The agreement was signed by Alderman Professor Michael Mainelli, Lord Mayor of the City of London and Rector of City, University of London; Professor Rick Bennett, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice President of BUV; and Mai Anh Thai, Director of CEFALT.
The ceremony was witnessed by Vo Van Hoan, Vice Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee; Alexandra Smith, British Consul General in HCMC; and Dr. Sionade Robinson, Vice President of Enterprise, Engagement, and Employability at City St George’s University (UOL).
The MoU signing ceremony was held on Sept. 16 in HCMC. Photo courtesy of BUV |
According to the agreement, the three institutions will collaborate on several key areas from 2024 to 2029.
The first area is establishing and offering international collaborative training programs, aimed at connecting learners with high-quality international education and expanding their learning options.
Additionally, the institutions will seek funding for research to strengthen capabilities, foster scientific innovation, and develop initiatives with a positive social impact.
The third priority is enhancing the strategic partnership, particularly between BUV and City St George’s University (UOL). This strengthened alliance is expected to pave the way for further collaboration and create a vital educational link between the two countries.
Another key focus is the expansion of collaborative online international learning, which will improve remote learning capabilities and increase access to international educational content for diverse groups of learners.
Student exchange programs are the fifth area of cooperation. These short-term exchanges will allow students to acquire new skills, broaden their perspectives, and engage in cultural exchanges.
Lastly, the institutions will work together on progression and articulation, facilitating student transfers and degree completion across the network. This will diversify educational pathways and improve overall quality.
Vo Van Hoan, Vice Chairman of HCMC People’s Committee, said agreements like this set the stage for schools and centers to exchange knowledge and expertise, and enable student and teacher exchanges, fostering broader international cooperation.
“I believe we should build on this foundation to further expand collaboration between educational institutions. We could consider establishing a British university in HCMC, focusing on fields such as technology and finance, alongside other international universities from countries like Australia, France, and Germany. This would enhance the international mobility of Vietnamese students,” Hoan said.
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Alderman Professor Michael Mainelli, the Lord Mayor of the City of London, speaks at the event. Photo courtesy of BUV |
Alderman Professor Michael Mainelli, Lord Mayor of the City of London, expressed his delight at signing the Memorandum of Understanding as Rector of City, University of London.
“This partnership not only reflects the strong relationship between the U.K. and Vietnam but also underscores our ambition to deepen collaboration in areas such as research, academia, financial services, and business,” he said.
“My mayoral theme, ‘Connect to Prosper,’ highlights the ‘knowledge miles’ within the City of London as a key factor in our long-standing success. I’m thrilled about how our knowledge miles will now extend beyond the square mile to Ho Chi Minh City.”
Alexandra Smith, British Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City, emphasized that the MoU signing is just the beginning. “I believe this will spark further discussions between the HCMC People’s Committee, BUV, and the British Consulate General as we work together to lay the groundwork for establishing a British campus in the future,” she said.
Professor Rick Bennett, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice President of BUV, said: “This strategic collaboration represents a major step forward in our multilateral cooperation, with the goal of enhancing opportunities for all students and faculty within the BUV network.”
By strengthening ties between BUV, City St George’s University (UOL), and CEFALT, Professor Bennett reaffirmed their commitment to delivering high-quality, accessible, and lifelong international learning experiences.
“More than just academic exchange, this partnership embodies our shared vision for the future of education – globally connected, locally relevant, and constantly evolving,” he said.Director Thai of CEFALT said the partnership opens the door for future joint initiatives aimed at bringing British education closer to the people of HCMC and the southern provinces.
“This collaboration fosters educational cooperation and mutual understanding between the U.K. and Ho Chi Minh City in particular, and between the U.K. and Vietnam more broadly,” he said.
Dr. Sionade Robinson, Vice President of Enterprise, Engagement & Employability at City St George’s University, expressed her enthusiasm for the MoU with BUV, Vietnam’s leading British higher education institution. She noted that BUV’s accreditation through the QAA and recognition by the Vietnamese government as meeting international standards further solidify its leadership.
“BUV shares our ambition to provide not only world-class education but also the essential skills that employers demand in today’s global economy.”
Previously, BUV and CEFALT had worked together to enhance foreign language education and promote a culture of lifelong learning in HCMC and neighboring provinces.
For UOL, it remains BUV’s long-standing awarding body for undergraduate programs, including Finance, Accounting & Finance, Business & Management, and Economics & Management.
BUV also serves as the exclusive provider of UOL’s International Foundation Programme (IFP) in Vietnam and is one of the few UOL Recognized Teaching Centers to receive the prestigious Quality Certification Award.
Building on this foundation, the expanded areas of cooperation will not only increase access to high-quality education for HCMC residents but also reaffirm the commitment to bringing British education to learners within and beyond Vietnam.
This marks a significant step forward, strengthening the presence of U.K. education in HCMC and advancing the goal of establishing a British university in the city to meet the growing demand for quality education and contribute to the city’s development.
British University Vietnam (BUV) is one of the institutions in the country to receive a 5-star certification from Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) and the first university in Vietnam and ASEAN to be awarded global quality accreditation by the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA)—two of the world’s most prestigious accreditations for higher education quality.
BUV’s dynamic curriculum is designed to stay ahead of industry trends, blending theory with practical application. This approach has resulted in a 100% employment or further education rate for graduates within three months of completing their studies.
The university’s expansive 6.5-hectare campus, built with a total investment of $165 million, emphasizes sustainability and offers an enriching environment that supports both academic and personal development. See more information here.
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