More than 2,000 students attended a startup-focused workshop organized by the Faculty of Public Relations and Communications at Van Lang University in Ho Chi Minh City on Sunday to equip students with the skills needed for entrepreneurship.

Titled ‘Local Beginning, Global Thinking,’ the workshop also addressed the challenges that, according to some research, cause over 95 percent of startups globally to fail within their first five years.

The event, held at Van Lang University’s Trinh Cong Son Hall in Binh Thanh District, showcased insights from notable entrepreneurs, including Le Dinh Luc, founder and CEO of DOL English; Tran Huu Duc, co-founder of BCC and Better Living; and Nguyen Trung Dung, chairman of Dh Foods.

Through these sessions, the students had the chance to engage directly with the accomplished experts and business leaders, gaining in-depth knowledge, valuable experience, and practical insights to support them on their entrepreneurial journeys.

Luc, one of the event's keynote speakers and founder of DOL English, which operates a major English language center chain in the city, shared his journey in creating Linearthinking, a language-learning methodology that merges first-language influence analysis, memory techniques, and mathematical logic.

Developed as a way to improve Luc’s own English skills as a high school student, Linearthinking has since earned intellectual property certification from Vietnam’s Intellectual Property Office in 2019.

Initially, Luc began teaching English while pursuing higher education, using Linearthinking to help learners overcome challenges in mastering grammar, vocabulary, and conversational skills.

His approach emphasizes mapping and simplifying grammar rules, which he found particularly beneficial to students coming from non-English backgrounds.

After turning down a PhD scholarship in Australia, Luc went all in to establish DOL English as an edtech startup in 2017, a decision that helped the company weather the COVID-19 pandemic and expand to 18 centers across Vietnam.

As DOL English grows, Luc and his team are researching international market opportunities to bring Linearthinking to global learners.

In tandem, the company is advancing its DOL Super LMS, a tech platform supporting its unique language-learning method.

Discussing the steps he and his startup have taken to turn the dream of “conquering the global market” into reality, Luc spotlighted the essential competitive advantages Vietnamese edtech startups must cultivate.

“To succeed internationally, these startups need a strong product advantage,” he said.

“In education, a product's success hinges on its effectiveness in enhancing user learning.

“Therefore, edtech startups must deeply invest in content and develop distinctive, impactful teaching methods.

“What is more, they need a qualified teaching team capable of delivering these methods optimally.

“This team might include Vietnamese instructors fluent in English or local educators from target international markets.

“This is crucial: startups must not only create a unique and effective learning approach but also ensure a teaching team tailored to each market.

“Developing a strategy for hiring local teachers in specific countries also enhances cultural connection and teaching efficacy."

The second critical factor is technology, Luc continued.

As Vietnamese edtech products enter foreign markets, their tech must stand out with innovation that sets them apart from international competitors.

The challenges of marketing, communication, sales, legal requirements, and operations abroad can be substantial.

“However, with advantages in product quality – especially in teaching methodology, skilled instructors, and technology features that support learners – Vietnamese edtech startups can significantly improve their competitive edge as they expand globally,” the CEO further explained.

Among the language center chain’s alumni are professionals like psychiatrist Nguyen Trung Nghia, a former president of the Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy’s student association, who attained an IELTS score of 7.5 with the method.

His younger brother, an oral and maxillofacial surgeon who diagnoses and treats diseases, injuries, and conditions affecting the face, mouth, and jaws, reached an IELTS score of 8.0, achieving perfect scores in listening and reading, despite a demanding work and research schedule.

For Nghia, Linearthinking has been especially effective thanks to its logical framework, which resonates with his scientific training.

"That’s a pretty high score, considering my background in the sciences and my busy schedule with specialized studies, work, and research," said the doctor.

"For someone like me, who comes from a scientific field, the logic of this method is convincing – it saves a lot of time and effort."

He has even applied its principles to learning Chinese, experiencing significant improvements.

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