VIS Members engaged in meaningful discussions with Vice Minister Hoàng Minh Sơn during his official visit to the UK in November 2023, emphasising the crucial role of education and research collaborations between Vietnam and the UK on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Throughout the visit, Vice Minister Dr. Hoàng Minh Sơn, accompanied by a higher education delegation, met with VIS members in key locations such as London, Cambridge, and Edinburgh. These interactions significantly contributed to the overall success of the visit.
In London on 23rd November, Professor Huan Nguyen, the President of VIS, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for Cooperation between VIS and the University of Transport and Communications of Hanoi. Additionally, an extension of the existing MoU between VIS, the British Council Vietnam, and the UK-Vietnam Higher Education Network was also agreed upon for the next two years.
The VIS members also seized the opportunity to establish new connections, including productive discussions with the Chair of the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales, Universities Wales, and representatives from Welsh universities.
Moreover, on this occasions VIS also welcomes three new members from Swansea University into the VIS community, further expanding the network and fostering collaboration in the field of higher education. The fruitful discussions and agreements reached during these meetings underscored the commitment of both VIS and the Vietnamese higher education delegation to strengthening ties and advancing educational initiatives between Vietnam and the United Kingdom.
In Edinburgh, as part of Go Global conference, on 20/11/2023 Associate Professor Yen Tran (Edinburgh Business School- Heriot Watt Uni), participated in the UK-Vietnam Rectors Forum: University – Industry Linkage for sustainable development. The event was attended by HE Vice Minister A/Prof Hoang Minh Son, BC representatives, rectors/vice rectors of leading Universities in Vietnam and UK industry/Universities guests. The event was highlighted by the panel discussion on interdisciplinarity approach of university – industry partnership on climate change, energy transition strategies and innovative technologies. Panellists also discussed the research collaboration fundings from both governments and the Industry, using join PhD as a vehicle. A/Prof Yen Tran introduced VIS’s role in this linkage and contributed her view on building a well-designed and network-based innovation ecosystem where knowledge can be exchanged, and value can be added to all stakeholders (Universities-Government-Industry) under an efficient orchestration governance mechanism.
Also in Edinburgh, on 21/11/2023, representing VIS, A/Prof Yen Tran also assisted HE Vice Minister Dr. Hoang Minh Son in the meeting with the UK delegates led by Sir Prof Steve Smith – the UK Government’s International Education Champion, attended by BC reps led by Maddalaine Ansell, Director Education of BC. The two sides reviewed and highly appreciated the UK_VN collaboration achievement and progress to date via various projects, TNE programs across all levels and expressed a strong desire to continue a win-win strategic partnership going forward. Vice Minister Hoang Minh Son emphasised the importance of quality control, the research collaboration, teaching and research capability development via various research fundings in emerging sectors, the invite for top 100 UK Universities to open their branches in VN and the additional funding support for Vietnamese students. The strategic discussion during this meeting further confirmed the role of VIS in bridging and leveraging the research and high education collaboration between the two countries, with VIS members’ unique hybrid UK-VN knowledge.
