(CPV) - Higher education and business leaders from Australia, China, Hong Kong, Laos, Myanmar, the UK, and Vietnam are gathering in Ho Chi Minh city on November 26-27 to discuss the future of higher education.
The policy dialogue is organised by the British Council in partnership with Vietnam’s Ministry of Education and Training and Aston University, UK.
Chris Brown, Country Director, British Council Vietnam said: “A recent British Council report which reviewed transnational education activities in 25 countries shows that universities wanting to encourage innovation and quality need to seek and encourage international collaboration as well as working with a wider group of global partners such as employers. I am delighted to see that the needs for increased global collaboration are powerfully addressed in this important event”.
As its tradition, the British Council brings together the best minds, from both industry and business sectors, in its annual policy dialogue. A committed partner of the British Council and Vietnam’s Ministry of Education and Training, Aston University brings to Vietnam the most number of speakers, speaking on a wide range of topics. On a collaboration model that works, Professor Alison Halstead, Pro-Vice Chancellor talks about two examplars of successful transnational cooperation. The first one is the establishment of the Vietnam – UK Institute of Education and Research, a decision which has just been made by Vietnam Ministry of Education and Training last week. This is a milestone development for the future establishment of the Vietnam – UK University.
The latter is the establishment of the UK-ASEAN Research Hub, based in the University of Da Nang. The project receives the funding of 600,000 pounds from the British Council East Asia, Aston University and the University of Da Nang. One distinctive difference of the UK-ASEAN Research Hub is its plan to empower young ASEAN researchers with much-needed skills of raising funds for research activities and writing research papers and publications. Talented and potential researchers will also have the opportunity to join colleagues in the UK from one to twelve months.
Photo: Hai Dang
David Priestley, Managing Director, Rolls Royce International, Vietnam joined Professor Halstead to explain the industry views of research and sets out a vision for successful university-industry collaboration. An exemplar of the university-business collaboration is the recent launch of International Management Initiative of Vietnam which is an intensive and high impact programme that aims to develop participants’ ability to think and act as strategic leaders.
Delivered by distinguished academics of Aston Business School which ranks in the top 1% of business schools in the world, the programme is supported by the British Council and Rolls-Royce Vietnam. Local arrangements are provided by the University of Danang.
According to Bill Rammell, Vice Chancellor, University of Bedfordshire, former Minister of State for Higher Education, the 21st century universities should be thinking globally and acting globally. There will no longer will national boundaries while international competition will co-exist with collaboration. Successful universities will build this into their systems, curriculum, student experience, people, planning, resourcing and ultimately their overall vision/approach.
Interestingly, the subject of technology transfer and commercialisation of research outcomes is examined by speakers from both institutions and industry. But the academics go further to analyse the challenges facing local researchers. Among the challenges are researchers being underpaid, complex budget allocation mechanisms, weak leadership at both policy making and institutional levels.
Dr Pham Xuan Thanh, Deputy Director General, Department of Education Testing and Accreditation, Ministry of Education and Training of Vietnam described the quality assurance mechanism in Vietnam. Quality assurance activities have been implemented among Vietnamese universities; however, public awareness and public access to reports are still limited.
From Hong Kong University, which ranks second in Asia and 26th worldwide, Dr Steve Cannon, Executive Vice President argues that the challenges now facing universities require new models of management and governance. But these models must retain those characteristics that differentiate them from other public and private sector organisations.
The participation of Vietnam, Laos and Myanmar creates a unique picture of the education systems in South East Asia as the three countries share many similarities, such as the incomplete legal framework in education and the needs to develop the labour force to be prepared for the integrated ASEAN economic community in 2015./.
Đăng ký: VietNam News