Warning of risks from short-term courses

Dr. Vu Van Ngoc (right) - Director of the Institute of Advanced, High-Quality Training and POHE, National Economics University during the 2025 enrollment consultation session.

Many learners expect to find a job quickly, start a business early and save money. However, whether a 3 to 6 month training course is as effective as the student expects or not requires careful calculation and selection.

Objective view

In recent years, short-term training courses lasting 3-6 months have appeared frequently at universities, training institutes and private centers, covering many fields such as: Startups, technology, marketing, design to service and engineering. With reasonable tuition fees, short study time and many commitments to get a job quickly... these courses are considered by many young people as a "shortcut" to help save costs to quickly enter the labor market.

Associate Professor Dr. Le Hieu Hoc - Head of the Faculty of Science and Technology Education , Hanoi University of Science and Technology said that to evaluate this type of training, it is necessary to have an objective view, fully understanding both the advantages and limitations. He analyzed that short-term courses are flexible and highly applicable if well designed.

The program usually focuses on practical skills, aiming at the goal of "being able to work" immediately after the course, in line with current recruitment needs. In addition, reasonable costs and study time help students not to invest too much but still be able to approach new careers.

Mr. Hoc believes that this type of training is suitable for many groups of people: new graduates, workers who want to change careers or people who are already working and need to supplement their skills in some fields such as information technology, design, online business, etc., creating many opportunities for self-employment or starting a business, not placing too much emphasis on degrees, prioritizing practical skills, especially in the context of digital transformation and a rapidly changing job market.

Similarly, Dr. Vu Van Ngoc - Director of the Institute of Advanced, High-Quality Training and POHE, National Economics University also said that short-term programs help learners approach careers quickly, flexibly, reduce costs and time, suitable for those who want to change careers or supplement skills. The courses are often close to reality, focusing on basic, easy-to-apply vocational skills.

Many programs invite lecturers who are business experts, people who directly work in the industry, helping students access new knowledge, standard procedures and real-life situations. Business connections also create conditions for students to find jobs quickly, especially in the fields of engineering, services, design and technology.

From his perspective, Associate Professor Dr. Pham Xuan Khanh - Principal of Hanoi College of Technology believes that training courses, whether short-term or long-term, come from the actual needs of learners and society. For example, in the real estate sector, many people seek short-term courses on brokerage. If the units with functions and tasks are licensed to organize short-term courses, it is normal and comes from actual needs. Many short-term courses to improve qualifications and transfer technology are also very necessary.

Be careful when choosing

Besides the advantages, short training courses also have limitations that learners need to pay attention to such as: Short-term training cannot completely replace formal training. Mastering basic skills does not mean being proficient, creative or capable of long-term career development if lacking theoretical foundation and in-depth thinking.

Currently, some training institutions advertise falsely or oversimplify the “study and get a job right away” process, creating unrealistic expectations for learners, posing many risks of “losing money and getting sick”. In addition, short-term training courses may lack output standards and quality assessment activities. Many courses do not have a quality assessment system, unclear lecturer standards, and no objective post-training evaluation, making it difficult for learners to distinguish between the real program.

From that reality, Associate Professor Dr. Le Hieu Hoc - Head of the Faculty of Science and Technology Education, Hanoi University of Science and Technology, said that short-term training is only truly valuable if it is professionally designed, organized and managed.

The program is clear about output and specific vocational skills; not spread out, not just theory; combining “learning – doing – feedback”; having a regular practice system, simulating real-life situations; having clear progress and output evaluation. Lecturers must be people with practical professional experience, not only good at theory but also career orientation advice; a roadmap to improve skills after the course – short-term study does not mean studying once is enough.

Not only that, a limitation clearly shown in short-term courses is that they often only provide rapid skills training, leading to a shallow knowledge base, making it difficult for students to develop to a higher level.

Dr. Vu Van Ngoc noted: “These courses can hardly replace long-term/university training that provides learners with a comprehensive knowledge base in a field. Time is not enough, so learners' practical ability is weak because they do not get much practice;

Some centers only focus on advertising and job commitments to attract students, leading to uneven training quality. Many professions require practical experience, and 3-6 months cannot replace a systematic training process. “Therefore, many students after the course still have to start over when they go to work, and even “disillusioned” due to too high expectations from advertising,” said Dr. Vu Van Ngoc.

Sharing the same opinion, Associate Professor Dr. Pham Xuan Khanh advises learners when choosing courses to carefully research whether the unit is officially licensed or not, its reputation and experience in this training field, to avoid wasting money and time without getting results.

“Short-term training courses have obvious practical value, especially in the context of today’s flexible labor market. However, learners need to be alert in choosing reputable training institutions and determine that this is the first step to entering the profession – not a shortcut to a stable career. To have a sustainable career, one must study continuously, constantly upgrading one’s own capacity, regardless of whether the form of study is short or long term,” said Associate Professor, Dr. Le Hieu Hoc.

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