Since 1999, many universities and educational institutes in Da Nang have been becoming actively involved in boosting their internationalisation strateges to bring an international dimension to their institutions.  The intention is to faciliate local students to access global learning environment, as well as to enhance the quality of the city’s human resources.

Students of the Viet Nam-UK Institute for Research and Executive Education attending a training course abroad (Photo: Phuong Tra)

The Da Nang University of Technology and Science (DUT) is one of the city’s pioneers in internationalising its educational system.

In particular, DUT has been listed amongst four Vietnamese universities which have implemented the Vietnamese-French Training Programme of excellent Engineers (PFIEV) since 1999.  Funded by the French government, PFIEV aims to train high-quality engineers and managers with international communication skills for key economic areas in Viet Nam. 

Under the programme, trainees have to complete all general subjects in the first 2 years of their 5-year course, whilst the remaining 3 years they focus on learning specific major subjects jointly developed by Vietnamese and French universities.  PFIEV students are given extensive courses in English and French languages. 

In addition, DUT has developed an international Electronics and Telecommunication programme since 2006, and Embedded System training course 2 years later.  In particular, all the lessons have been taught by English, with textbooks developed by DUT’s international partners. 

The Viet Nam-UK Institute for Research and Executive Education, which is based at the University of Da Nang, is another typical example of  the internationalisation of education.

The Institute’s Deputy Director Nguyen Thi My Huong, remarked “Currently, up to 30% of lecturers at my institute are foreigners. In addition, all of the courses are entirely taught in English, meeting standards in the UK education system. The courses aim to help trainees perfect their English proficiency and develop their soft skills in order to facilitate them to find their suitable jobs after graduation”.

Ms Huong said “The Ho Chi Minh City-based Synova Solutions company has recently recruited a large number of graduates from my institute.  All of them have met the company’s recruitment requirements thanks to their dynamic, confidence, and English fluency”.

Ngo Phuong Mai, a third-year student at the institute’s International Business Management faculty, said that she had a chance to attend a 10-day training course at the Catholic University of Korea.  She remarked that the course helped her to enhance her English and soft silks, as well as allowed her to learn more about this country’s culture”.

The city’s Duy Tan University (DTU) has also been giving top priority to promoting its cooperation with many prestigious universities worldwide.

In particular, in 2005, DTU and the Indian software training institute (NIIT) entered into an agreement on offering IT training courses for DTU’s students.  Three years later, DTU cooperated with the US’ Carnegie Mellon University to develop bachelor's programme on software technology, information system, and network engineering.

Mr Le Cong Co, Chairman of the DTU Management Board, spoke highly of DTU’s training cooperation with international universities in helping his university enhance the quality of its training activities. He remarked that this also plays a vital role in helping DTU’s lecturers perfect their teaching skills, and developing the city’s hi-quality human resources.