Hanoi (VNA) - Nearly 50 higher education institutions from EU member states, along with representatives from EU countries in Vietnam, and over 100 higher education institutions from Vietnam gathered at a conference on the Erasmus+ programme in Hanoi on October 22 to discuss educational collaboration.
The event formed part of the European Education Week 2024.
It also attracted more than 500 online attendees, demonstrating strong interest in Erasmus+ in Vietnam, the EU's flagship programme for education, training, youth, and sports.
Taking place over two days, the conference focused on key components of Erasmus+, including Capacity Building in Higher Education (CBHE), International Credit Mobility (ICM), and Jean Monnet Actions (JMA).
The event provided an opportunity for participants to explore potential collaboration, contributing to the promotion of internationalization and modernization of higher education in Vietnam.
Discussions also revolved around Vietnam’s Project 89, a programme aimed at developing high-quality human resources, and exchanges between the EU alumni network and European businesses in Vietnam, with a view to clarifying the businesses’ needs regarding human resources, thus helping align workforce training with practical needs.
Speaking at the event, Vice President of the European Commission Margaritis Schinas said expanding Erasmus+ beyond Europe not only opens up additional educational opportunities but also strengthens collaborative relationships with nations worldwide, including Vietnam.
According to Deputy Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Van Phuc, education and training are top policy priorities for Vietnam, and educational development is considered one of the three strategic breakthroughs to implement the country's socio-economic development strategy.
Vietnam currently has approximately 200,000 students studying abroad. By the end of 2024, the country had attracted 4.5 billion USD in the education and training sector, and 65 domestic higher education insitutions had implemented 430 collaborative training programmes with foreign partners, half of which involving European universities.
Since the programme's inception in Vietnam in 2015, Erasmus+ has supported the enhancement of capacity, expanded connections, and strengthened scientific research collaboration between European and Vietnamese universities, achieving remarkable milestones.
Through the Erasmus+ programme, 3,400 students, lecturers, and tertiary education administrators have participated in long- and short-term courses in Europe. Vietnam consistently ranks among the top 20 countries in terms of scholarships received, with over 600 students receiving scholarships. In 2024, 54 Vietnamese students received scholarships under the programme to pursue graduate studies.
The programme has also promoted collaborations between European and Vietnamese higher education institutions in scientific research, developing training programs, and implementing joint projects. Vietnam currently holds the highest approval rate for Erasmus+ projects, with 96 projects launched during this period.
With a budget of 26 billion USD for the 2021-2027 period, focusing on key areas such as green transition, digital transformation, climate change adaptation, workforce development, and employment promotion, the programme aims to meet the urgent needs of the labour market and efforts to reduce emissions and respond to climate change. This will be the foundation for the sides invloved to enhance cooperation in education and research over the next 50 years./.
