A popular faculty of a major university in southern Vietnam will organize its first reunion in six decades this weekend, in a bid to solicit suggestions from alumni and employers to reform its curriculum.

The Faculty of English Linguistics and Literature (FELL) at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Social Sciences and Humanities (USSH) said in a press release that it will host the EFAIR festival on Saturday at 10-12 Dinh Tien Hoang Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.

The event is meant to bring alumni and current enrollees together, and at the same time forge a link between its students and future employers, according to Dr Le Hoang Dung, dean of the faculty.

His faculty will try to make EFAIR an annual gathering, Dr Dung said, adding that it is expected to be a platform where alumni can share their experience with juniors to help them better prepare for the future.

Participants can join a wide range of activities at the festival this year, including a cooking competition, a fundraising corner, a discussion between the FELL management, alumni and employers on possible improvements to the current curriculum, a translation contest, and a closing gala dinner at the end of the day.

Established in 1957, FELL is one of the oldest departments at USSH, Vietnam’s leading social science university, with its admission bar among the highest at the institution.

FELL is now running undergraduate and graduate courses in English linguistics and literature, translation, and American and British studies for over 5,000 students.

It also joins hands with Australia’s La Trobe University to offer master of applied linguistics and doctor of education programs.