1900 2039 
p.dbcl@ntt.edu.vn
NTTU – Nguyen Tat Thanh University has successfully completed London Metropolitan University’s validation sessions for the institution as a whole and for four collaborative programmes: the Master of Business Administration, the Bachelor of Marketing, the Bachelor of Business Administration, and the Bachelor of Aviation Transport Management.
After one year of information exchange and preparation for the partnership, programme development, and institutional documentation, on 17–18 March 2022, Nguyen Tat Thanh University and London Metropolitan University (London Met) successfully participated in and defended the institutional validation and the validation of four collaborative programmes: the Master of Business Administration, the Bachelor of Marketing, the Bachelor of Business Administration, and the Bachelor of Aviation Transport Management. The validation sessions were conducted online via Microsoft Teams under the direction of an external validation panel comprising members from London Met and other educational organisations in the United Kingdom.
Representing Nguyen Tat Thanh University were: Dr. Tran Ai Cam, Rector; Dr. Nguyen Lan Phuong, Vice Rector; Dr. Nguyen Tuan Anh, Vice Rector, Director of the NIIE Institute, and Co-Programme Leader for Business Administration (Aviation Transport Management); Dr. Tran Thien Luu, Vice Rector and Head of the Office of Academic Affairs; M.A. Le Quang Khanh, Head of the Office of International Cooperation; M.A. Nguyen Thi Anh Dao, Head of the Quality Assurance Office; Dr. Nguyen Xuan Nhi, Dean of the Faculty of Business Administration; Dr. Tran Dinh An, Co-Programme Leader for Business Administration (Aviation Transport Management); M.A. Nguyen Giang Do, Programme Leader for the Master of Business Administration; M.A. Nguyen Thanh Phi Van, Programme Leader for Marketing; M.A. Nguyen Quoc Thai, Programme Leader for International Business; together with leaders of relevant offices, departments, and centres, as well as representatives from the faculties whose programmes were under validation. The event was also honoured by the presence of Ms. Nguyen Thi Hong Loan, advisor to the Nguyen Tat Thanh University–London Met project.
As the COVID-19 pandemic continued to have an impact, the validation and review process between the two universities was conducted online.
London Metropolitan University, regarded as one of the United Kingdom’s dynamic universities, offers a wide range of academic disciplines and attracts students from more than 140 countries. The university has an enrolment of over 10,000 students across two campuses in central London.
During the validation sessions, the London Met panel focused on assessing the suitability of the four proposed collaborative programmes; the principles guiding programme design and opportunities for collaboration; the involvement of students, employers, and Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Bodies (PSRBs) in curriculum development; the human resources required to support programme delivery; programme learning outcomes; assessment, teaching and learning strategies; graduate support; alignment with quality assurance standards, the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications (FHEQ), and PSRB requirements; programme regulations; and the integration of the Education for Sustainable Jobs Framework (ESJF) and digital competencies.
As part of the validation process, the panel also interviewed members of the programme self-evaluation committees, heads of academic disciplines, academic and administrative staff, and students from the programmes under review. In addition, the panel conducted virtual tours and inspections of the University’s facilities, infrastructure, and equipment supporting teaching and learning.
As one of Vietnam’s higher education institutions that places particular emphasis on internationalisation, Nguyen Tat Thanh University has identified internationalisation as a key strategy for enhancing the quality of teaching and learning. To date, the University has signed more than 250 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and Memoranda of Agreement (MoAs) with partner higher education institutions in over 20 countries.
The University currently offers several dual-degree programmes, including Corporate Finance – Business Administration, Accounting – Business Administration (in collaboration with MUST University, Malaysia), and Food Technology – Food Science and Nutrition (in collaboration with Providence University, Taiwan).
This collaboration with London Met also forms part of the University’s strategy of expanding its international presence. It marks an important milestone in the partnership between the two institutions and lays the foundation for future collaborative activities, particularly the completion of legal documentation and the promotion and admission of students to the four joint programmes. The shared goal of both universities is to provide an ideal learning environment for students.
