There are currently over 7,100 students in Vietnam studying the UK university curriculum, of which 6,000 are in person and the remainder online. Together with Vietnamese counterparts and partners, the UK view this as a promising platform to expand on, to enable a more inclusive, equitable, and affordable option to study at the highest level.

The statement was made by Professor Sir Steve Smith, a UK Government International Education Champion, at a forum on transnational education (TNE) partnerships co-hosted by Vietnam’s Ministry of Education and Training (MoET) together with the British Embassy in Vietnam and the British Council on October 19 in Hanoi.

With the theme “ThinkTNE: Leveraging UK-Vietnam transnational education partnerships”, the forum aimed at bringing together both established and new partners in higher education to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and experience and to highlight success stories of UK–Vietnam higher education collaborations, using them as compelling case studies and sources of valuable insights for future partnerships. The forum also focused on fostering the further development and expansion of UK-Vietnam higher education partnerships in TNE.

Topics related to TNE, including the global trends and local opportunities in TNE partnerships and the evolving landscape of international education, were discussed at the forum. Participants also discussed the strategic aspects of TNE, examining its role and the changing priorities, policies, and regulatory frameworks necessary to facilitate its development and the advancement of TNE in Vietnam and beyond.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, H.E Iain Frew, British Ambassador to Vietnam, noted that this year marks half a century of diplomatic relations between the UK and Vietnam. The strategic partnership between the two countries goes from strength to strength, covering a range of areas, from developing trade partnerships to tackling climate change and holding high-level political exchanges. “Education is also a core pillar of our relationship and our strategic partnership,” he said. “And that is why we have identified it as one of three top priorities for this strategic year. This forum today provides a great networking opportunity for UK and Vietnamese universities to explore and forge future partnerships in TNE research.”

“We are happy to celebrate 50 years of diplomatic relations and ten years of strategic partnership between the UK and Vietnam,” said Deputy Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Van Phuc. “We have increased cooperation between the two countries in the field of education and training and strengthened cooperation and training links between higher education institutions in the two countries. In the future, Vietnam will further strengthen cooperation and there will be more cooperative agreements signed with the UK in the field of higher education in the future.”

For his part, Sir Steve noted that the overarching theme of transnational education today is of ever-growing importance in the world of higher education. “I am excited and honored to be playing a role in helping increase the capacity of Vietnam’s universities to partner internationally,” he said. “We have with us today a selection of excellent UK higher education institutions. All are keen to understand your needs, priorities and ambitions, both at a national and institutional level, and then discuss how they can help with capacity building to benefit all.”

The UK’s Cross-Government International Education Strategy is a reflection of these changes, he went on, with departments working as one for a quality education offering for international students, be that studying in the UK, overseas, or in blended formats. “This strategy is core to my role, in further developing education partnerships in five Tier 1 countries globally, of which Vietnam, I’m proud to say, is one.”

This year also marks 30 years of the British Council’s presence in Vietnam. In her address, Ms. Donna McGowan, Director of the British Council in Vietnam, expressed her delight at co-organizing the forum and having education leaders from the UK and Vietnam attend. “At the British Council, we create an enabling environment for TNE, with the aim of improving the quality of learner outcomes, enhancing the student experience, and improving graduate employability,” she said. “The UK is ranked as the number one country with the largest number of TNE programs in Vietnam and has more than three-times the number of students engaging with UK higher education through TNE than studying in the UK. We remain committed to making education more inclusive and accessible with projects and partnerships that drive inclusive education systems, advocate for addressing social inequalities, and support fairer economic and social conditions.”

A report on “Towards a more competitive environment for transnational education in Vietnam” was also introduced at the forum. Carried out by MoET, the British Embassy in Vietnam, and the British Council, the report explores various aspects of transnational education, including the TNE landscape in Vietnam, the current state of TNE development, the challenges and opportunities for market access, and recommendations aimed at fostering an enabling environment for TNE. These recommendations aim to boost Vietnam’s competitiveness in TNE and enhance the overall impact and quality of UK TNE delivery in the country.