In partnership with the National Foreign Languages Project (NFLP) and Foreign Trade University (FTU). 

The British Council’s Vietnam Language Assessment Symposium (VLAS) 2025 will take place in Hanoi on Saturday 8 November, hosted by FTU and held in collaboration with NFLP. 

About VLAS   

VLAS was launched in 2017 by the British Council and NFLP, building on the success of the 2016 New Directions in Language Assessment conference in Hanoi. It has since been held in 2019 and 2023. The symposium brings together key stakeholders in English language education in Vietnam to share innovations in teaching, learning, and assessment, and to support dialogue on educational policy and practice. 

2025 Theme:
English Language Assessment in the New Age   

This year’s symposium will explore three core themes: 

  • Language Assessment Literacy   
  • Formative Assessment   
  • Technology in Assessment (with a focus on AI) 

These themes span all educational levels—from primary to postgraduate—and cover a range of delivery contexts, including English as a Foreign Language (EFL), English as a Subject in Basic Education (ESBE), Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL), and English as a Medium of Instruction (EMI).

Keynote Speaker   

Professor Barry O’Sullivan OBE, Head of Assessment Research & Development at the British Council, is a leading figure in global language assessment. He has advised ministries and institutions worldwide, contributed extensively to research and publications, and played a key role in developing the socio-cognitive model of test validation. He is a Fellow of the UK Academy of Social Sciences and the Asian Association for Language Assessment, and has received lifetime achievement awards from the E-Assessment Association (2023) and the English Language Testing Society (2025). 

Distinguished Guests and Speakers   

  • Dr Nguyen Mai Huu, Director of NFLP since 2017, has contributed significantly to national language education initiatives and research in assessment, ESP/EOP, CLIL, and EMI.   
  • Dr Cao Thi Hong Phuong, teacher trainer at Hanoi National University of Education, holds a PhD in Applied Linguistics from Victoria University of Wellington. Her research focuses on assessment literacy, curriculum development, and the integration of assessment into teacher education. 
  • Dr Quynh Nguyen, Director of the Office of Assessment and Quality Control at ULIS, VNU Hanoi, holds a PhD in Applied Linguistics from the University of Melbourne. She contributes to national and international projects on language education and assessment, and currently serves as President of the Asian Association for Language Assessment.
  • Dr Pham Thi Hong Nhung, lecturer at Hue University of Foreign Languages, earned her PhD in Applied Linguistics from the University of Queensland. Her research spans teacher education, intercultural communication, and ESP. She has led national projects and published in leading journals and volumes from Cambridge, Routledge, and Multilingual Matters.
  • Dr Phuong Hoang Yen, Associate Professor and Vice Dean at the School of Foreign Languages, Can Tho University, holds a PhD in Linguistics from KU Leuven. Her research focuses on assessment, teacher development, self-regulated learning, and curriculum innovation. She has led national and international projects and published widely in the field.

[Further speakers are to be announced.]

The symposium will be held at Foreign Trade University, Block D, with check-in from 8:00am. The day will include: 

  • Opening speeches and keynote presentations   
  • A panel discussion   
  • Afternoon breakout sessions featuring research and practical insights   
  • Closing plenary talks, concluding by 5:00pm 

[The full programme will be uploaded here when available] 

Attendance is by invitation through the British Council, NFLP, or FTU. If you have not received an invitation but are interested in attending, please contact: VLAS.2025@britishcouncil.org.

Please revisit this page for later updates. 

About the New Directions Series   

VLAS is part of British Council’s New Directions in Language Assessment series, a global programme of conferences, webinars and newsletters for the professional ELT assessment community.  Learn more and sign up for newsletters and webinars here. 
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