12–16 December 2024: In collaboration with the British Council and and University of Portsmouth, the Vietnamese Intellectual Society (VIS) organised a study visit for 20 senior officials from Vietnam’s Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) and various research organisations to University College London (UCL), the University of Warwick, Coventry University, and Middlesex University. VIS members played a pivotal role in facilitating discussion forums between the delegation and senior university leaders and arranging visits to state-of-the-art research facilities. These engagements fostered knowledge exchange on the UK’s Research Excellence Framework (REF), which evaluates the quality and impact of research in British higher education institutions (HEIs).
This study visit was part of a capacity-building programme funded by the UK International Science Partnerships Fund (ISPF) and Vietnam’s Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST), coordinated by the British Council in Vietnam. Its primary objective was to enhance the delegation’s professional understanding of research assessment in the UK and to provide insights into best practices for developing a transparent, fair, and evidence-based approach to evaluating the quality and impact of science, technology, and innovation activities at research institutes in Vietnam.
Feedback from the Vietnamese delegation highlighted that they have gained significant insights into UK REF’s components, assessment panels, and processes. They also deepened their understanding of how UK universities strategically invest in research and innovation to align with REF standards and maximise impact.
Some comments from the Vietnamese delegation:
“The UK universities participating in the programme extended a warm welcome and generous hospitality. They provided insightful introductions to REF-related activities and offered opportunities to explore their research labs, centres, and impactful outputs”
“The meetings with VIS members gave me a deeper understanding of the UK research assessment framework. This study visit truly provided me with valuable knowledge that will be useful for my work back home.”
VIS extends its special thanks to Dr. Linh Nguyen (UCL), Dr. Truong Dinh (Warwick), Dr. Que Anh Dang (Coventry), and Professor Huan Nguyen (Middlesex) for hosting the delegation.
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