INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY AND UWE BRISTOL: OVER 3,500 STUDENTS EDUCATED THROUGH JOINT PROGRAMS

On the morning of November 29, 2025, International University – Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City (IU) and the University of the West of England, Bristol (UWE, UK) held a ceremony to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their joint programs (2005–2025). Over two decades of collaboration, the two institutions have achieved many positive milestones, jointly training 3,520 students.

International University currently has more than 10,000 undergraduate students and over 800 postgraduate students, and doctoral candidates. The university offers 23 undergraduate programs, 11 master’s programs, and 5 doctoral programs. Over the course of its 22-year history, IU has become one of Vietnam’s reputable public universities with a comprehensive international orientation. Many of its academic programs have achieved prestigious accreditations such as ABET, ACBSP, FIBAA, ASIIN, and AUN-QA. IU is among the earliest higher education institutions in Vietnam to obtain international quality accreditation.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Đinh Đức Anh Vũ – Vice President of IU – delivered the opening remarks at the ceremony celebrating 20 years of cooperation between IU and UWE.

In his opening speech, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Đinh Đức Anh Vũ, Vice President of International University (IU), shared: “International University (IU) launched its first transnational education programs with the University of the West of England (UWE) in 2005. Since then, the nine joint programs between UWE and IU have attracted a total of 1,850 enrolled students, with more than 1,500 students trained and awarded bachelor’s degrees by UWE Bristol to date. Moreover, according to reports, over 95% of graduates have secured employment within six months after completing their studies. Despite numerous changes and challenges over the years, our partnership has remained a steadfast foundation and a catalyst for innovation. We collaborate not only because of mutual benefits, but because we recognize that our values, inspirations, and commitments blend in a way that allows us to achieve far more than either institution could accomplish alone. Since the moment we formalized our Strategic Partnership, we have not merely expanded our cooperation—we have elevated it. This agreement is not just a document; it is a statement of intent. It affirms our determination to strengthen collaboration, broaden our vision, and build frameworks that not only meet current needs but are forward-looking enough to withstand the uncertainties of the future.”

University of the West of England, Bristol (UWE), ranks 4th in the South West region of England in overall rankings and is also the 6th largest scholarship provider among UK universities, offering over £1 million in scholarships annually to international students, of which approximately £120,000 is allocated specifically for Vietnamese students. The university currently has nearly 40,000 students. UWE is an ideal destination for those eager to explore knowledge and experience a modern UK educational environment. With a history spanning centuries, the university places strong emphasis on practical learning and maintains close partnerships with industry, thereby opening up extensive employment opportunities for its students. It is also a university known for active research and innovation, aiming to cultivate strong professional expertise alongside outstanding soft skills.

Prof. Yvonne Beach – Deputy Vice-Chancellor of UWE, Dean of the Faculty of Business and Law – delivered remarks at the ceremony on the morning of November 29, 2025.

“Our successful partnership is built on shared values and on the mutual commitment to providing high-quality education for everyone, as well as training graduates who are ready and capable of contributing to the workforce and to society at large. At UWE, we are especially proud that this collaboration has allowed students to access internationally recognized, high-quality academic programs. This partnership is founded on a long history of success and continues to grow today as we consistently seek new opportunities to work and learn together. Students from UWE and the International University have taken part in summer programs and many other joint activities, and today, our two institutions reaffirm our commitment to exploring new opportunities to further enhance the effectiveness of our cooperation for the benefit of the community and society as a whole,” shared Prof. Yvonne Beach – Deputy Vice-Chancellor of UWE, Dean of the Faculty of Business and Law – at the ceremony.

Ms. Alexandra Smith – British Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City and Trade Director for Vietnam – speaking at the ceremony on the morning of November 29.

