From April 21st to 23rd, 2024, a delegation from the International Centre for Higher Education Innovation under the auspices of UNESCO (UNESCO-ICHEI) visited Viet Nam. Ms. Bi Xiaohan, Deputy Director of UNESCO-ICHEI, Mr. Xue Feng, Chief of the International Institute of Online Education (IIOE) Management Centre, and Mr. Wu Lintuo, Senior Programme Specialist, visited institutions such as the Ministry of Education and Training of Viet Nam, Hanoi University of Science and Technology, and the UNESCO Viet Nam National Office.

On the morning of April 22, 2024, the UNESCO-ICHEI delegation visited the Ministry of Education and Training of Viet Nam and held talks with the Asso. Prof. Nguyen Thu Thuy, Director General of Higher Education Department, and Mr. Phan The Hung, Principal Official.

Ms. Bi Xiaohan,Deputy Director of UNESCO-ICHEI, (Left) and Asso. Prof. Nguyen Thu Thuy, Director General of Higher Education Department（Right）

UNESCO-ICHEI held talks with the Ministry of Education and Training of Viet Nam

Director Nguyen Thu Thuy welcomed the visit of the UNESCO-ICHEI delegation. Deputy Director Bi Xiaohan expressed gratitude for the warm and friendly reception from the Ministry of Education and Training and looked forward to close communication and exchanges with the Ministry in the future. Mr. Sit Fung introduced the mission and vision of the UNESCO-ICHEI and the key projects during 2024. During the talks, the two sides exchanged views on issues such as the inclusion of the IIOE Micro-Certification Programme in Vietnamese teachers' professional development certification, and the construction of Smart Classrooms. They agreed to strengthen cooperation, jointly empower Vietnamese university teachers in digital training, and promote the digital transformation of Vietnamese higher education.

The UNESCO-ICHEI delegation with the Representatives of the Ministry of Education and Training

On the afternoon of April 22, the UNESCO-ICHEI delegation visited Hanoi University of Science and Technology(HUST) and held talks with Asso. Prof. Chu Manh Hung, Associate Director of the Partnership and Engagement Department, Dr Nguyen Thanh Hung, Director of the Academic Affairs Office, and Asso. Prof. Pham Thi Thanh Hai, Deputy Dean of the School of Education.

UNESCO-ICHEI held talks with the Hanoi University of Science and Technology

Prof. Chu Manh Hung and Ms. Bi Xiaohan reviewed the consensus reached by the working teams of both sides in the early stage of communication, and looked forward to close experience exchange and deepening practical cooperation between the two sides. During the talks, the two sides exchanged views on issues such as the school's accession to the IIOE Global Partner Network, Smart Classrooms, and the co-developing of the IIOE Micro-Certification Programme, and agreed to accelerate the signing of the cooperation agreement between the two sides. A HUST delegation led by the school leaders will visit the UNESCO-ICHEI and Southern University of Science and Technology(SUSTech) in late May to further implement a series of cooperative matters.

On the afternoon of April 22, the UNESCO-ICHEI delegation visited the UNESCO Country Office in Viet Nam ("UNESCO Hanoi Office") and held talks with Director Jonathan Baker and Programme Specialist Nguyen Van Giang.

Mr. Jonathan Baker, Director of UNESCO Hanoi Office (Left) and Ms. Bi Xiaohan, Deputy Director of UNESCO-ICHEI (Right)

Ms. Bi Xiaohan, Deputy Director of UNESCO-ICHEI introduced the purpose, practice and close collaboration with UNESCO, while Mr. Jonathan Baker introduced the main work of UNESCO Hanoi Office and highly appreciated the achievements of UNESCO-ICHEI in empowering university teachers in Asian and African countries. Both sides agreed to strengthen exchanges and cooperation under the framework of UNESCO. During the meeting, the two sides focused on exchanging views on topics such as the inclusion of the IIOE Micro-Certification Programme in the scope of the national recognition of teachers' professional development, and the construction of smart classrooms, etc. Both sides reached a consensus to strengthen cooperation in the following areas: complementary support for policy dialogues and localization of policy recommendations at regional and national levels; sharing outcomes; providing cases and consultant support in the CLOUD and other research areas; synergising together cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Training of Viet Nam to jointly empower digital competence training for Vietnamese HEI teachers and promote the digital transformation of Viet Namese higher education.

The UNESCO-ICHEI delegation with the Director of UNESCO Hanoi Office

This visit aims to have in-depth exchanges with stakeholders in higher education in Viet Nam on addressing the challenges and opportunities of artificial intelligence for higher education, share ideas and practices, deepen cooperation with partner universities, and brainstorm for the upcoming 2024 Southeast Asia High-Level Policy Dialogue to jointly promote the digital transformation of higher education in the region.

About the Ministry of Education and Training:

The Ministry of Education and Training is the competent authority for basic and higher education in Viet Nam, responsible for supervising the quality and standardized operation of teaching and research in national educational institutions. The higher education department of the Ministry of Education and Training manages Viet Namese public universities except for the National University of Viet Nam (directly under the office of the Prime Minister of Viet Nam), cooperates with other central departments and provinces and autonomous regions of Viet Nam to ensure the stable financial and administrative operation of Viet Namese universities.

About Hanoi University of Science and Technology (HUST):

Hanoi University of Science and Technology (HUST) was established in 1956 and is directly under the Ministry of Education and Training of Viet Nam. It is a member of the Viet Namese National Key University Group and one of the top universities in the field of engineering and technology in Viet Nam. Hanoi University of Science and Technology has five colleges, eight research institutes, and five research centers. About 25,000 undergraduates and about 5,000 graduate students are on campus, and more than 1,250 faculty members, more than half of whom have doctoral degrees. UNESCO-ICHEI first contacted HUST in 2023 and is currently communicating on matters such as signing a Memorandum of Understanding and implementing Smart Classrooms.

About the country office of UNESCO in Viet Nam:

The country office of UNESCO in Viet Nam was opened in 1999 to help foster the partnership between UNESCO and Viet Nam around critical development issues, working with the private sector and other actors to pilot innovative approaches that have the potential to be scaled up at all levels as appropriate. The office will prioritize actions that address inequalities and leave no one behind. Viet Namese youth, especially young women and girls, will continue as privileged partners of the Organization moving forward. Gender equality, youth empowerment and human rights remain key programming principles of the country's strategy in Viet Nam.