UK and Vietnamese higher education sectors are gearing up for a significant collaborative event focused on strengthening strategic and sustainable partnerships for talent development, innovation, and global impact. Scheduled for 31 October 2025 in London, the UK-Viet Nam Higher Education Forum, jointly organised by the British Council and the Vietnamese Intellectual Society of the UK and Ireland (VIS), aims to provide a dynamic platform for Vietnamese university leaders to engage with UK academics, organisations, and businesses. The forum will foster knowledge exchange, build strategic networks, and explore sustainable collaborations, particularly across science, technology, and innovation domains. It will also provide UK stakeholders with vital insights into Viet Nam’s current education landscape and regulatory frameworks, paving the way for potential future collaborations.

This event marks the official launch of the British Council’s four-year initiative, UK-Viet Nam iTechPath, designed to enhance the quality of academic programmes within Vietnamese universities. The initiative prioritises the development of high-calibre human resources by facilitating talent programmes, staff and student exchanges, and joint research efforts focused on key priority areas identified by both nations.

The forum builds upon earlier collaborative efforts, such as the 'ThinkTNE: Leveraging UK–Viet Nam Transnational Education Partnerships' forum held in Hanoi in October 2023. That event, co-organised with Viet Nam’s Ministry of Education and Training and the British Embassy in Hanoi, brought together higher education leaders from both countries to share best practices, highlight success stories, and explore deeper transnational education linkages. The British Council’s ongoing commitment to transnational education in Vietnam involves working closely with government bodies and a consortium of UK universities to promote quality and capacity-building for UK Transnational Education (TNE) providers.

Moreover, the Vietnamese Intellectual Society in the UK and Ireland has actively contributed to strengthening academic ties through initiatives like the VIS-BC Mentoring Programme. Supported by the British Council, this programme has assisted up to 100 Vietnamese researchers, especially early career scholars, by offering tailored mentoring, workshops, and study visits to the UK. Such efforts aim to boost research capabilities and career advancement, complementing the broader objective of reinforcing academic quality and collaboration.

Other recent initiatives underlining the commitment to academic excellence include the Special VIS Coffee Talk on Academic Integrity held in August 2025. This panel drew experts from Vietnam and the UK to discuss crucial issues such as research ethics, responsible authorship, and fostering a culture of integrity within higher education and research environments in Viet Nam.

Together, these initiatives illustrate a comprehensive and evolving partnership framework between the UK and Vietnam. The upcoming London forum is expected to cement these advancements further, showcasing shared commitments to nurturing talent, innovation, and sustainable global impact through higher education cooperation.

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Source: Noah Wire Services