Vietnam, US strengthen higher education cooperation

Deputy Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Van Phuc at the working session with representatives from 21 US higher education institutions in Hanoi on March 31. (Photo: Ministry of Education and Training)

At a working session with representatives from 21 US higher education institutions in Hanoi on March 31, Phuc highlighted the growing educational partnership between the two nations, with 30,000 out of 200,000 Vietnamese citizens studying abroad being in the US. In the 2022-2023 academic year, Vietnamese students ranked fifth globally in terms of numbers of international students in the US, rising by 5.7%.

Over the recent past, the two countries have signed agreements and Memoranda of Understanding on education cooperation in digital transformation, English language teaching in education establishments, and improvement in education quality, among others.

He emphasised digital transformation as a strategic priority for Vietnam's education sector, aiming to revolutionise teaching methods and make digital learning an essential daily activity for educators and students alike.

Phuc outlined key focus areas beyond infrastructure upgrades, including teacher training, STEM/STEAM education development, programming education, and computer science programmes to enhance digital skills and cybersecurity awareness. These initiatives aim to develop a high-tech workforce, especially in fields like big data, artificial intelligence, and semiconductor technology.

Commercial Counsellor at the US Embassy in Vietnam Steve Green, who led the US delegation, said that the US has nearly 4,000 universities and colleges serving some 20 million students, with private institutions comprising over 50% of higher education institutions.

He noted that since late 2024, the US Department of State has collaborated with Vietnam's Ministry of Education and Training to invite 25 leaders from Vietnamese universities specialising in science and technology to participate in the International Academic Partnership Programme (IAPP), focusing on strengthening cooperation in technical fields such as AI, information technology, and semiconductor chips.

At the event, representatives from universities of both countries exchanged notes on training programmes, scholarships, international students, and development of professions that meet emerging social trends and needs.

Currently, about 50 of the 400 joint training programmes between Vietnamese and US higher education institutions on technology engineering, computer science, and economics. Additional direct cooperation exists in science and technology, environment and climate change, agriculture, and STEM education.

Since 2009, the Ministry of Education and Training sent 127 doctoral students to the US using state budget funding. Meanwhile, about 30,000 Vietnamese students are studying in the US through various scholarship programmes or self-finance.

Vietnam currently hosts six US-invested educational institutions in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Quang Ninh, Hai Phong, and Binh Duong, with some 3,000 students enrolled./.