International Conference: VLAS 2025

Founded in 1960, Foreign Trade University (FTU) is a leading public university in Vietnam. FTU offers programs in Economics, Business, Business Administration, Law, Finance & Banking, Accounting & Auditing, Computer Science, and Business Languages. The university currently teaches five foreign languages - English, French, Japanese, Chinese, and Spanish - and hosts a large portfolio of high quality degree programs delivered in these languages. The curricula of these programs are co-designed and delivered with top global partners, creating rich academic exchange, international profession-oriented opportunities and dual-degree pathways. A hallmark is FTU’s Business Language programs, which combine advanced language-for-business training with solid professional knowledge such as International Business, Marketing, Logistics, Trade Finance to meet learners’ real needs.

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 Thi 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 Pham Thi Hong Nhung, Hue University of Foreign Languages. Dr Nhung earned her PhD in Applied Linguistics from the University of Queensland. She has led national projects and published in leading journals and volumes from Cambridge, Routledge, and Multilingual Matters.
• Dr Cao Thi Hong Phuong, Hanoi National University of Education. Dr Phuong 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. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Quynh, Director of the Office of Assessment and Quality Control at ULIS, VNU Hanoi. Dr Quynh 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.
• Assoc. Prof. Dr Tran Ba Tien - Vice President of Vinh University and Editor-in-Chief of the Vinh University Journal of Science.
• Mr Davide Guarini Gilmartin, British Council. Davide is the British Council Senior Academic Manager, English and School Education in Indonesia and Viet Nam. He is a teacher educator with over 25 years’ experience and has worked with British Council since 2003.
• Ms Megan Agnew, British Council. Megan is a senior IELTS Manager for the British Council and manages relationships with higher education institutions globally, supporting policy changes as well as IELTS product development.
• Ms Elena Ostashchenko. Elena is an experienced EFL educator with 17 years of teaching across EFL, ESP and IELTS contexts, working with both with young learners and adults.
• Dr. Nguyen Nhat Tuan, Hanoi University. Dr Tuan is the Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Director of the International Education Center at Hanoi University.  
• Dr Vu Thi Thanh Nha, University of Languages and International Studies. Dr Nha is the Dean of the Faculty of English Language and Culture, University of Languages and International Studies, Vietnam National University (ULIS). She has been involved in curriculum and material development projects and teacher training with the Ministry of Education and Training, US Regional English Language Office, Australian Alumni in Vietnam, and British Council since 2015.
• Mr Andy Milner, British Council. Andy has been involved in teaching English for over 34 years and has worked in seven different countries in Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, and Asia.
• Dr Phuong Hoang Yen, Associate Professor and Vice Dean at the School of Foreign Languages, Can Tho University. Dr Yen holds a PhD in Linguistics from KU Leuven. Her research focuses on assessment, teacher development, self-regulated learning, and curriculum innovation.
• MA. Calum John Leatham, Foreign Trade University. Calum is a British lecturer of Business English at Foreign Trade University in Hanoi, Vietnam. His primary interest lies in supporting students beyond language skills alone. 
• Mr Tim Hood and Mr Anthony Nicols, British Council. With over 30 years in international education, Tim Hood has worked across 11 countries in the Middle East, Asia, and Europe. 

The symposium will be held at Foreign Trade University, Block D, with check-in from 8:45am. 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 can be downloaded by clicking the link in the Downloads section below] 

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.

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