Student service, support and care model: experience in Singapore

The three leading educational institutions in Singapore that the delegation visited were the National University of Singapore (NUS), the Singapore Institute of Management (SIM) and the Singapore Polytechnic Institute (SP). After working at the school, we - those who directly work with students at the training units of VNU - have drawn valuable experiences in student support activities.

National University of Singapore: support students to develop comprehensively

At the National University of Singapore, the delegation had a meeting with representatives of the leadership and professional staff of the Student Affairs Department and learned that: The National University of Singapore has built an online portal to support students; skill development programs and career counseling are organized periodically and quite often. Every year, the University sends excellent students to corporations and multinational companies for internships and, more importantly, to inspire them with the spirit of entrepreneurship and career building.

The National University of Singapore has established more than 200 extracurricular clubs for students and encourages students to participate with the slogan: get out of the classroom and experience exciting activities! At the Student Services Center, students are advised and supported on issues related to tuition fees, training and administration: from issues related to tuition fees, invoices, giving discount cards for student travel, providing transcripts... to certificates of participation in activities, student certificates, issuing Student Cards, lost and found services... This is an extremely convenient service model for students.

National University of Singapore established a Sports Center for students with modern equipment for many types of sports: football field, outdoor swimming pool, multi-purpose room, gym, squash room, yoga room... These are necessary facilities to ensure that students can study and practice comprehensively.

To achieve the goal "Help learners develop holistically as global citizens and become pioneering leaders who create change”, The National University of Singapore pays great attention to the activities of the Community Engagement Center. This center has the function of organizing and connecting students to participate in volunteer activities for the community, not only in Singapore but also expanding to other countries. The center has implemented a number of projects in Vietnam such as: English teaching project for children in Ha Giang, Information Technology classroom design and construction project in Tra Vinh, Rebuilding damaged classrooms due to the impact of storm Monsoon in Dong Nai... This is an opportunity for students to learn, experience different cultures and make useful contributions to the community.

Singapore Institute of Management: focus on international students

At the Singapore Institute of Management (SIM), the Student Learning Centre was established to support students with training-related issues. SIM is the leading and largest private institute in Singapore, receiving a large number of international students from many countries around the world every year. Many students have difficulty in studying and researching in English. The centre is responsible for introducing these students to seminars, discussions on Research Skills and Essay Writing in English; and also organizing group study sessions on some issues in studying or supporting some specific subjects. Volunteers will be former students or alumni. They guide international students on how to write essays, how to take notes and even professional research skills to be able to complete the study program in the best way.

A special feature of the student care and support model at SIM is that the Institute has established a Student Health Center. This center has the function of guiding students to effectively manage their personal health, both physically, mentally, emotionally and socially. The center is always ready to provide psychological counseling when students encounter personal obstacles and need expert guidance. The center encourages students to participate in tea parties, talks, and seminars revolving around topics such as healthy eating solutions, improving physical health, the benefits of sports, ways to control stress, secrets to creating quality relationships, etc.

Singapore Polytechnic Institute: promote career guidance and the role of alumni

During our visit and work at Singapore Polytechnic (SP), we were exposed to new points in the career guidance support model for students. SP invites experienced experts from multinational companies and corporations to be lecturers. They will not teach the usual theory but will give practical exercises that are the problems of their own companies and corporations so that students can come up with solutions to overcome them. This is the most effective way to support career guidance for learners. Learners can approach current business issues.

MSc. Nguyen Thanh Mai (specialist of the Department of Politics and Student Affairs, University of Social Sciences and Humanities) joined the working delegation of VNU

We also see the close connection between the Institute and the alumni network. The Institute values ​​alumni, considering them the pride of the training unit. They are important factors contributing to the success of the Institute. There is a separate office for alumni. At the same time, alumni also actively advise and support students in their studies, internships and work as academic advisors, career advisors through specialized talks; sponsoring learning activities and extracurricular programs for students; accepting interns or recruiting new graduates...

Suggestions for VNU

Experiences in the model of supporting, serving and caring for students at 3 leading educational institutions in Singapore give us new ideas that can be applied at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities and VNU:

One is, established a Psychological Counseling Center for students. This is a necessary activity to support students to overcome personal psychological obstacles. The University of Social Sciences and Humanities has nearly 90% of students coming from provinces and cities, of which about 40% of students come from the northern mountainous provinces, where the living, working and studying environment is quite different from Hanoi. Therefore, students will inevitably feel confused and apprehensive when starting their student life. The Psychological Counseling Center will be a place to provide and support psychological expertise; advise and listen to the difficulties and problems in studying, working and living of students.

Second,There needs to be more space and activities to improve the health of learners. To ensure that students can develop comprehensively both physically and mentally, they need conditions and space to participate in healthy extracurricular activities. The Center for Physical Education and Sports of Hanoi National University needs to be reformed in both facilities and operating model to best serve learners.

Three is, further promote career counseling and employment support for students. Career counseling and employment support for students is a long-term process, not just for final year students.

For example, at the Singapore Institute of Management, students have many opportunities to participate in discussions, seminars or career orientation fairs, job counseling organized by alumni and companies and corporations. Final year students do not study majors but only have the task of learning, participating in these activities, doing internships or participating in career orientation camps to expand career opportunities.

According to SIM’s annual surveys, 60% of graduates from the private university system found formal employment within six months of graduation and earned an average salary of S$2,550. Meanwhile, 82.7% of SIM graduates found full-time employment within six months of graduation with an average salary of S$2,700, while the remaining 18.8% worked part-time or other freelance jobs.

Four is,Graduate employment data should be investigated primarily through employers and alumni.

Through group interviews with our colleagues at the National University of Singapore, the Singapore Institute of Management, and the Singapore Polytechnic Institute, we learned that these units mainly conduct surveys on graduate employment information through alumni employers. Through this, we not only know accurate and authentic information about graduate employment, but also know the strengths and weaknesses of students. From there, the School can make adjustments to its training programs to suit the needs of employers.

Five is,Hanoi National University should issue regulations on granting Certificates to students who participate in volunteer activities. These will be valuable evidence when students graduate and look for jobs.