ISME Mentoring Program – Spring 2026: Concluding a Journey of Connection, Development, and Inspiration

On the morning of June 6th, the International School of Management and Economics (ISME) – National Economics University hosted the Final Review session for the Spring 2026 ISME Mentoring Program. The event welcomed the participation of ISME students and Mentors from various enterprises and industries. This event marked the conclusion of an over three-month mentoring journey between Mentors and Mentees. Beyond reviewing the outstanding achievements of the Mentoring season, the program also featured a special seminar titled “You² x AI”. This seminar provided practical perspectives on personal development, helping students better prepare for their academic pursuits, careers, and lives in the digital era.

Mentors, Mentees, and the Spring 2026 IMP Organizing Committee

The event was attended by Dr. Ho Hoang Lan – Head of Undergraduate Programs and the program supervisor, along with Mentors from diverse professional backgrounds who accompanied 31 Mentees throughout their personal and career development journey. The program also welcomed all Mentees participating in the 1-1 mentoring model as well as the Junior Mentee groups. The Final Review was not only an opportunity to reflect on the milestones and results achieved after three months of implementation, but it also opened up new perspectives on personal development, career orientation, and adaptability amidst an ever-changing technological landscape and labor market.

Dr. Ho Hoang Lan, supervisor of the ISME Mentoring Program, expressing her gratitude for the companionship of the Mentor team at the Final Review

Delivering the opening speech, Dr. Ho Hoang Lan acknowledged and thanked the Mentor team for their contributions and companionship with the students throughout the Spring 2026 IMP journey. She emphasized that the program’s success resulted from the close coordination among the Organizing Committee, Mentors, and Mentees. In particular, the guidance and experience shared by the Mentors created numerous practical values for the students.

Mentees eagerly participating in the trivia challenge

Following the opening, the Organizing Committee, together with Mentors and Mentees, reflected on the Spring 2026 IMP journey through memorable numbers and milestones. Out of 48 initial applications, the program recorded 46 valid submissions. After the screening and interview rounds, 31 Mentees were selected to be paired with 22 Mentors from various fields. For the IMP Junior Mentees group, the program implemented two core themes: Career Orientation and Self-Management, which attracted the participation of 25 students

A Mentee of the Spring 2026 ISME Mentoring Program looking back at the 3-month journey of growth

The end-of-program survey results indicated highly positive satisfaction levels from both Mentors and Mentees. An impressive 88.9% of Mentors rated themselves as highly satisfied with the organizational work, while 82.6% of Mentees were highly satisfied with their accompanying Mentors. When asked about the standout values received from the program, the majority of Mentees stated that IMP helped them clarify their career paths, understand themselves better, develop personal skills, and expand their professional networks. These results further affirm the effectiveness of the mentoring model in supporting students’ comprehensive development while they are still in university.

Three outstanding Mentees who secured the top positions in the IMP knowledge challenge

The atmosphere of the program became lively with the IMP Quiz activity, featuring challenging questions revolving around the Spring 2026 IMP journey, the mentors, standout activities, and memorable milestones of the program. This activity received enthusiastic responses from both Mentors and Mentees. Not only did it bring laughter and excitement, but the contest also helped members reflect on their shared journey in an intimate and emotional way. At the end of the minigame, the three outstanding Mentees with the highest scores received meaningful gifts from the International School of Management and Economics

Mentor Hoang Van Ngoc introducing the concept of “You² x AI”

The highlight of the program was the special seminar titled “You² x AI”, presented by Mentor Hoang Van Ngoc – Vice President of Business Development at Bluebik Global and an IMP Mentor. Drawing from the reality that AI is generating profound changes in education, work, and life, he posed a thought-provoking question: Will humans use AI as leverage for personal development, or will they gradually become dependent on technology?

Through various practical examples, Mr. Hoang Van Ngoc emphasized that AI is not the determining factor for success; what creates the difference remains an individual’s mindset, personal values, and ability to master technology. According to him, individuals who know how to combine their own capabilities with the power of AI will create a superior competitive advantage in their studies, work, and career development. One topic that garnered significant attention was the “Wheel of Life” model, which encouraged students to view their personal development holistically across aspects such as education, health, finance, relationships, and career orientation. From this perspective, the speaker introduced ways to apply AI as a supportive tool to set goals, track progress, and make decisions aligned with each individual’s developmental path. The overarching message of the program was: AI can amplify human capabilities, but it cannot replace one’s vision, core values, and personal proactivity.

Mentee Nguyen Ha Vi participating in the discussion on the effective use of AI

The exchange between Mentors and Mentees was vibrant, featuring many practical questions revolving around the application of AI in learning, working, and personal development. During the session, Mentee Ha Vi raised a question regarding the boundary between using AI effectively and relying on technology: “How can we know whether we are using AI proactively or gradually becoming dependent on it?”. Answering this question, Mr. Hoang Van Ngoc stated that the core element lies in an individual’s decision-making power. According to him, humans must be the ones setting goals, choosing directions, and taking responsibility for their decisions, while AI serves as a supportive tool for analyzing information and enhancing execution efficiency.

Mentor Hai Ha – Deputy Director of the Leadership Training Academy at VinGroup, providing perspectives on work optimization

From a Mentor’s perspective, Ms. Hai Ha also shared that AI can help people understand themselves better and optimize their work, but it is still difficult to replace human elements such as empathy, the ability to connect, or the extraction of deep customer insights. She emphasized the importance of establishing a sufficiently large goal to guide long-term decisions and actions. Agreeing with this viewpoint, Mr. Hoang Van Ngoc suggested that sustainable growth does not come from optimizing a single area, but rather from the ability to maintain balance and make steady progress across the entire journey of personal development.

Organizing Committee members of the 2026 ISME Mentoring Program

In closing, the Spring 2026 IMP not only marked the completion of a successful mentoring season but also served as an occasion for the IMP community to reflect together on the values built throughout the recent journey. Through the companionship of the Mentor team, practical experiences, and comprehensive development activities, IMP continues to affirm its role as a bridge between students and enterprises, and between academic knowledge and professional practice. With the established foundations, the program expects to continuously inspire students to proactively develop themselves, broaden their mindsets, and be ready for future opportunities.

Other photos from the event: