On September 7th, the NTT International Education Institute (NIIE) successfully hosted the final round of NIIE Runway 2024 under the theme “Dressed for Success.” The event was filled with energy, showcasing impressive outfits, professional catwalks, and electrifying performances. NIIE Runway 2024 truly presented a “colorful extravaganza” that embodied the unique spirit of NIIE, leaving unforgettable memories for the students who attended.
From the very beginning, Runway 2024 “heated up” the room with modern, rhythmic dance steps by student Lam Nhac Hoa, who had previously “set the stage on fire” at NIIE Got Talent 2024 with this performance.
The final round of NIIE Runway 2024: Dressed for Success was honored to have the attendance of Dr. Nguyen Tuan Anh – Vice President of Nguyen Tat Thanh University (NTTU), Director of NIIE; Dr. Nguyen Manh Hoang – Deputy Director of NIIE; M.A. Duong Thi Kim Xoa – Deputy Head of NTTU’s Department of Business Relations and Student Employment; Ms. Tran Minh Thuy – Customer Service Manager at Citadines Regency Saigon, a special guest of the program; PhD Candidate Rok Pintar – Lecturer at NIIE and another special guest of NIIE Runway 2024. Also in attendance were lecturers of the “Professional Development, Grooming and Business Etiquette” course, faculty members, and over 500 students from the 2023 cohort participating both in-person and online.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Nguyen Tuan Anh shared: “As always, at the end of the ‘Professional Development, Grooming and Business Etiquette’ course, we come together to ‘showcase’ the knowledge and skills learned. This year, I am more impressed than ever by the growing student support. Everyone is ‘dressed to impress,’ wearing neatsmart outfits, exuding poise, and demonstrating a professional demeanourmanner. This is something to be proud of and shows that NIIE students have made significant progress after completing the course. Besides academics, NIIE Runway allows every student to meet, ‘relax,’ and unwind after 15 weeks of intense study. So, don’t consider NIIE Runway a competition; see it as a playground to connect, share, and learn. I wish for a resounding success for the event and hope the students will have a truly memorable final round.”
In the NIIE Runway 2024 finals, 13 outstanding teams that advanced from the preliminary round faced exciting challenges in two colorful segments: Professional Attire and Casual Wear. In the Professional Attire segment, teams showcased elegant, sophisticated outfits and needed to display the demeanour and comportment suitable for an office environment – refined, courteous, and confident. Each catwalk step was a perfect combination of outfit and walk and a demonstration of professional attitude and workplace style. Moving on to the Casual Wear segment, the stage became livelier with youthful, dynamic, and creative outfits. This was an opportunity for the teams to express their unique personalities and diverse styles, bringing a fresh and vibrant atmosphere to the program. The graceful steps and natural poses truly ignited the youthful spirit and enthusiasm of NIIE students.
After the two colorful clothing segments, the top six teams were selected to advance to the Q&A segment, where students had to demonstrate their quick-thinking skills and problem-solving abilities in English. This segment tested communication skills and allowed teams to showcase their intelligence, composure, and confidence in using a foreign language in front of the judges and the audience.
More than just a fashion show, NIIE Runway 2024 was also an artistic platform featuring explosive and creative performances. The audience enjoyed a variety of acts, from modern dance Mashups and traditional Northern folk dance “Trong Com,” to popular love songs and epic ballads like “Vietnam’s Spirit” and “Youth of the Ho Chi Minh Generation,” reliving moments of national pride.
The highlight of the program was a surprise “gift” from guest lecturer Rok Pintar with the song “Herzen haben keine Fenster” – a famous song from Germany in 1974 titled “Hearts Have No Windows,” with deeply meaningful content about how love knows no bounds or limitations because human hearts have no windows.
After three thrilling rounds, with graceful catwalks, confident and skillful English Q&A responses, team Windy Love won the championship of NIIE Runway 2024: Dressed for Success. Not far behind, the second prize went to teams Universe and Invisible, while the third prizes were awarded to Glow Up, Happy, and The Chosen Ones. The remaining teams received consolation prizes from the program.
Six outstanding performance acts, including Team Capybara’s Mashup dance, Team Invisible’s “Trong Com,” and many others, left a lasting impression on the audience. The top three cheer teams were Invisible, Wisdom, and The Chosen Ones.
After nearly two months of preparation and competition, NIIE Runway 2024, with the theme “Dressed for Success,” has concluded, but the program’s impact will remain in the minds of the students. NIIE Runway 2024 was more than just a fashion show; it became a launchpad for students to assert themselves confidently, build their image, and develop professional etiquette. It was also a place where young people could connect, share, and create unforgettable memories of their vibrant youth.
