Bachelor of Arts in Information Management: Information about the field of study and employment opportunities

School code: QSX 

Information Management sector code: 7320205

Admission combination: A01, C00, D01, D14

The information is like "gold"

In today's age of rapid and powerful information explosion, information is increasingly valuable and especially important. Almost every aspect of life will be intimately connected with information and data. The success of many companies or businesses such as Amazon, Google, Grab,... is related to the application of technology and information management.

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for human resources in the information technology and information management industry will increase by 12% between 2018 and 2028 with the average income twice as high as the average income of other industries. As such, the demand for human resources in information and data-related occupations will be increasing and becoming more urgent than ever.

About the Bachelor of Arts in Information Management (IM)

This is one of the outstanding training disciplines to provide human resources for professions related to the information and data environment, especially big data. Market Management trains a knowledgeable workforce in the intersection of information science, information–communication technology and management to be able to establish, operate and orient the strategic development of the retention system and provide information to support the operational and decision-making process in agencies, organizations and enterprises.

Market Management equips students with the knowledge, professional skills and professional qualities to be able to perform diverse jobs and tasks related to information systems, data, management skills, adjustment, selection and implementation of appropriate solutions in different information environments.

Some job opportunities for students after graduation in Infomation Management:

+ Data visualization specialist, Data analysis from social networks

+ Business Analyst

+ Systems Analyst

+ Information analytic related skills Information Analysts, Social Media Analysts, Analytics Consultants

+ Statistical Specialists

+ Database Administrator

+ Technical support staff in information technology including network administration, hardware, software (IT technical support officer)

+ Project Management Officer

+ Business Information Officer

+ Website Development and Management Officer

+ Record Management Officer

+ Customer Service Officer

1. Q: At first glance, the Information Management industry seems to be more about Information Technology and management than Social Sciences and Humanities. Please share the overview of this major.

DEAN of the Faculty answered:

Information Management (English: Information Management – IM - programme code is 7320205) is the study of processes and methods to create, collect, organize, process, store, maintain the distribution and use of information as a means to promote, access information and data efficiently and effectively, especially in organizations and enterprises. The industry has an intersection between the fields of information science, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), digital technology and governance. Thanks to this intersection, Information Management (IM) will perform the function of using Information Technology (IT) to manage and operate data systems, information, documents and records for the whole process of operation and decision making of an organization, including enterprises or health and education organizations.

Today, information is not only in traditional form but also in digital form, and ICT is not only applied in a specific field but in all fields, including the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU-HCM. The recent national digital transformation project defines the goal of digital transformation, in which it is necessary to build digital government, digital economy and digital society, which requires scientific disciplines and universities to participate in the process of construction and development.

Because of the development trend of Information Management in the world, region and Vietnam as well as the requirements of the dynamic market, the training program of the market management sector has been designed to provide professional human resources for digital transformation activities, from helping to build the development of digital content, products and services, to training to improve digital skills for people.

2. Q: How is the training programme structured to help graduates in IM meet the needs of the labor market?

DEAN of the Faculty answered:

The programme for Information Management has been developed and included in the enrollment programme since 2019 based on the analysis of the needs of the labor market in Vietnam, the development trends of industries, and reference to training programs in the region and developed countries. The programme consists of 129 courses structured into three main knowledge blocks along with 2 practical internships, including:

The general education knowledge block (23 Vietnamese credits) helps students understand society, such as culture, politics, philosophy, economics and psychology to live, work and behave in accordance with people and society today.

In particular, in order to help students obtain the foundation knowledge suitable for the training industry, students are encouraged and required to study specific related subjects such as subjects on statistics to serve the study of data analysis subjects in enterprises in the later period, or subjects on law and economics.

Specialized educational knowledge block (76 Vietnamese credits), supplementary majors (6 Vietnamese credits), internships (7 Vietnamese credits): help students have the capacity to implement and manage activities of creating, searching, collecting, processing, organizing, storing, and providing information and information services in organizations and enterprises. For example, students studying Media Marketing (i.e. related to marketing in a digital environment) need to know about creating appropriate keywords, which are learned from information processing. Or if you want to manage website content, in addition to Web Design, you also learn about content writing. Or if you want to analyze data in the organization, you have to learn about Database, Data Analysis for Management. To be able to manage information today, they must use technology.

