Ngoc Cindy Pham, associate professor of management, marketing, and entrepreneurship at Brooklyn College, authored two widely read essays in Tuổi Trẻ that connect global higher education trends with the lived realities of students navigating a rapidly changing academic and professional landscape.
In her first article, “Is AI shaking up the dream of studying in the US?” she explores how artificial intelligence is reshaping U.S. higher education, the labor market, and the expectations surrounding studying abroad. The piece highlights how AI-driven automation is influencing entry-level opportunities, prompting students to rethink traditional pathways into professional careers. She points to emerging initiatives at institutions including CUNY and NYU Tandon that are helping students build applied AI competencies to remain competitive in a shifting workforce.
The second article, “Are high grades or soft skills more important?” examines the role of interpersonal and professional skills in shaping student success, particularly for international students in the U.S. higher education system. The essay argues that while academic achievement remains important, communication, presentation skills, leadership, and confidence are increasingly decisive in hiring decisions. It also explores how an emphasis on grades can sometimes overshadow the development of these essential soft skills, especially among Asian students entering competitive job markets.
These conversations reflect the core mission of the CUNY AI Literacy and Professional Readiness Series that has equipped students with practical AI competencies, human-centered skills, and career readiness tools that matter in a rapidly changing world. Through speaker sessions, industry partnerships, and peer mentoring, the series is building a bridge between classroom learning and the real demands of the workforce. By reaching international audiences through platforms like Tuổi Trẻ, Pham is amplifying these conversations beyond Brooklyn College, positioning CUNY as a leader in equitable, experiential AI education. Both articles are available in English through your browser.
Also related to the CUNY AI Literacy and Professional Readiness Series, Pham’s working paper, “The BRIDGE Framework for Equitable AI Literacy: Evidence from a Cross-Institutional Initiative at CUNY and NYU Tandon,” was published online by Social Science Research Network.
