Summary of more than 2 years of implementing the project "Enhancing female leadership capacity in higher education towards the era of digital transformation and globalization"

On the afternoon of February 28, 2024, a workshop was held to summarize the project “Enhancing the capacity of women leaders in higher education towards the era of digital transformation and globalization” (EWL). The event was organized in person at Vietnam National University, Hanoi and online by the Center for Financial Integrity & Business, Coventry University, UK.

The project “Enhancing the capacity of women leaders in higher education towards the era of digital transformation and globalization” (EWL), is funded by the British Council and chaired by higher education institutions, including: Hanoi National University (host), Coventry University (UK), Phenikaa University, University of Economics and Business Administration - Thai Nguyen University.

The project aims to enhance the capacity of female leaders in higher education institutions in Vietnam; thereby promoting the empowerment of female leaders in the current context of digitalization and globalization. The objectives of the project are all aimed at implementing digital transformation and innovation strategies of Vietnamese higher education institutions.

The project officially launched in January 2022, after nearly 3 years successfully organized a series of activities including: International conferences, dialogue programs, training courses and E-learning components (including 6 modules) on the LMS system of Hanoi National University.

Through the project implementation, a network of female leaders has been developed, laying the foundation for future research and training cooperation. In particular, a network of more than 600 researchers and female leaders at home and abroad has been established to exchange knowledge and skills to enhance female leadership capacity in the context of globalization and digital transformation.

During more than 2 years of implementation, the project has attracted many participants including scientists, policy makers, university leaders, lecturers, and researchers from the UK, Australia, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Thi Thanh Tu - Head of Science and Technology Department of VNU, Head of Project Group presented an overview report on the project's status and implementation results.

Project team leader, Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Thi Thanh Tu, assessed that the project has contributed to raising awareness of gender issues and challenges faced by female leaders; improving digital skills for female leaders at higher education institutions in digital university management; developing a support network to continuously assist female leaders to achieve better gender equality...

The project is a practical activity contributing to the mission of the Hanoi National University Scientists Club: connecting managers and scientists at home and abroad, especially between scientists and female leaders in the UK and the ASEAN region, to achieve the goal of enhancing the capacity and role of female leaders in the field of higher education in Vietnam to adapt to the new context.

Mr. Phung Danh Thang, Deputy Head of the Executive Board of the Scientists Club of Vietnam National University, Hanoi, spoke at the workshop.

According to Mr. Phung Danh Thang, Deputy Head of the Executive Board of the Scientists Club of Vietnam National University, Hanoi, the key aspect to the success of the project lies in establishing a network of female leaders in higher education institutions to facilitate knowledge exchange, sharing of ideas and experiences in research and management, and supporting female leaders in universities to improve their capacity to better adapt to the digitalization and globalization processes in Vietnam.

“This is the last workshop within the project framework, but I believe that today's event will open up opportunities and extremely strong connections between the network of partners and scientists on the next topics, aiming at female leaders and female scientists to adapt and integrate more strongly with social changes that will have a strong impact on Vietnamese higher education in the future,” Mr. Phung Danh Thang emphasized.

Delegates attending the workshop at Hanoi National University, Vietnam connected with Coventry University - UK via an online platform.

At the workshop, after the group of scientists implementing the project presented the report on the overview of the situation and results of the project implementation, the delegates attending were: Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Thu Thuy - Director of the Department of Universities, Ministry of Education and Training; Ms. Donna McGowan - Director of the British Council Vietnam, the project sponsor, Ms. Tran Binh Minh - Deputy Head of the Department of Industry and Field Economics Research, Central Institute for Economic Management Research; Associate Professor, Dr. Do Anh Tai - Former President of the Association of Thai Nguyen University of Economics and Business Administration; Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Phu Khanh - Vice President of Phenikaa University, Professor Dr. Tran Xuan Tu - Director of the Institute of Information Technology - VNU also gave a speech on research, evaluation, comments, and contributions on the implementation process as well as the results of the project and shared experiences from practical activities of higher education institutions contributing to the overall summary results of the group of scientists implementing the project "Enhancing the capacity of women leaders in higher education towards the era of digital transformation and globalization" (EWL).

MSc. Hoang Bao Ngoc, Chief Project Manager, conducted the online workshop connecting the Hanoi - Vietnam bridge with the Coventry - UK bridge.

By building a digital platform and providing a virtual space, the project has been creating a network of female leaders in universities to participate and exchange knowledge and ideas. Furthermore, experiences and knowledge in the field of digitalization and globalization will be shared by professors from the UK, ASEAN and Vietnam leaders in the network to help female leaders improve their capacity to better adapt to the digitalization and globalization process in Vietnam.

After the project ends, members will continue to build their development plans and receive support from professors and leaders in the UK and Vietnam to complete and implement their plans at educational and research institutions in their workplace while still receiving support from the network through digital platforms that the project team has built and connected through the project implementation process.

PV