English for specific purposes courses and Vietnamese graduates’ employability

There has been an increasing demand for graduates with proficient levels of English, especially English skills associated with a particular occupation. To meet that labor market demand, Vietnamese higher education institutions (HEIs) have integrated English for Specific Purposes (ESP) courses in the curriculum, aiming to create a highly qualified workforce who can perform their work effectively in a globalized world. However, how well these ESP courses are able to equip students with a sufficient level of English skills for work purposes has not been adequately researched. Drawing on the framework of graduate employability (Tomlinson, 2017) and the learning-for-profession principle of ESP courses (Hutchinson & Waters, 1987), this study investigates the contributions of ESP courses to Vietnamese graduates’ employability, by using graduates’ self-reflected experiences. Data for this study included 16 responses to an open-ended survey and 220 responses to an online survey which asked graduates about their experiences with the ESP courses and the contributions of such courses to their employability successes. The findings showed that these ESP courses contributed to the development of specialized language, knowledge, and generic skills that ensure graduates’ employability. However, there were limitations in ESP course designs and teaching practices. This chapter discusses ways to increase the benefits of these courses for Vietnamese graduates’ employability.