The 23 deals cover bilateral cooperation in secondary, tertiary and postgraduate education, vocational training and publications, among others, while the event drew the participation of some 200 British partners.

“Foreign investment projects in education…have played a key role in creating high-quality human resources for Vietnam”

Speaking at the forum, Vietnam’s minister of Education and Training Phung Xuan Nha said the Vietnamese government defines education as one of three breakthroughs in the implementation of the socio-economic development strategy for 2011-2020.

“Foreign investment projects in education and joint training programs have played a key role in creating high-quality human resources for Vietnam,” he said.

Nha added that Vietnam has a young population with a fondness for learning and high demand for studying at world-class educational establishments. About 170,000 Vietnamese are studying overseas at present.

He explained that the country also has security, political stability and an open visa policy.

Therefore, once investing in Vietnam, he continued, foreign educational establishments will be able to attract not only Vietnamese students but also those from across Southeast Asia and the world.

The minister said as of December 2018, Vietnam had approved 530 joint training programs between local and foreign universities, including more than 80 programs with British schools.

Another key activity of the minister’s visit to the UK was an MoU signed with Education minister of Wales Kirsty Williams on cooperation in training, policy dialogue, and experience sharing in educational management and research cooperation between Vietnamese educational institutions and those from Wales.

The Welsh administration, through its Global Wales fund, will provide Vietnam with 20 full scholarships for postgraduate students each year from 2020-2022 to pursue study at universities in Wales under the Chevening Scholarships program.

The Vietnam minister also spoke with the minister of State at the UK Department for Education, Nick Gibb, about the two countries’ education cooperation.

Nha said he hopes the UK will help Vietnam improve not only higher education but also primary and secondary education and that Vietnam also wants to learn from the UK’s experience in developing STEM and English training programs.