Over the years, alongside developing courses on entrepreneurship and soft skills, Dong Thap University has organized numerous activities to "awaken entrepreneurial potential," nurturing entrepreneurial inspiration among students and connecting with startup ecosystems to leverage resources for community service and contribute to local socio-economic development. With commendable results achieved, the university continues to foster an entrepreneurial support environment, aiming to build a modern, dynamic, and creative higher education environment that meets societal needs and integration demands.
Since 2017, the Dong Thap University Entrepreneurship Student Club has been established and diversified activities to stimulate and encourage student entrepreneurial ideas. It timely provides knowledge on entrepreneurship, business project development, supports students in forming and developing entrepreneurial ideas, and connects these ideas with the business community for students and young lecturers.
Building upon this foundation, in March 2024, the Dong Thap University Entrepreneurship Student Club was established with the goal of fostering student activities, exchanges, and connections among those passionate about entrepreneurship, thereby contributing to the development of the university's entrepreneurship ecosystem. The club aims to cultivate its members into exemplary figures in entrepreneurial activities and scientific research. It supports training courses, workshops, consultations, advisors, and facilitates communication for student projects, fundraising efforts, and provides guidance to members capable of making material and spiritual contributions to the community.
Activities supporting student entrepreneurship, career guidance education, soft skills teaching, and entrepreneurship have been implemented across the university's faculties. These faculties have focused on developing entrepreneurial potential by assigning lecturers to engage in entrepreneurship, build connections with the business community, and assist student startup projects, alongside promoting scientific research. The core of entrepreneurship lies in technology and innovation. Therefore, to support student entrepreneurship and build an efficient and sustainable student entrepreneurship ecosystem, these activities must be integrated into the educational and training foundation. Students require greater access to STEM education (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) and practical experience during their university education. Additionally, faculties have engaged with alumni across generations so that current students can exchange ideas, learn, and explore entrepreneurship opportunities. They have encouraged alumni to return to the faculty and the university to support the student entrepreneurship movement.
To enhance support for student entrepreneurship in the future, the Student Entrepreneurship Club will simultaneously implement a series of solutions to raise awareness and promote the entrepreneurial spirit among students. This includes accelerating the creation of a conducive learning environment, searching for and fostering entrepreneurial initiatives. The club aims to strengthen and expand network connections with social organizations, businesses in Dong Thap province, and alumni of the university. In a timely manner, the club will propose to university leadership the creation of mechanisms and policies to recruit and assign staff specializing in entrepreneurship, expanding creative and friendly spaces for students.
Specifically, the club will propose establishing a Student Start-Up Support Center to utilize and exploit state-owned business support channels, supporting students and fostering the mindset of ‘student entrepreneurs’ and ‘student businesspersons’. This initiative aims to cultivate entrepreneurship as a genuine aspiration among students, making it a core ideal in their lives and restoring the values of life for students after graduation.