TVU – On March 20, Tra Vinh University (TVU), the International Education Council of British Columbia (BCCIE), the Colleges and Institutes Canada (CiCan), the Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC), and the Vietnam Association of Community Colleges (VACC) jointly organized Vietnam – Canada international education and partnership conference.
The conference attracted more than 300 delegates, experts, and scholars from domestic and international institutions, marking a significant development in the deepening, effective, and substantive partnership between Vietnam and Canada in the field of education and training.
The conference provided an opportunity for delegates to share practical experiences about the success of the Vietnam-Canada Community College Project, which is jointly sponsored by the Canadian and Vietnamese governments and has now developed into TVU; it strongly promotes partnerships between Canadian colleges, institutes and VACC member colleges, and Vietnamese universities. It is also an opportunity for the parties to promote potential cooperation activities in areas of interest such as vocational education, labor market development, training, scientific research, digital transformation in teaching and learning, student and lecturer exchange, potential internships, and job opportunities for graduates.
The conference took place from March 20-21, 2023, including four plenary sessions revolving around topics of interest such as university models, Canadian colleges in Vietnam; achievements from bilateral cooperation between Canada and Vietnam and deeper connections; student mobility abroad, opportunities and challenges for Canadian youth in global skills development through participating in international activities; and digital transformation in education.
After the plenary sessions, the workshop conducted parallel sessions with presentations by domestic and international experts, scholars on international cooperation towards sustainable development values of human resources in agriculture and fisheries adapting to climate change; community and gender development for sustainable development goals; artificial intelligence changing the industry structure – CHAT GPT; digital transformation in education, vocational training and labor market; digital transformation in online training; labor market shift – developing vocational skills of Vietnamese students in the new era.
Mr. Pham Vu Quoc Binh, Deputy Director General of the General Department of Vocational Education and Training, Ministry of Labor – Invalids and Social Affairs, stated that international cooperation activities in vocational education and training help improve the quality of training, labor productivity, and keep up with global trends. The workshop helps identify directions, develop plans, and areas of cooperation between institutions and schools of the two countries, providing opportunities to develop vocational skills for learners, contributing to increasing employment rates and career opportunities for learners as well as achieving sustainable development goals of the United Nations until 2030.
Associate Professor Dr. Pham Tiet Khanh, Chairman of the TVU Council, Chairman of the Vietnam Community College Association, and Chairman of the Vietnam-Canada Friendship Association in Tra Vinh province, shared that the workshop was an opportunity to share practical experiences about the success of the Vietnam-Canada Community College model, which was jointly funded by the Canadian government and the Vietnamese government on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Canada. The workshop also served as a platform to connect institutions and schools between the two countries in the field of education, promoting the exchange of ideas, resources, and opportunities for mutual development. This not only benefits educational institutions but also directly helps learners to absorb knowledge from various sources.
Sir. Behzad Babakhani, the Canadian Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City, said: “Tra Vinh province in general and TVU in particular have a very close relationship with the people and government of Canada thanks to the success of the Vietnam-Canada Vocational College Project and other projects that the Canadian government has sponsored for Tra Vinh province. We always emphasize the purpose of education as well as how education changes our lives. This conference is an effort of the people of the two countries to contribute to strengthening the cooperative relationship between the two countries, especially in the field of vocational training and education.”
TVU – the British Columbia International Education Council, Canada – the Association of Canadian Institutes of Colleges and Universities, Nova Scotia Community College, and the Vietnam Association of Community Colleges have signed a memorandum of understanding to cooperate in promoting digital transformation in teaching and learning; developing curricula, teaching programs, and collaboration in training projects, scientific research, and contributing to the sustainable development goals of the United Nations in higher education institutions.
In addition, TVU – College of Applied Arts and Technology and Georgian Technology College – North Atlantic College – Southern Alberta Institute of Technology – Thompson Rivers University have agreed to sign a cooperation agreement in the areas of student transfer and recruitment; digital transformation in teaching and learning, exchange of experts, lecturers to develop learning programs; cooperation in training and scientific research projects for each specific development field and jointly contribute to implementing the sustainable development goals of the United Nations in higher education institutions.
| TVU, formerly known as Tra Vinh Community College, was established as part of the Vietnam-Canada Community College Project sponsored by CIDA (now Global Affairs Canada). This project was evaluated as one of the successful education and training models in Vietnam. In 2006, the Vietnam Association of Community Colleges (VACC) was established. TVU and VACC have expanded and maintained close relationships with Canadian partners from the early days of establishment until now. |
By TD