The program has foundation subjects on ICT to help students apply to the information management process: including subjects on databases, web design, computer networks, information analysis, enterprise information systems, Information system design analysis, information security. These subjects not only help students apply to different stages of the information management process but also can have a comprehensive view to help businesses and organizations develop an appropriate information management system. Other self-accumulating requirements are foreign languages and applied informatics.

Thus, this is a discipline that integrates many types of knowledge that are essential for citizens in the context of the country's digital transformation, helping learners to be both beneficiaries and supports people in accessing digital information sources, having digital knowledge in accordance with the codes of conduct and ethical standards in the digital environment.

3. Q: How will students practice during their study in the IM major?

DEAN of the Faculty answered:

The programme consists of 129 credits, including subjects focusing on practical skills training for students, which will be allocated to practice time through forms such as practice in classrooms and computer labs and create products suitable to the requirements of the subject.

About internships: students have two internships including a 5-week midterm internship at enterprises in Semester 6, and a graduation internship and project in Semester 7.

The internship process helps them compare between study and practice, accumulate knowledge and skills, train their sense of organization and discipline, and get acquainted with the diverse organizational cultural environment. This is an opportunity for students to access the labor market to help them find job opportunities after graduation.

The curriculum is designed with subjects with a focus on skills training that will have a duration for the practical part of experiencing the new in many forms: Visiting practical experiences at the organizing agencies Guests in specialized subjects are experts in different fields (business managers, IT experts, experts in e-government...) Practice in the classroom, in the computer room: for example, use application software to design websites, manage databases, practice on business information systems...

In addition, the Faculty has many specialized clubs, culture - arts - sports, volunteerism, communication... to support and help train diverse skills for students such as writing CVs, answering job interviews, scientific research.

4. Q: Data is a vital resource for large organizations and enterprises. So can the IM sector help businesses collect, process and analyze data for operation?

DEAN of the Faculty answered:

“Information is the oil of the 21st century, and the analysis of information will be the engine of consumption.” (Peter Sondergaard, Gartner Research). “Without big data analysis, you would be blind and deaf in the middle of the information highway” (Geoffrey Moore, Management Theorist and Consultant). The above statements have shown the importance of data in the current digital age. For example, in the field of e-commerce, data analysis helps to create revenue reports, the business situation of the company, showing price changes year over year, monthly sales growth, analyzing the number and trends of customer demand... to help managers make appropriate business decisions...

Recognizing the role of data and information in organizational activities, the KM program has integrated several related subjects, including Information Services, Information Researching, Data Warehousing and Data Mining, Data Analysis for Management, Applied Data Science, Database, etc. to equip students with basic knowledge and skills in data analysis. Students learn about the process of evaluating data with analytical or statistical tools to discover useful information (such as Microsoft Excel, SQL, programming languages such as R or Python, data visualization tools such as Tableau).

Students are also introduced to analysis techniques such as Text Analysis, Statistical Analysis, or higher techniques such as Diagnostic Analysis, Predictive Analysis.

Therefore, with the basic knowledge and skills learned from the training program, students graduate and are recruited into enterprises, trained in the specific processes and job requirements of enterprises, students can undertake jobs such as: Data Analyst Data & Information Management Officer Search Engine Optimization analyst

5. Q: I want to work in the administration of information systems of enterprises because it is more related to my interests in information technology and system administration. So if you study IM, can you do this job well? Why?

DEAN of the Faculty answered:

As mentioned above, IM is an interdisciplinary science of organizing and exploiting information and data including: collecting information, processing information, organizing information, analyzing, evaluating and distributing information to users to be effective. For market management in the digital age, it is necessary to apply technology, build a management information system for enterprises, and make good use of ICT in that process.

The training programme, in addition to focusing on specialized subjects in information science and administration, also includes subjects on IT and information systems such as Computer Architecture and Operating System, Information System Analysis, Business Information System to help students have knowledge and foundational skills, suitable for career goals including system administration such as installing operating systems, software for computers and providing IT services in enterprises, applying information technology to management, production and business activities in each enterprise.

Information and communication technology, digital technology is constantly developing, requiring all citizens and human resources to be trained, retrained and self-taught for a lifetime. When graduates enter the labor market, if they want to specialize in ICT and system administration, they need to constantly self-study, participate in professional training courses as well as courses suitable to the characteristics of the business's field of operation, helping to standardize professional qualifications.

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Information on the curriculum of the major can be found here

Videos to learn more about the field of study can be found here

Videos of the latest thematic activities of the Faculty can be viewed here

Photos of lecturers can be viewed here

Source: Faculty of Library and Information Science