Vietnam and Ireland sign strategic partnership agreement on higher education cooperation

At the invitation of Irish President Michael Higgins, General Secretary andPresident To Lam paid a State visit to Ireland from October 1-3, 2024.

During the visit, on October 3, at the Irish Prime Minister's Office, witnessed by General Secretary, President To Lam and Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris, Deputy Minister of Education and Training of Vietnam Hoang Minh Son - authorized by Minister Nguyen Kim Son, and Irish Minister of HigherEducation , Research, Innovation and Science Patrick O'Donovan signed a Sectoral Strategic Partnership Agreement on higher education cooperation.

Deputy Minister Hoang Minh Son and Minister Patrick O'Donovan signed the Sectoral Strategic Partnership Agreement on higher education cooperation witnessed by General Secretary and President To Lam and Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris.

The agreement focuses on a number of key activities including: Exchange of lecturers, interns and students between higher education institutions, according to programs and exchange of information on education; training of education managers and university lecturers ;

Scholarships for training at recognised higher education institutions of both Parties, including Irish scholarship programmes if resources permit; bilateral programmes between recognised higher education institutions of both Parties;

Exchange of educational materials, teaching aids, organization of exhibitions and seminars ; mutual support in the application of information and communication technology in education and training and technology transfer, mathematics and sciences;

Regular engagements between higher education institutions through the Ireland Bilateral Educational Exchange (VIBE) programme and other activities of mutual interest.

The signing of the Strategic Partnership Agreement will open up many new opportunities for cooperation in the field of higher education between Vietnam and Ireland. This is also a breakthrough in the higher education cooperation between Vietnam and Ireland, towards the 30th anniversary of the good bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

On this occasion, General Secretary and President To Lam and other leaders witnessed the exchange of cooperation documents between Hanoi National University and Dublin University and Cork University; between FPT University - FPT Corporation and ADAPT Research Center, Dublin University and Kyndryl Technology Company.

Previously, Deputy Minister of Education and Training Hoang Minh Son had a meeting and worked with the Minister of Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science of Ireland. At the meeting, the two sides agreed on a number of contents that need to be implemented soon after the Strategic Partnership Agreement in the field of higher education cooperation was signed.

Specifically, Ireland supports training and improving the qualifications of Vietnamese lecturers, especially in fields where Ireland has strengths such astechnology , information technology,finance , andhealthcare ; enhances the exchange of lecturers and students between universities of the two countries;training institutions and research institutes of the two countries can cooperate in developing training programs and research programs on technology, etc.

Ireland is one of Europe’s leading innovation nations, ranking 1st in the world for knowledge diffusion, 3rd for knowledge impact, 5th for knowledge absorption , 12th for innovation, and 12th for overall quality of scientific research. Ireland is a technologically advanced nation, dubbed the “Silicon Valley of Europe” and has maintained a steady economic growth rate over the past decade.

With 32 higher education institutions (5 in the capital city of Dublin) , Ireland offers more than 5,000 training programs in many fields, with guaranteed and globally recognized degrees. Training programs are always updated, always combining theory with applied skills, soft skills such as independent analytical thinking, creativity, teamwork spirit, along with the dedicated support of lecturers and staff, Irish graduates have become pioneers of innovation and leaders in their fields.

Source: https://moet.gov.vn/tintuc/Pages/tin-tong-hop.aspx?ItemID=9873