UK and Vietnam Strengthen Education Ties Through New Strategic Partnership

By Kai October 30, 2025
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The UK and Vietnam have elevated their bilateral relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership, paving the way for deeper educational cooperation and a significant expansion of transnational education activity. Announced during the visit of To Lam, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the new agreement signals a major step forward for both countries in reshaping their long-term education strategies.

During joint discussions with UK prime minister Keir Starmer, Vietnam confirmed that it will open its doors more widely to British institutions looking to establish branch campuses, joint programmes, and new research collaborations. This comes as Vietnam positions itself as a growing international education hub, supported by a series of national reforms aimed at raising quality, global visibility, and institutional capacity.

In a speech at Oxford University, To Lam emphasised the transformative potential of the strengthened partnership. He described the Vietnam–UK relationship as a future “model” for international cooperation rooted in mutual respect and shared ambitions. The new framework prioritises expanded collaboration across six key areas, including education and people-to-people exchanges.

Both countries’ education ministries have committed to renewing their Memorandum of Understanding to further boost mobility, academic cooperation and joint programme delivery. Plans include promoting academic exchanges, lecturer and researcher mobility, and new joint degrees across high-growth fields such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and aerospace.

The British Council will continue to play a central role in Vietnam, supporting cultural engagement, English language learning, and institutional partnerships. The UK has reaffirmed its support in helping Vietnam advance its objective of making English a second language by 2035, strengthening talent development through collaborations between British organisations, training providers, and Vietnamese schools.

Vietnam’s broader education strategy aims to raise its global standing by increasing the proportion of international students, improving university rankings, and attracting at least two new branch campuses from top 500 global institutions. By 2030, and with a vision extending to 2045, Vietnam plans to ensure over 80% of higher education institutions participate in international research collaborations and enhance the accreditation of its training programmes through overseas bodies.

Source: THE PIE NEWS

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