Representative of Van Lang University – Dr. Nguyen Huu Cuong Coordinates International Workshops on Transnational Education

On April 9 and 10, 2024, Dr. Nguyen Huu Cuong, Director of the Quality Assurance Department at Van Lang University (VLU), played a pivotal role in coordinating and connecting guest speakers with participants at two international workshops on transnational education. These workshops were part of the project "Empowering Leadership in Transnational Education for an Impactful and Sustainable Growth" organized by the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) and the Aus4Skills program (Australia) at Foreign Trade University. The first workshop focused on "Conducting Scientific Research in International Education," while the second centered on "Transnational Education Models, Strategies, and Cooperation."

Participants in the workshops are reputable experts, managers, and researchers in transnational education from leading universities in Australia and Vietnam. Notable attendees included Prof. Chris Ziguras, Director of the Centre for the Study of Higher Education at the University of Melbourne; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bardo Fraunholz, Senior Manager for International Relations and Transnational Education at Deakin University; Dr. Bui Thi Nhu Huyen, Manager for Transnational Education at Deakin University; Prof. Dr. Tran Thi Ly from Deakin University; Dr. Dao Thanh Tung, Director of the International Relations Department, National Economics University; and Dr. Nguyen Thuy Hong Van, Director of INTESOL Vietnam; along with Dr. Nguyen Huu Cuong, Director of the Quality Assurance Department at Van Lang University. The speakers provided diverse and in-depth perspectives on the discussion topics to promote cooperation and sustainable development in transnational education.

The workshop sessions attracted nearly 30 scholars and over 120 lecturers, university leaders, researchers, international cooperation professionals, and quality assurance professionals from universities across the country, participating both in-person and online. During the "Conducting Scientific Research in International Education" workshop, Dr. Nguyen Huu Cuong facilitated discussions on building strategies, risk management, and effective research methods to address challenges in international education. Accordingly, Prof. Chris Ziguras emphasized the importance of international education research in solving practical issues. He also guided the initial steps in research, from selecting topics to formulating research questions and shared three main approaches: exploratory, descriptive, and explanatory. Prof. Tran Thi Ly, with over 200 international publications, presented potential research topics in international education, such as social impact, student diversity, risk management, digital education, and student mental health. She also shared the publication process and tips for selecting suitable journals, introducing reputable journals for reference. Participants also received information on analyzing research paper structures and experiences on Ph.D. application and scholarships, as well as models of cooperation in doctoral training.

At the "Transnational Education Models, Strategies, and Cooperation" workshop, Dr. Bui Thi Nhu Huyen introduced the concept and implementation process of transnational education models along with partner appraisal criteria. Assoc. Prof. Bardo Fraunholz presented strategies for transnational education, highlighting essential elements for implementing cooperation agreements. Dr. Dao Thanh Tung shared the experience of National Economics University in executing 14 international joint training programmes, discussing the associated benefits and challenges. Following the presentations, Dr. Nguyen Huu Cuong led discussions focusing on differences between public and private universities in international cooperation, partner selection, and trends in joint education programmes within Vietnam and the ASEAN region.

Under the coordination of Dr. Nguyen Huu Cuong, the workshop sessions successfully delivered profound presentations and discussions on risk management strategies and effective research applications to address current and future challenges in international education. These workshops served as platforms for knowledge exchange, establishing a solid foundation for cooperation and sustainable development in this field.