Vietnam: Vietnam / UK Research Institute
Published 14 October 2014
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Summary
Vietnam-UK Institute for Research and Executive Education opens in Da Nang. Much work ahead to get it off the ground properly, let alone realise aspiration of a fully-fledged Vietnam-UK University. Wider educational partnership thriving, with significant commercial opportunity.
Detail
Vietnam-UK University (VNUKU), Da Nang
Since 2010 we have been working towards a Vietnam-UK University (VNUKU) in Da Nang, central Vietnam’s main city. This would be a Vietnamese state university, part of the University of Da Nang network, partnering with UK universities to achieve international standards. But until now progress has been minimal.
Research Institute
On 2 October, the British Council and the Embassy attended the opening of the Vietnam-UK Institute for Research & Executive Education in Da Nang. The Institute will operate under the auspices of the University of Da Nang, and is ostensibly the “first phase” of the VNUKU project. The guest of honour was Dame Julia King, Vice Chancellor of Aston (and a UKTI Ambassador). UKTI and the Institute then organised a launch seminar attended by more than 80 delegates from Vietnam with several UK companies and education institutions. Representatives of the Lao Ministry of Education and higher education sector, who are interested in partnering with the Institute, also attended, together with HMA Vientiane.
The Institute aims to become a centre of excellence for postgraduate research, initially in telecommunications, biotechnology, finance and accounting, with a view to supporting the development of a local technology cluster of independent small-medium enterprises. In parallel, the Institute will also deliver training and development for mid-career business executives. Sponsorship from Rolls Royce, and FCO programme funding, has been used to help establish the institute’s Centre for Executive Leadership, while Tate & Lyle are providing tuition scholarship support to students from disadvantaged areas. This represents good partnership between the Embassy, UKTI, British Council, UK plc, and the British higher education sector.
The initial research sectors have been chosen for synergies with private sector development and to increase the potential for further commercial sponsorship. We will help the Institute to develop partnerships with UK institutions with a view to potential Newton Programme funding.
But much hard work lies ahead if the Institute is to achieve international standards of teaching. Money remains a problem. The Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) has earmarked a budget of £5m for the Institute. But we understand the MOET may only be able to release $500,000 of this in the first year. And even the little funding available is focused on infrastructure rather than faculty capability. This puts the estimated $250m cost of a fully-fledged VNUKU into stark perspective.
Wider educational partnership
Our partnership on education goes much wider than VNUKU – and is thriving.
Around 8,000 Vietnamese students are studying at British universities. 69 British universities, schools and colleges were represented at the recentEducationUK recruitment fair in Hanoi, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City. Interest levels were up this year, probably because of Vietnam’s recovering economy. Meanwhile, Vietnamese universities offer more than 40 joint degree courses with British partners, and the number is growing every year.
In parallel, the British Council is working with the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA) on skills for employability, focussing on employer engagement, and the creation of sector skills councils. They are also working with MOET and MOLISA to support the development of a Vietnam National Qualifications Framework. MOET may also need more outside assistance if they are to attain their ambitious targets for improving the teaching of English by 2020. So the Council is working to position the UK as a provider of high quality ELT expertise, and to identify and disseminate opportunities for the UK: a call for overseas training in ELT management has just been circulated to UK providers on their networks. Finally, there is increasing business for UK exams: the number of UK university and professional exams administered by the Council doubled to over 11,000 between 2011 and 2013.
Education is also a sectoral priority for UKTI Vietnam. A team from UKTI Education undertook a week-long scoping visit in Vietnam in September to explore the opportunities available from a new school building programme, teacher training, equipment and curriculum reform, and to develop a joint strategy with UKTI Vietnam for the sector. Even in Da Nang, it is not just about the VNUKU – British ELT companies are doing well there, and we have just seen a new partnership established between a leading private school in Da Nang and Cambridge English Language Assessment.
Disclaimer
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