On 31 October 2025, at the British Ambassador’s Residence in Hanoi, we proudly celebrated the achievements of nine outstanding Vietnamese English language teachers, recipients of fully funded scholarships to pursue an online two year MA in TESOL at Ulster University, initiated as part of the British Council’s UK–Viet Nam Season 2023.
The event brought together representatives from the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET), university leaders, school principals, VietTESOL Association and our partners from Ulster University to honour the scholars’ dedication, growth, and contributions to English language teaching in Viet Nam. It also reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to supporting teacher development and educational cooperation, pivotal in this week that has seen not only the signing of a UK–Viet Nam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership but also Government approval of a project to make English the second language in schools 2025–2035, vision 2045.
Delivered in partnership with Ulster University, the programme combined online learning with a study visit to Northern Ireland. All nine scholars have successfully submitted their dissertations, with many being considered for distinction and publication – a truly remarkable achievement.
As shared by Mr. Alex Strugnell, Deputy Ambassador, British Embassy to Viet Nam:
Your success is not only personal, it is deeply meaningful for the future of English language teaching in Viet Nam. As educators, you are shaping the next generation of learners and leaders. Your enhanced skills and global perspectives will ripple through your classrooms, institutions, and communities.
Dr. Nguyen Hoa, President of the VietTESOL Association acknowledged the scholars’ achievements and expressed his congratulations:
You have crossed the finish line. You’ve gained advanced knowledge, sharpened your professional skills, and got exposure to diverse perspectives, and acquired new cultural capital, that will enrich your classrooms and you relationships with your learners and your colleagues. Going forward, I hope you will be the changemakers we need those days, ready to teach with heart and mind, and to lead with insight and empathy. Share your expertise, mentor others, and help shape the future of our profession. May your journey ahead be filled with purpose, passion, and the joy of making a difference in people's lives, one student, one classroom, one conversation at a time. Over the years, VietTESOL and the British Council have built a meaningful and fruitful partnership. British Council’s participation at our annual international conventions has been a fixture. We highly appreciate BC’s contribution to the success of our conventions, and together we’ve worked on initiatives like the Teaching English 2024 and the Seed Funding Program 2025. These collaborations are grounded in a shared belief that English language education is more than language. It is about going together. It’s about empowering teachers, learners, and opening doors to opportunity. It is about people!
Dr. Nguyen Thi Hong Nhat, Dean of English Faculty, Hanoi Pedagogical University 2, expressed her congratulations to the British Council, Ulster University, and all scholars who have successfully completed the UK–Viet Nam Season 2023 Master’s Scholarship Program in TESOL.
This initiative holds great academic and humanistic value, significantly contributing to the professional development of English language educators in Viet Nam. It perfectly aligns with the Viet Nam Government’s National Project to establish English as a second language in schools from 2025 to 2035, which was newly approved on 27 October 2025.
Congratulations to our scholars – your success marks a significant step forward for English language teaching and learning in Viet Nam!