Within the framework of the BUILD-IT project, the Conference on Internationalization of Higher Education and the In-country Workshop 2023 took place with the participation of a large number of leaders and staff of the Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (HCMUT) and from other sister universities.
At the Conference on Internationalization of Higher Education on the morning of August 4, 2023, there was the presence of the Deputy Director of the Department of International Cooperation, the Ministry of Education and Training Dr. Nguyen Tien Dung and the Head of the Department of External Relations and Project Management, Viet Nam National University Ho Chi Minh City (VNU-HCM) Dr. Bui Thi Hong Hanh. For HCMUT, the representatives consisted of three Vice Presidents Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Thien Phuc, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Danh Thao and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Van Thang together with unit managers. In addition, the seminar also welcomed representatives of partner universities.
The Conference focused on the internationalization of higher education in order to bring knowledge and experience to the staff, at the same time to systematize the working and management processes at HCMUT. Furthermore, the Conference brought about spillover and far-reaching impact given the participation of universities across the country, from which, the universities together build a strong culture and trend in the internationalization of higher education in Vietnam.
At the Conference, 04 speakers representing 04 universities had discussions with rich and important information on internationalization at universities in Vietnam. The opening session was the presentation on “the main features of the internationalization project at HCMUT” by the Director of the Office for International Study Program Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dang Dang Tung. Next, a Program Coordinator of the International Cooperation Department, HUST Ms. Tran Vu Huong Tra shared about “Experience in organizing cultural exchanges for international students at HUST”. Deputy Head of the Department of International Cooperation, Ministry of Education and Training Dr. Nguyen Tien Dung also provided specific information on “Regulations on receiving foreign lecturers and employees”. Finally, the conference participants listened to “the experience of receiving international scholars and students at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (HCMUSSH) under VNU-HCM”, presented by Vice President Dr. Le Hoang Dung.
Many debates and questions were put on the agenda regarding the implementation of internationalization activities at universities across the country such as the policy of recruiting international lecturers, the issue of the visa processes for foreigners and the reception of international students and foreign lecturers and so on.
In the afternoon of the same day, an internal session for HCMUT staff was held to disseminate internationalization strategies and processes for the recruitment of international students and foreign lecturers and scientific and technological activities in the era of global integration. HCMUT President Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mai Thanh Phong also attended the session.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mai Thanh Phong said that HCMUT has made significant improvements to the internationalization of higher education, creating more favorable conditions for international students to participate in study programs at HCMUT on the one hand and giving opportunities for HCMUT students to experience education in other countries on the other hand. In addition, cooperation with leading universities in the region and in the world has also been built and expanded, making it possible for students and lecturers to access advanced knowledge and technology from developed countries widely and effectively.
At the same time, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mai Thanh Phong also pointed out the existing challenges related to changing the mindset of both lecturers and students when it comes to building a multicultural learning environment and developing diverse and flexible study programs to attract and keep foreign lecturers attached to the university for the long run, etc. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mai Thanh Phong hopes that the lecturers, students and staff of the University would continue to cooperate in promoting the internationalization of education at the university to achieve more remarkable achievements.
Previously, from August 1st to 3rd, 2023, 60 representatives from HCMUT, HCMUSSH, Hanoi University of Mining and Geology participated in the in-country workshop 2023. In 03 days, 02 experts consisting of the Head of the Higher Education Policy and Strategy Department, German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) Dr. Stephan Fuchs and the Head of the International Department at Jade University of Applied Sciences Dr. Andrea Menn have directly conducted training on the topics related to internationalization activities such as student, academic and non-academic staff exchange, internationalization policy on recruitment of foreign lecturers…
The annual in-country workshop has made an important contribution to the training of human resources for HCMUT. More than 700 HCMUT staff have attended the in-country workshops so far from 2012 to the present.
Some pictures were taken during the conference and in-country workshop in 2023:
