©

British Council

Introduction

The revised Higher Education Law in 2018 introduced a greater level of autonomy to universities in Vietnam. It is therefore more critical than ever that University leadership and governance is able to adapt to new challenges and to create as well as welcome new opportunities that result in high quality training programmes, effective national and international collaborations, productive research outcomes and, perhaps most importantly, employable graduates who are able to adapt easily to the changing environment.

The British Council is committed to supporting Vietnam in its higher education reform agenda through the UK Vietnam Higher Education Partnership (UK–VN HEP) initiative with University leadership and governance being one of four priorities – the others being University Industry links, Transnational Education (TNE) and Quality Assurance, and Research and Mobility. 

Since 2018, under the UK-VN HEP initiative, Global Wales and five Vietnamese universities (Hanoi University of Science and Technology, University of Engineering and Technology – VNU Hanoi, Danang University of Technology, University of Social Sciences and Humanities –VNU HCMC, and Industrial University HCMC), have been supported to deliver a capacity training programme for Vietnamese higher education leaders through blended training sessions and study tours to the UK.

The two-year partnership has created concrete impacts for both UK and Vietnamese partners with lessons learnt. This blended conference is, therefore, convened to provide an opportunity for the partnership to share lessons and for UK and Vietnamese universities to learn from and to discuss and identify future, new partnership opportunities.

Aims

The blended conference is organised to:

  • reflect on experiences, lessons learned, and challenges from the joint project between the UK and Vietnamese partners
  • identify impacts of the current project and discuss approaches for future sustainable projects
  • share success stories of university leadership and governance through higher education disruption, especially in the areas of digital teaching and learning, and also university industry linkages
  • network for future partnership opportunities

Time

  • 14.30–17.30 (Vietnam time), i.e. 08.30–11.30 (UK time) Friday, 23 October 2020

Venue

  • University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City, 12 Dinh Tien Hoang, Ben Nghe ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

Language

  • English

Mode of delivery

  • Blended with face to face meeting and remote participation

Participants

  • Higher education leaders from the UK, region and Vietnam

Working agenda (Click in links for presentations)

Time Activity
1430 Arrival and networking/ setting up
1500

Welcoming notes

1510

Opening remark

1520

Panel discussion 1: University leadership and governance–reflection on partnership gains and identification of future opportunities

This session will present case studies of the university leadership and governance partnership projects between the UK with Vietnam and Myanmar. 

For Vietnam, the case study will describe the project and its aims, plus the key leadership themes explored and reflect on the outcomes and next steps to support Vietnamese universities in the future

The Myanmar case study will include a reflection on the experience of capacity building for leadership and governance through the NIHED (National Institute for Higher Education Development) project with reflection/input from the Rectors’ Committee about how this capacity building process and the development of NIHED will enable the Myanmar HE sector to successfully develop in light of both its history and the current impact of Covid-19.

This will then be followed by a structured discussion on the impact of the partnerships on Vietnamese and Myanmar universities.

1600

Panel discussion 2: Leading through disruption – sharing reflections of managing change and delivering teaching and learning throughout the pandemic

  • COVID-19 impact on HE internationalisation – leadership during disruption: Professor Davies offers an insight into the past months leading Bangor University, navigating the institution, its staff and students through an unprecedented period of disruption. The presentation will include discussion on managing this process; how objectives were defined, communicated and met; how key stakeholder relationships were navigated and reflections on how such change will impact the institution’s future strategies (e.g. will some of the changes made during the pandemic become more permanent?)
  • Innovative teaching and learning in the digital era: The digital revolution is changing our work, our communication and our study. The presentation will discuss and share experience on challenges, ideas, techniques and management on innovative teaching and learning in the digital era among universities. The presentation also includes a discussion on how the universities prepare staff as well as change the teaching and learning environment to fit future study and bring more benefits to learners.

1640

Panel discussion 3: Leadership enabling greater students’ learning outcomes and innovation through University Industry links

This session will present a case study about how leadership has driven effective and innovative university and industry collaboration and will include viewpoints from the higher education and business sectors.

1715

Summary and closing

Speakers and Panelists

Welcoming notes

  • Dr Le Hoang Dung, Vice Rector, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University-Ho Chi Minh City
  • Prof Iwan Davies, Vice Chancellor, Bangor University, Chair of Global Wales
  • Donna McGowan, Director, British Council in Vietnam

Opening remark

  • Assoc Prof Hoang Minh Son, Vice Minister, Ministry of Education and Training

Panel discussion 1: University leadership and governance – reflection on partnership gains and identification of future opportunities

Speakers

  • Gwen Williams, Head of Global Wales Programme
  • Dr Theingi, Rector, Technological University, Thanlyin, Ministry of Education, Myanmar
  • Dr Yin Yin Win, Head, Department of Law, Taunggyi University, Myanmar

Panellists

  • Jo Chaffer, Key Global Associate, Advance HE
  • Assoc Prof Le Thi Kim Oanh, Vice Rector, Danang University of Technology

Moderator

  • Rob Humphreys, Member, Higher Education Funding Council for Wales

Panel discussion 2: Leading through disruption – sharing reflections of managing change and delivering teaching and learning throughout the pandemic

Speakers

  • Prof Iwan Davies, Vice Chancellor, Bangor University
  • Assoc Prof Dam Sao Mai, Dean of the Office of Science Management and International Cooperation, Industrial University Ho Chi Minh City

Panellists

  • Assoc Prof Le Thi Kim Oanh, Vice Rector, Danang University of Technology
  • Rob Humphreys, Member, Higher Education Funding Council for Wales
  • Prof Tran Thanh Hai, Rector, Hanoi University of Mining and Geology
  • Dr Theingi, Rector, Technological University, Thanlyin, Ministry of Education, Myanmar

Moderator

  • Prof Tran Thanh Hai, Rector, Hanoi University of Mining and Geology

Panel discussion 3: Leadership enabling greater students’ learning outcomes and innovation through University Industry links

Speaker

  • Prof Leigh Robinson, Pro Vice Chancellor, Partnership and External Engagement, Cardiff Metropolitan University

Panellists:

  • Prof Raymond Lee, Associate Dean (Global Engagement), Professor of Biomechanics, University of Portsmouth; Co-Chair of the UK Vietnam Higher Education Network
  • Assoc Prof Huynh Dang Chinh, Vice President, Hanoi University of Science and Technology, Chair of the UK Vietnam Higher Education Network
  • Prof Chu Duc Trinh, Vice Rector, University of Technology and Engineering, VNU Hanoi
  • Brian Spence, Founding Partner, S&P Investment

Moderator

  • Prof Raymond Lee, Associate Dean (Global Engagement), Professor of Biomechanics, University of Portsmouth; Co-Chair of the UK Vietnam Higher Education Network

Summary and closing

  • Assoc Prof Nguyen Thu Thuy, Director General, Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education and Training

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