This validation project represents an entirely new model of collaboration and is believed to be the first validation-based dual-degree model in Vietnam. Under this model, students will complete approximately the first three years of study in Vietnam, followed by a final year in a programme jointly designed by London Met and Nguyen Tat Thanh University, combining London Met’s curriculum with knowledge, skills, and practical contexts relevant to Vietnam, based on mutual agreement between the two institutions.
Compared with the traditional franchise model, in which the partner institution is required to deliver 100% of the franchising university’s curriculum without the flexibility to adapt or update the content, the validation model offers greater advantages by allowing both institutions to jointly develop and contextualise the curriculum to better meet learners’ needs.
The validation session at Nguyen Tat Thanh University
Speaking at the programme, Dr. Tran Ai Cam, Rector of Nguyen Tat Thanh University, emphasised:
“One of the University’s objectives is to progressively benchmark its academic programmes against those of international partner institutions and to have them recognised by international accreditation organisations, thereby creating favourable conditions for international articulation pathways for our students. The validation model that we are implementing with London Metropolitan University is undoubtedly a significant step forward in our efforts to elevate the University’s internationalisation strategy to an entirely new level, with the aim of achieving greater international recognition for our academic programmes.”
This educational model provides Nguyen Tat Thanh University students with access to a new, high-quality academic programme. Although the duration of study is comparable to that of a traditional programme, students enrolled in this dual-degree programme will enjoy significant advantages after graduation. They will benefit from a curriculum validated against international standards, opportunities to experience a multicultural educational environment, expanded professional and academic networks through international engagement, and optimised study time and costs while earning two degrees upon graduation.
Specifically, graduates will receive a bachelor’s or master’s degree awarded by Nguyen Tat Thanh University and a corresponding bachelor’s or master’s degree awarded by London Metropolitan University. In today’s increasingly globalised environment, holding both a nationally recognised degree and an internationally recognised qualification provides graduates with substantial career opportunities and a competitive advantage not only in Vietnam’s labour market but also across the region and internationally.
The validation programme concluded successfully at 8:00 p.m. on 18 March 2022. Nguyen Tat Thanh University sincerely acknowledged the comments and recommendations made by the external review panel and affirmed its commitment to building upon its strengths, addressing identified shortcomings, and implementing appropriate improvements to fulfil the requirements of its forthcoming cooperation agreement with London Met.
The University also reaffirmed its commitment to supporting this collaborative project with London Metropolitan University and to developing it into a pioneering model of success for other higher education institutions in the future, thereby making a meaningful contribution to the University’s broader internationalisation efforts.
Following the successful completion of the validation, Nguyen Tat Thanh University and London Met will officially begin implementing a range of collaborative initiatives, including faculty development and training programmes, as well as academic and professional exchanges between the two institutions.
Members of the Nguyen Tat Thanh University project team pose for a commemorative photograph at the closing ceremony.
As part of the programme, Dr. Tran Ai Cam, on behalf of the University’s leadership, expressed sincere appreciation to the partner institution, the project advisory board, and Prof. Robert P. Greenwood for their support and guidance throughout the implementation of the project.
She also thanked the University’s faculties, departments, and staff for their unity, dedication, and collective efforts over the past year, which contributed to the successful completion of the project.
Special appreciation was extended to M.A. Nguyen Thi Hong Loan, who had worked closely with the University from the earliest stages of the project, providing detailed professional guidance and consultation. Her support was instrumental in helping the University successfully complete London Met’s external validation and review process and establish a collaborative partnership with one of the United Kingdom’s leading higher education institutions to enhance educational quality.
The University expressed its hope that it would continue to receive the support and collaboration of its partners and academic colleagues in pursuing future international cooperation projects, thereby contributing to the development of a high-quality workforce for Vietnam.
News: Thanh Huong
Photos: Duy Anh
