According to Viet Nam’s Ministry of Education and Training (MOET), as of June 2024, 369 transnational education (TNE) programmes are underway in the country. The UK leads the way with 120 programmes.
Hai Phong – Today, at the Viet Nam Education Cooperation and Investment Conference 2024, the British Council, in collaboration with MOET, presented preliminary findings of the report Viet Nam: Towards a new international education hub in Southeast Asia – Lessons and Evidence. The report was conducted by the British Council and MOET.
The UK offers the most TNE programmes in Viet Nam and is recognised as the fourth most popular study destination for English speakers. The Government-to-Government Education Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and the Memorandum of Collaboration between the British Council and MOET serve as evidence that the British Council is a preferred international partner. The British Council provides MOET with comprehensive support and collaboration including:
- studies and reports on Viet Nam's TNE market openness
- establishment of the TNE Consortium to improve the capability and preparedness of Vietnamese institutions with top-notch courses
- development of the TNE portal in Viet Nam.
Director of the British Council in Viet Nam, Ms. Donna McGowan:
TNE is integral to positive education and scientific relations, and academic and student exchange between and within countries. It is a privilege for the British Council to be present at the conference and to work with MOET to support Viet Nam achieve its ambition of becoming a new international education hub. Through projects and partnerships that drive inclusive education systems, we create an enabling environment for transnational education with an aim to improve the quality of learner outcomes, enhance student experience and improve graduate employability. We remain committed to making education more inclusive and accessible and proudly mark our next milestone with the report Viet Nam: Towards a new international education hub in Southeast Asia – Lessons and Evidence.
Following the 2023 report Towards a more competitive environment for transnational education in Viet Nam, this new report presents a comprehensive review of international engagement in Viet Nam. Key findings provide early insight into the prospects of Viet Nam becoming an international education hub with opportunities for international stakeholders, based on in-depth interviews with over 30 key stakeholders, surveys of 120 Vietnamese universities, and feedback from current students.
Vice Minister of Education and Training, Nguyen Van Phuc:
In Conclusion No. 91-KL/TW dated August 12, 2024 of the Politburo, the task is to promote international integration in education and training, meeting the requirements of improving the quality of human resources to serve the country's development in the new period. Viet Nam wishes to become an attractive destination for international students, encourage international universities to establish branches in Viet Nam, and encourage domestic universities to strengthen cooperation with prestigious international universities to develop joint training programs, scientific research and technology transfer. This not only helps improve the quality of teaching and research but also contributes to promoting the internationalization of education, attracting students from all over the world to study and research, making Viet Nam a high-quality education and research centre in the region.
For decades, Viet Nam has been the third largest net exporter of young talent in Southeast Asia. Other countries in the region, such as Singapore and Malaysia, were in similar positions in the early 2000s. However, both have rebalanced mobility flows and are now net importers of students. A similar notable example is the UAE, which transformed from a net exporter of students to one of the world’s fastest-growing international study destinations. These trends are detailed in Viet Nam: Towards a new international education hub in Southeast Asia – Lessons and Evidence.
To address the increasing mobility of international students in Southeast Asia, the report presents analysis, recommendations, and opportunities for Viet Nam, covering:
- analysis of natural education hubs in different cities in Viet Nam
- national policies for international education in Viet Nam
- key findings on student mobility from surveyed universities
- developing international education hub – experiences of other countries
- suggestions for Viet Nam.
At the conference, MOET, with support from the British Council, launched the TNE portal, a one-stop shop for TNE information. The portal provides official and impartial data on cooperation programmes, curricula, and relevant legislation for all parties interested in the field. The portal is available at https://hed.moet.gov.vn/
A Transnational Education Roundtable: Innovating TNE: Building a stronger UK / Viet Nam partnership for the future was organised on the same day by MOET, the British Council, and the British Embassy to Viet Nam. Participants included partners and universities from the UK and Viet Nam, Mr Marcus Winsley, Deputy Head of Mission, British Embassy Hanoi, Ms Donna McGowan, Director of the British Council in Viet Nam, representatives from MOET, and others. Topics covered included Viet Nam as the next study destination, innovative models and partnership strategies, designing future UK / Viet Nam innovating transnational education, key ideas, innovative approaches, and actionable recommendations.
In his remarks during the roundtable, Mr. Marcus Winsley stated: ‘UK / Viet Nam relations are at an all-time high. We celebrated half a century of diplomatic relations last year when education was highlighted as a core pillar. Education is a key element of the Strategic Partnership to enhance the bilateral relationship between the UK and Viet Nam and the success of the formal MOUs on Education our two governments signed in 2019.’