.18,

11 alley, Thai Ha Str.,

Dong Da Dist, Hanoi

www.vips.com.

vn

(84-4)-3537-8480

52 We Are Engineering

Co., Ltd

Floor 4, Etown-3

Builtding, Cong Hoa

Str., Tan Binh Dist.,

HCMC

www.wae.jp (84-8) 3813 0515

http://www.setacinq.vn/

http://www.setacinq.vn/

http://www.bm-sms.co.jp/

http://www.bm-sms.co.jp/

http://www.sprite.com.vn/

http://www.sprite.com.vn/

http://www.strawberry-jam.vn/

http://www.strawberry-jam.vn/

http://www.suntas.net/

http://www.suntas.net/

http://www.system-exe.co.jp/

http://www.system-exe.co.jp/

http://www.tazmo-vn.com/

http://www.tazmo-vn.com/

http://www.usol-v.com.vn/



http://www.vnext.vn/

http://www.vips.com.vn/

http://www.vips.com.vn/

http://www.wae.jp/



5.2.2. Universities

No Name Faculty Address Website Phone number

1 Hanoi

University of

Industry

Information

Technology

Minh Khai,

Tu Liem,

Hanoi

www.haui.ed

u.vn/default.

aspx?Channe

lID=77

(84-4) 3765 5121

2 Hanoi

University of

Industry

International

Education

and Training

Minh Khai,

Tu Liem,

Hanoi

www.haui.ed

u.vn/default.

aspx?Channe

lID=85

(84-4) 3765 5121

3 FPT

University

Information

Technology

DETECH,

8 Ton That

Thuyet Str.,

My Dinh, Cau

Giay Dist.,

Hanoi

www.fpt.edu.

vn

(84-4) 3768 8922

4 Hanoi

University of

Business and

Technology

Information

Technology

29A, Alley 124

Vinh Tuy Str.,

Hai Ba Trung

Dist., Hanoi

www.hubt.ed

u.vn

(84-4) 3633 6605

5 Military

Technical

Institute

Information

Technology

100 Hoang

Quoc Viet Str.,

Cau Giay Dist.,

Hanoi

www.lqdtu.e

du.vn

(84-4) 3755 3517

6 University of

Transport and

Communica-

tion

Information

Technology

Lang Thuong

Ward - Dong

Da Dist.,

Hanoi

www.uct.edu

.vn

(84-4) 3766 4078

7 Ho Chi Minh

University of

Industry

Information

Technology

12 Nguyen

Van Bao

Str.,Ward4, Go

Vap Dist.,

HCMC

www.hui.edu

.vn

(84-8) 3894 0390

8 Ho Chi Minh

University of

Industry

International

Studies

13 Nguyen

Van Bao Str.,

Ward 4, Go

Vap Dist,

HCMC

www.hui.edu

.vn

(84-8) 3894 0391

http://www.haui.edu.vn/default.aspx?ChannelID=77








http://www.fpt.edu.vn/

http://www.fpt.edu.vn/

http://www.hubt.edu.vn/

http://www.hubt.edu.vn/

http://www.lqdtu.edu.vn/

http://www.lqdtu.edu.vn/

http://www.uct.edu.vn/

http://www.uct.edu.vn/

http://www.hui.edu.vn/






Name Faculty Address Website Phone number

9

Ho Chi Minh

University of

Industry

Computer

Science &

Engineering

14 Nguyen

Van Bao Str.,

Ward 4, Go

Vap Dist,

HCMC

www.csehui.w

ordpress.com

(84-8) 3894 0392

10 Ho Chi Minh

University of

Foreign

Languages-

Information

Technology

Information

Technology

155 Su Van

Hanh, Ward

13, Dist. 10,

HCMC

www.huflit.ed

u.vn

(84-8) 3862 1859

11

University of

Information

Technology

Km 20 Hanoi

Highway, Linh

Trung, Thu

Duc Dist.,

HCMC

www.uit.edu.v

n

(84-8) 3725 1993

12 Ho Chi Minh

University of

Technology

Computer

Science &

Engineering

268 Ly Thuong

Kiet Str., Dist.

10, HCMC

www.hcmut.ed

u.vn

(84-8) 3864 7256

13

Ho Chi Minh

University of

Technology

Information

Technology

144/24 Dien

Bien Phu,

Ward 25, Binh

Thanh Dist.,

HCMC

www.hutech.e

du.vn

(84-8) 3512 0783

http://www.csehui.wordpress.com/

http://www.csehui.wordpress.com/

http://www.huflit.edu.vn/

http://www.huflit.edu.vn/

http://www.uit.edu.vn/

http://www.uit.edu.vn/

http://www.hcmut.edu.vn/

http://www.hcmut.edu.vn/

http://www.hutech.edu.vn/

http://www.hutech.edu.vn/