Vietnam should improve the quality of training and scientific research in order to attract more foreign universities to invest in, heard the Vietnam-Europe Higher Education Forum in Hanoi on November 3.

Delegates at the forum, jointly held by the Ministry of Education and Training and the European Delegation to Vietnam, suggested Vietnam improve English language skills for local students, helping them access scholarships offered by foreign universities.

Besides, Vietnamese students should equip themselves with IT skills in a bid to effectively engage in international integration, they said.

Deputy Minister of Education and Training Bui Van Ga speaking at the event.
Photo: vietnamnet.vn

According to Deputy Minister of Education and Training Bui Van Ga, many European countries have granted scholarships to Vietnamese postgraduates over the years. The Vietnamese Government has also sent students overseas through projects.

However, he said, educational cooperation between Vietnam and the European nations has not yet matched their potential.

The forum aims to help universities, educational managers and scientific researchers study opportunities for bilateral and multilateral educational cooperation, thus developing joint projects and programs, and reaching agreements, he said.

Tom Corrie from the EU Delegation to Vietnam said the European countries are helping leading Vietnamese universities implement 18 projects in such areas as energy and agriculture.

The EU has also assisted other ASEAN member countries in enhancing higher education management, he added.

The European nations provided 28 scholarships to Vietnamese students in 2016, he said, adding that close to 50,000 Vietnamese students are studying abroad with around 15,000 in Europe.

The official expressed his hope that the figure would increase in the coming time.

The forum was attended by representatives of about 80 domestic and foreign education institutions, embassies and international organizations.

The Hanoi University of Science and Technology will organize an exhibition on European higher education on November 4 with the participation of 22 international educational organizations.

Source: VNA