Support young entrepreneurs
To concretize the Central Youth Union's "Support for Youth Entrepreneurship" program for the period 2022-2030, the Youth Union branches at all levels in Can Tho City have implemented many solutions to accompany young people in starting businesses. Notable among these are skills training, technology transfer, and various communication activities to inspire an entrepreneurial spirit among young people. 100% of the Youth Union branches in universities and colleges have established entrepreneurship clubs and numerous platforms and forums connecting students with businesses to provide career guidance for young people.
Lecturers from the School of Information Technology and Communications (Can Tho University) guide union members and young people in creating media products using AI.
Over 150 youth union members and young people participated in a training course titled "Enhancing Business Management Capacity, Digital Transformation, Digital Technology, and Digital Finance for Young Entrepreneurs," organized by the Central Youth Union in coordination with the Can Tho City Youth Union last weekend at the Can Tho Youth Employment Service Center. The young participants received foundational knowledge from lecturers at the School of Information Technology and Communications (Can Tho University) on innovative entrepreneurship, the application of artificial intelligence (AI), big data, and the Internet of Things (IoT) in customer data analysis and business process automation.
Mr. Luong Thanh Dai, a teacher at Binh Thuy High School, shared: “After one lesson, I learned how to write commands (prompts) in AI applications to create video scripts and many other digital skills to maximize the benefits of AI for my profession. These are useful skills that help me design lessons or team activities for students very effectively.”
According to Ms. Huynh Ngoc Thai Anh, a lecturer at the School of Information Technology and Communications (Can Tho University), "AI has become a trend applied in all aspects of socio-economic life. Young entrepreneurs can apply AI to advertising, marketing products, customer service (creating chatboxes to advise customers or schedule appointments), and supporting project planning and management. This can improve work efficiency, optimize costs, and optimize resources for startups." Of course, to effectively utilize the benefits of AI, young people need training and skill development to enhance their creative thinking abilities and effectively apply digital technology to practice.
The Youth Union organizations of universities and colleges in the city are stepping up training and workshops on entrepreneurship knowledge and skills. During the 2024-2025 academic year, young people from universities and colleges will coordinate 48 career counseling activities for over 20,000 students; implement 7 programs to support students in creative entrepreneurship; and hold numerous competitions on entrepreneurship ideas among students.
According to Associate Professor Dr. Le Nguyen Doan Khoi, Head of the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (Can Tho University), business cooperation activities in providing free vocational skills training for students are regularly organized by the Youth Union and the Center for Student Support and Entrepreneurship Consulting (Can Tho University) to create opportunities for students to learn and practice soft skills. Every year, students also get to visit factories and do internships at businesses to gain work experience...
Furthermore, Can Tho University collaborates with the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) - Mekong Delta Branch, the Vietnam-Korea Industrial Incubator (Can Tho City Department of Science and Technology), the Business Research and Enterprise Support Center - Can Tho Branch, and the FUNDGO Startup Investment Fund to connect investors, successful entrepreneurs, and experienced managers to advise and evaluate student startup projects at the university. Between 2019 and 2024, 240 students received commendations from the Rector of Can Tho University (now Can Tho University) for their high achievements in startup competitions both within and outside the university.
In the coming period, the Youth Union at all levels will strengthen support for its members, young people, students, and university students in starting businesses; with a focus on innovative startup models. Accordingly, the city's youth will concentrate on promoting the role of the Youth Union in implementing the One Commune One Product (OCOP) program; improving the efficiency of cooperatives and economic cooperative groups; and supporting startups in various fields. At the same time, attention will be paid to career counseling, training, and vocational skills development, contributing to equipping young people with the knowledge and skills for their career and entrepreneurial journey.