This paper, however, aims to challenge this common criticism. It summarises the research outcomes of a doctoral thesis on the topic of “enhancing graduate employability in Vietnam” and suggests that shifting the responsibility for graduate unemployment onto the higher education system in Vietnam is convenient but simplistic. | VNU Journal of Science: Education Research, Vol. 32, No. 4 (2016) 36-43 Building a Close Connection between Higher Education and Industry for a Better Education Outcome for Vietnam Tran Thi Tuyet* Institute for Employment Research, German Federal Employment Agency Received 05 August 2016 Revised 10 September 2016; Accepted 22 December 2016 Abstract: Vietnamese higher education has received massive criticism as its graduates do not seem to satisfy employers’ needs. It is suggested that the outdated professional knowledge provided by universities and the poor soft skills university students develop during the time at the university are the direct reasons for the unsatisfaction among employers. This paper, however, aims to challenge this common criticism. It summarises the research outcomes of a doctoral thesis on the topic of “enhancing graduate employability in Vietnam” and suggests that shifting the responsibility for graduate unemployment onto the higher education system in Vietnam is convenient but simplistic. Bridging the gap between the higher education system and the employment market will require the goodwill and efforts from a range of stakeholders. First and foremost, there is a need to develop a close cooperation and connection between the higher education system and industry. This is essential for the building of a practical curriculum to develop students’ enterprise skills desired by employers. It requires the effort of not only the educational system, but also of the employer in enhancing graduate employability in Vietnam. Keywords: Higher education, industry, unemployment, responsibility, human resource management. 1. Introduction * meet the needs of an increasingly developed economy [1]. In spite of that claim, many graduates have still been struggling to enter the labour market, many end up unemployed or underemployed, while employers still complain about their difficulties in finding graduates with the required knowledge and skills. .
