Introduction
In September 2019, the British Council and the UK–VN Higher Education Network will host a forum in Hanoi to discuss approaches to quality assurance, quality enhancement and the delivery of high quality Transnational Education (TNE) programmes in an international context.
The forum is in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Training, National Economics University, Hanoi, Cardiff Metropolitan University, UK and the Quality Assurance Agency, UK.
The event is the first in a series of policy forums to be organised by the British Council and Ministry of Education and Training, in partnership with the UK–Vietnam Higher Education Network. The network was established in 2018 and is expected to become an innovative platform to promote the internationalisation of teaching & learning, research and innovation, and industry/communities engagement in higher education. Through the network, policy makers, leaders and academic staff in both the UK and Vietnam come together to discuss collaboration in areas of shared interests.
Quality assurance and enhancement (QA/QE) are mechanisms through which education providers seek to safeguard academic standards and continuously improve the quality of higher education. They ensure that students get the higher education experience they are entitled to expect and seek to ensure public trust in higher education, improving international rankings and safeguarding stakeholders. It is thus in the interests of the British Council and Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in the UK–Vietnam HE Network to explore and share good QA/QE practices and mechanisms.
Quality assurance and enhancement are increasingly important in the context of the internationalisation of higher education and in the delivery of TNE provision. Many HEIs in countries like Vietnam want to deliver advanced programmes (chương trình chất lượng cao) or joint programmes with overseas HEIs and vice versa, with international HEIs offering their programmes overseas in partnership with local HEIs.
The forum is designed to share best practice in QA/QE approaches to international collaboration and to discuss a way forward for joint quality assurance in TNE at institutional and national levels.
Attending the forum, participants will be engaged to:
- discuss processes and regulation for quality assurance in Vietnam and the UK and how it relates to public trust, reputation management and institutional rankings
- explore Transnational Education (TNE) and UK quality expectations for delivery of TNE with overseas partners
- share views from the UK on the quality of HE in Vietnam based on findings of a survey undertaken in Vietnam as part of the partnership project between Cardiff Metropolitan University and National Economics University
- share UK recommendations on what strategies Vietnam could put in place in order to improve the quality of its higher education provision
- explore collaborative approaches to quality assurance and enhancement and consider models of cross border cooperation in the QA/QE of TNE at institutional and national level
- present case studies of best practice in joint quality assurance and enhancement.
Format of the event
- This forum will offer participants from the UK–Vietnam Higher Education Network an opportunity to meet with colleagues and be updated on opportunities for networking in the area of QA/QE and TNE
- Panel discussions and sharing of best practice from HEIs in Vietnam and the UK and from the UK’s Quality Assurance Agency.
- Sessions will be conducted in English and Vietnamese, with simultaneous translation.
Date, time and venue
- Time: 08.00–13.30, 24 September 2019
- Venue: Room B101, A2 Building, National Economics University, Hanoi
Participants
- Representatives from MOET, British Council and UK universities
- President/Rector, Vice President/Vice Rector of Vietnamese universities
- QA managers and staff,
- Centres for Education Accreditation
- Head/Deputy Head of international office,
- Deans/Vice Deans, project coordinators, project team members of UK-VN HEP projects
- Media
Registration
Registration now before deadline 23 September 2019
Tentative programme
| Time | Content |
| 08.15–08.45 | Registration |
| 08.45 |
Opening reparks Leaders from British Council, Ministry of Education and Training, and National Economics University |
| 09.00–09.20 |
Hoang Van Anh, Director, Education and Society, British Council Vietnam Analysis of quality assurance in Vietnam: process and regulations Assoc.Prof Mai Van Trinh, Director General, Viet Nam Education Quality Management Agency (VQA) |
| 09.20–09.40 |
Overview of UK Quality Code and Quality Assurance Agency (QAA)'s work in the UK and overseas Fiona Crozior, Quality Assurance Agency, UK |
| 09.40–10.00 |
Dr Jo Hendy, Director of Learning Enhancement, Cardiff Metropolitan University, UK Dr Nicola Bolton, Principal Lecturer and Programme Director, Cardiff Metropolitan University, UK |
| 10.00–10.50 |
Panel discussion Transnational education (TNE) as a mean of offering UK education programmes overseas and what are UK and Vietnam expectations in quality delivery of transnational education (TNE) Moderator Fiona Crozier, Quality Assurance Agency Panellists Dr Jo Hendy, Director of Learning Enhancement, Cardiff Metropolitan University, UK Assoc.Prof Mai Van Trinh, Director General, Viet Nam Education Quality Management Agency (VQA) Dr Dam Son Toai, Head of QA Department, National Economics University (NEU) Assoc.Prof Nguyen Huu Thanh, Head of School of Electronics and Telecommunications, Director of the ELITECH program, Hanoi Unviersity of Science and Technology (HUST) A representative from Centre of Education Accreditation |
| 10.50–11.10 | Break and Networking |
| 11.10–11.40 |
Participants will be invited to join three thematic discussions UK and Vietnam HE staff will share views and facilitate breakaway discussions on aspects of quality HE in Vietnam, based on the findings of the survey undertaken in December 2018 of the project 'Fostering a Culture of Quality at National Economics Unviersity. The three sessions will include: 1. Student Engagement Facilitated by: Dr Jo Hendy, Director of Learning Enhancement, Cardiff Metropolitan University, UK Dr Nicola Bolton, Principal Lecturer and Programme Director, Cardiff Metropolitan University, UK Dr Dam Son Toai, Head of QA Department, National Economics University (NEU) 2. Setting up a partnership: key expectations Facilitated by: Dr Ingy Shaaban, TNE Partner Manager, Cardiff Metropolitan Unviersity Mike Flynn, Principal Lecturer and Link Tutor, Cardiff Metropolitant University Assoc.Prof Nguyen Huu Thanh, Head of School of Electronics and Telecommunications, Director of the ELITECH program, Hanoi Unviersity of Science and Technology (HUST) 3. UK Quality Code and approach to cross border quality assurance Facilitated by: Fiona Crozier, Quality Assurance Agency Assoc.Prof Mai Van Trinh, Director General, Viet Nam Education Quality Management Agency (VQA) |
| 11.40–12.10 |
Regrouping and key take away on what strategies should be in place in order to improve quality Fiona Crozier, Quality Assurance Agency Assoc.Prof Mai Van Trinh, Director General, Viet Nam Education Quality Management Agency (VQA) Dr Dam Son Toai, Head of QA Department, National Economics University (NEU) Dr Nicola Bolton, Principal Lecturer and Programme Director, Cardiff Metropolitan University, UK |
| 12.10–12.15 |
Closing Assoc.Prof Mai Van Trinh, Director General, Viet Nam Education Quality Management Agency (VQA) |
| 12.15–13.30 | Lunch and networking |
Contact
Chi Nguyen
Education Manager
chi.nguyen@britishcouncil.org.vn
Tel: +84 (0)24 3728 1937
Phi Phan
Education Manager
phi.phan@britishcouncil.org.vn
Tel: +84 (0)28 38232862 (ext. 2500)