On March 28, 2025, a delegation from California State University, Fullerton (CSUF), along with a group of U.S. business leaders from America's Small Business Development Centers (America’s SBDC), paid an official visit to Foreign Trade University (FTU).

The CSUF delegation included Dr. Sridhar Sundaram – Dean of the College of Business and Economics at CSUF, and Dr. Tam Thanh Nguyen – Honorary Chair of the CSUF Board and Chairman of Advance Beauty College. The U.S. CEO delegation was led by Mr. Tim Goff – President of ASSA ABLOY Group and Chairman of the CSUF Advisory Board; Mr. Ash Patel – President and CEO of California Commercial Bank; Mr. Michael Daniel – Director of the CSUF OCIE SBDC Network; Ms. Katrina Payne Smith – Executive Director of SBDC; and Ms. Manal Richa – Director of the SBDC Global Trade Center, along with other CEOs and business leaders.

From FTU, the meeting was attended by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Thu Huong – Vice President; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Cao Dinh Kien – Director of International Affairs; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Thai Phong – Dean of the Faculty of Business Administration; along with leaders of various FTU departments and offices.

In her welcome speech, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Thu Huong expressed her pleasure in receiving the CSUF delegation and U.S. business leaders at FTU. She emphasized the importance of international cooperation in education and research and reaffirmed FTU’s openness to partnerships with reputable international institutions to improve training quality, enhance research, and create career opportunities for students.

During the working session, the two sides discussed future cooperation opportunities. Notably, they explored the establishment of an international student exchange program between FTU and CSUF. FTU students would have the opportunity to transfer to CSUF and participate in internships with U.S. companies, thereby accessing international career paths. Both sides also agreed to promote faculty and student exchanges to build a global learning environment and enhance student integration. Additionally, U.S. CEOs expressed interest in recruiting graduates from both FTU and CSUF.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Thu Huong also presented FTU’s global internship program for students, hoping CSUF and the business community in Orange County, California, could cooperate and support student participation. This initiative aims to provide students with access to international career opportunities and practical skill development.

The meeting concluded in a warm and open atmosphere, paving the way for new collaborative opportunities between FTU and international partners, particularly in education, research, and student career development.

As part of the visit, the CSUF delegation and the U.S. CEO group joined a seminar titled “CSUF Talk: Talent Development in Vietnam: Meeting Global Industry Demands.”

In his opening remarks, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Thai Phong expressed appreciation for the partnership between FTU and the College of Business and Economics at CSUF. He highlighted the need for students to be equipped with adaptable and relevant skills to meet the fast-changing technological landscape and global workforce demands.

The main discussion, “Talent Development in Vietnam – Meeting Global Industry Demands,” was moderated by Dr. Tam Nguyen – Honorary Chair of the CSUF Board, and featured key insights from Dr. Sridhar Sundaram – Dean of the College of Business and Economics, Mr. Michael Daniel – Director of the CSUF OCIE SBDC Network, and Mr. Ash Patel – President and CEO of California Commercial Bank. The speakers shared insights on workforce development in Vietnam amidst the Fourth Industrial Revolution, digital transformation, and the growing impact of artificial intelligence on the labor market.

The discussion emphasized not only the technical expertise required for global success but also the need to develop soft skills such as critical thinking, creativity, adaptability, and teamwork.

FTU students actively engaged in the discussion, raising sharp questions about the impact of AI on employment prospects and the evolving recruitment criteria in the digital era. The seminar concluded on a high note with a group photo, marking a new milestone in the collaborative relationship between FTU and CSUF and signaling promising opportunities for future cooperation.