Orientation Day 2023 – PSO MBA Cohort 8 on July 2023

Orientation Day 2023 – PSO MBA Cohort 8 – July 2023 took place at Building D – 196 Tran Quang Khai, Ho Chi Minh City, fostering an intimate space for interaction between the institution and the new batch of students.

The event was attended by Assoc. Prof Quan Tran – Dean of ISB, Ms. Le Lan – Project Director of PSO, Mr. Tang Thuong Phat – Academic Director of the PSO Project, and Mr. Bui Quang Tu – Program Manager.

During the event, Assoc. Prof Quan Tran shared inspiring insights with the students. According to him, the MBA program is designed to produce middle-level managers with a similar model to Management Trainees – rotating students through core departments within enterprises.

In Phase 1 – Foundation, students sequentially undergo four main modules covering Marketing, Finance, Human Resources, and Technology. Assoc. Prof Quan Tran shared, “Each course is akin to a pillar in a building, equipping a strong foundation of knowledge to fortify the structure.”

Corresponding to each module, the program is divided into two parts: MBA Academic and MBA Executive. MBA Academic is taught by professors and Ph.D. holders currently working in top global universities to provide students with solid academic knowledge.

Conversely, MBA Executive is led by industry experts holding high positions in companies, aiding students in honing practical skills. These two components of theory and practice are integrated to enable students to apply learned knowledge in real-life scenarios.

Assoc. Prof Quan Tran exemplified the Marketing module, where students learn from Assoc. Prof. Dr. Liem Ngo – Lecturer at the University of New South Wales, Australia, and Editor-in-Chief of the Australian Marketing Journal in the MBA Academic segment. Simultaneously, students continue in the Marketing class taught by Mr. Tang Thuong Phat – the current Academic Director of the PSO program – in the MBA Executive part.

Moreover, the MBA Talk series is an unmissable event for students in Phase 1. With the participation of senior leaders from MNCs, MBA Talk helps students understand how to apply theoretical knowledge in practical business settings.

Moving forward, Assoc. Prof Quan Tran emphasized that strategic vision plays a crucial role in business management. “Despite facing the same issue, each company’s resource allocation will differ,” he noted. Phase 2 – Strategic Management Skills includes subjects like Integrated Business Experience and Economics for Business aimed at sketching a comprehensive picture of the economy and how businesses operate.

In Phase 3 – Business Innovation Management, the program focuses on providing technology skills to help students adapt to the era of big data. “In the future, all companies will apply technology based on data; hence, you need to develop more knowledge and skills in technology,” Assoc. Prof Quan Tran explained. For instance, the subject of Data-driven Digital Marketing examines success factors through data analysis from marketing campaigns.

Finally, students are required to integrate all their knowledge and skills in Phase 4 – Organizational Problem-Solving Skills. “This stage is challenging and demands the highest effort from PSO MBA students,” he emphasized. Phase 4 provides an invaluable opportunity for students to transition from being taught by instructors to applying acquired knowledge to solve existing challenges in companies.

“After completing the program, besides enhancing knowledge, I hope that you can connect not only with classmates but also with over 200 students from other Master’s programs at ISB, creating a vast community for exchanging knowledge and experiences,” Assoc. Prof Quan Tran concluded.

Sharing her thoughts on participating in the event, Ms. Van Thi Thanh Mai, a PSO MBA student in the 2023 batch currently working at Vietunion Online Services Corporation (Payoo), said: “I joined the PSO MBA to develop a plan for new product development from a multidimensional perspective. I hope that in the next two years, I will achieve this goal and expand my networking.”

Additionally, Mr. Hoang Tuong Vu Phuong, a PSO MBA student in the 2023 cohort 8 currently working at Vingroup, shared his three goals in choosing the PSO MBA program: (1) self-management, (2) people management, and (3) business management. In his concluding remarks, he expressed excitement about embarking on a new journey ahead – challenging but filled with many exciting prospects.