In 2005, the joint program between International University – Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City (IU) and University of the West of England, Bristol (UWE) was officially launched, marking an important partnership and demonstrating a shared commitment to advancing international higher education. Beginning with the original 2+2 joint programs, IU and UWE have continuously strengthened their collaboration and exchanged academic expertise to build programs of increasingly higher and harmonized quality, paving the way for 4+0 joint programs in Business Administration, Information Technology, Biotechnology with a Biomedical orientation, and English Language. After 20 years of cooperation, the two institutions have achieved numerous significant milestones.

Ms. Alexandra Smith – British Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City and Trade Director for Vietnam on 29/11/2025 stated,“This is truly a momentous occasion as we are celebrating 20 years of partnership between these two institutions. Sustaining and developing this collaboration takes dedication and hard work that have brought us to this point. I would like to congratulate on this excellent achievement over the past two decades and I am delighted to see this partnership continue into its next chapter. UK–Vietnam relations are at an all-time high. Just last month, our two countries elevated their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Education has always been a cornerstone of this partnership—a vital bridge that fosters cultural understanding and strengthens diplomatic ties. Under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, education stands proudly as one of six key pillars of cooperation”

Representatives from IU and UWE presented flowers and gifts to Ms. Alexandra Smith – the British Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City and the Director of Trade in Vietnam – as a gesture of appreciation.

With the goal of deepening and expanding long-term, sustainable collaboration, the two universities formally held a signing ceremony for a Strategic Partnership Agreement, marking a new step forward in their joint efforts in education, training, and scientific research. This agreement establishes a comprehensive cooperation framework, enabling both sides to implement collaborative projects and programs in key areas such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), digital transformation, biotechnology, advanced manufacturing, sustainable infrastructure, and climate adaptation. It also promotes the development of joint scientific research models that provide academic value for both institutions.

Additionally, both sides will implement Master’s and Doctoral training programs for IU faculty under the Vietnamese Government’s Scheme 89 (Project 89) for doctoral training. Notably, the partnership includes bilateral student exchange programs (credit exchange), internship opportunities for IU students in the UK, and vice versa. In the coming period, the two institutions will also carry out various cooperative activities aimed at strengthening the image and brand recognition of both universities.

TS. Nguyễn Thái Bình Long – Phó trưởng ban Ban Đối ngoại và Phát triển dự án ĐHQG-HCM – phát biểu tại buổi lễ.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Đinh Đức Anh Vũ – Vice President of International University – emphasized, “The higher education partnership between IU and our UK partners has been actively contributing to the university’s internationalization efforts in both training and research. IU has always valued and identified University of the West of England (UWE), UK, as one of our strategic partners. In the coming period, both sides will continue to collaborate on new models, joint research initiatives, guest-lecture–based teaching activities, and other forms of cooperation to provide learners with more opportunities and pathways.” 

Ms. Le Nguyen Bao Ngoc – an alumna of the Business Administration program jointly delivered by the International University and the University of the West of England, and Miss World Vietnam 2024 – shared her thoughts at the ceremony on the morning of November 29.

On this occasion, the University of the West of England also contributed £50,000 (equivalent to nearly 1.8 billion VND) to the International University’s scholarship fund to support outstanding students enrolled in the joint training program.

Over the past two decades, University of the West of England, Bristol, and IU have built a comprehensive ecosystem of joint training programs (JTPs). The collaboration has expanded from four initial 2+2 programs to nine joint programs, covering diverse disciplines and training models (2+2, 3+1, 4+0). Both institutions are now moving toward developing new postgraduate joint programs, opening additional joint undergraduate majors, designing short-term training courses, establishing a language training and testing center aligned with existing joint programs, and conducting joint research with co-publications. The joint programs between IU and UWE have been recognized by the Department of Higher Education (MOET) as the largest-scale joint training programs in Vietnam (nearly 1,500 students at the time of announcement). These achievements highlight the effectiveness of the partnership and open promising prospects for deeper, more sustainable cooperation in the future.

The two universities also signed a cooperation agreement to become strategic partners, paving the way for various new initiatives in the years to come.

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENTS AFTER 20 YEARS OF PARTNERSHIP