Market and product

1. The Necessity of Compiling a Corporate Finance Curriculum for the Accounting Major at the Chemical Industry College

While there are many Corporate Finance textbooks available for economics majors today, most are produced by universities or colleges for internal circulation. General textbooks often fail to align with the specific training programs and the academic proficiency of students at individual institutions.

In recent years, the Chemical Industry College has encouraged faculty members to engage in scientific research focused on compiling or revising curricula and course materials for Associate (College) and Intermediate (Vocational) levels. Although many experienced lecturers have developed materials suited to the school's historical needs, specific textbooks for Accounting—particularly for Corporate Finance—had yet to be formally compiled and appraised.

Corporate Finance is a core subject within the Corporate Accounting program, taught by the Faculty of Economics & Information Technology since the 2008–2009 academic year. Previously, lecturers had to synthesize materials from various references, which presented challenges. This was especially difficult for Intermediate-level students, many of whom entered the program after graduating from secondary school (Grade 9) and found self-study with disparate materials overwhelming.

To improve teaching efficiency and better suit student levels, a research team consisting of two permanent lecturers, MSc. Nguyen Thi Hai Viet and MSc. Doan Thi Phuong Loan, undertook the project: "Compiling the Corporate Finance Curriculum for the Intermediate Level" for internal use at the Chemical Industry College.

2. The Research and Compilation Process

Based on the detailed syllabus for Corporate Finance in the Intermediate Accounting program approved by the college, the team drafted a detailed outline and collected relevant academic references.

Leveraging years of teaching experience and accumulated knowledge, the authors focused on presenting fundamental concepts while updating them with current industrial production practices. The curriculum was designed to be compatible with the practical training and internship conditions of the Corporate Accounting major, ensuring it remained accessible to the students' specific academic standing.

The finalized curriculum consists of 6 chapters:

• Chapter 1: Overview of Corporate Finance
• Chapter 2: Fixed Capital in Enterprises
• Chapter 3: Working Capital in Enterprises
• Chapter 4: Production/Business Costs and Product Costing
• Chapter 5: Revenue and Corporate Profit
• Chapter 6: Financial Planning

3. Significance and Effectiveness of the Research

Following the Ministry of Education and Training’s directives to innovate teaching methods and enhance quality, the Chemical Industry College organizes annual scientific research activities across all departments.

The "Corporate Finance" curriculum was appraised, recognized, and awarded by the College’s Science and Training Council, receiving a "Good" rating in 2022. It has been officially used for internal teaching and learning for Accounting students since the 2022–2023 academic year.

After several years of implementation, the curriculum has demonstrated several key benefits:

• Cost Efficiency: Internal circulation allows for multi-year use and reduces printing and updating costs.
• Consistency and Suitability: Tailored to the actual needs of lecturers and students, ensuring a unified teaching program and fair assessment across different classes.
• Proactive Faculty Development: Encouraging research empowers lecturers to improve their expertise and easily update materials as industry standards change.
• Enhanced Training Quality: Students benefit from accessible, focused reference materials, leading to a better understanding of the subject matter and improved academic results.

To date, the curriculum has supported three cohorts (2022–2023, 2023–2024, and 2024–2025), providing practical benefits to lecturers, students, and the institution alike.

Along with the development of the Vietnam National Chemical Group (Vinachem), the Chemical Industry College has been consistently striving to find diverse training methods to produce a highly skilled workforce with excellent professional expertise. Graduates from the College are now present in most companies and enterprises both within and outside the chemical industry, successfully meeting societal demands.

To achieve these goals, scientific research is one of the key activities prioritized by the school. Each year, the College encourages officials, lecturers, and staff to engage in scientific research, resulting in 100% active participation from all departments and faculties. Numerous projects and innovative initiatives have been implemented, yielding significant benefits for both the institution and the individual researchers involved.