Within the framework of the “Global Young Business Managers” (GYBM) programme, organised by the Academy of Public Administration and Governance in collaboration with the Daewoo Global Management Institute (Republic of Korea), Korean trainees took part in an experiential learning activity at the Vietnam Military History Museum.
GYBM is an international training programme designed for Korean students, with the aim of helping learners understand Vietnam, adapt to the study and working environment in the country, and gradually develop into young managers with a global mindset, multicultural competence and the capacity to create value in the future.
A distinctive feature of GYBM is that the programme is built upon the philosophy of experiential learning and the co-creation of knowledge. Over the six months of study, trainees not only attend classroom lessons but also observe at first hand, conduct surveys, engage in dialogue with businesses, carry out group projects, take part in simulation activities (Workplace Lab) and undertake field research.
The activity at the Vietnam Military History Museum forms part of the module “Understanding Vietnam through its Culture and Environment”, which is designed to help trainees explore the history, culture and people of Vietnam from the perspective of future young managers. The purpose of the visit is not merely to memorise historical events or artefacts, but to use history as a means of gaining a deeper understanding of the values that have shaped the Vietnamese people, and of how those factors bear upon the working environment, organisational culture and cooperative relationships in the present-day context.
Prior to the visit, the 29 trainees were divided into four groups and assigned research tasks on different themes. Group 1 explored “the spirit of solidarity”, examining evidence of the power of unity throughout history and relating it to lessons on teamwork in business. Group 2 studied “the capacity for innovation and creativity in wartime”, looking into initiatives that emerged under difficult conditions in order to draw lessons on innovation and organisational adaptability. Group 3 focused on “the will to overcome hardship and the capacity to adapt” of the Vietnamese people, relating this to the need for adaptability in a volatile working environment. Group 4 observed accounts of “leadership and decision-making capacity in challenging contexts”, analysing lessons on organisation, management and decision-making for young managers.
Throughout the visit, each group took the initiative to observe, gather materials, hold discussions and record their findings using an Observation Sheet designed specifically for the GYBM programme. After the visit, the groups go on to present their research findings in class, exchanging views and engaging in critical discussion in order to distil lessons on adaptability, intercultural communication, leadership and teamwork skills, and the building of trust within the business environment in Vietnam.
Drawing in particular on their first-hand experiences at the Museum and on the survey activities carried out throughout the programme, the trainees are co-creating a compendium of lessons and recommendations for young Koreans preparing to study and work in Vietnam. This is a learning product created by the trainees themselves, formed through a process of observation, experience, discussion and critical reflection, and it also serves as a reference resource for subsequent GYBM cohorts.
Through this approach, GYBM seeks to build a learning community in which learners not only receive knowledge but also take a direct part in creating it. Every real-world experience becomes an opportunity for trainees to deepen their understanding of Vietnam, develop their professional competencies and cultivate the qualities required of a young manager in an international setting. This is also the direction that the Academy of Public Administration and Governance is pursuing as it internationalises its training activities: placing learners at the centre, linking study with practice, treating experience as an environment for developing competence, and regarding the co-creation of knowledge as a means of generating sustainable value for both students and the institution.
Department of Science Management and International Cooperation