BUV Joins High-Level Forum at Tsinghua University, Contributing to the Advancement of Vietnam-China Education Cooperation

British University Vietnam joins state-level education forum in Beijing, signing cooperation agreements with two Chinese universities during General Secretary, President To Lam’s state visit to China.

British University Vietnam (BUV), led by Professor Rick Bennett, Vice President, attended the Vietnam-China Forum on Higher Education Cooperation, Science, Technology and Innovation, held at Tsinghua University, Beijing, China, within the framework of the state visit to China by General Secretary, President To Lam.

The forum was attended by high-level delegations from both countries, alongside representatives from leading universities in Vietnam and China. Discussions centred on four key themes: coordinated development of higher education and building a regional talent community; international cooperation in executive training linked to the Vietnam-China industrial chain; environment and sustainable development; and artificial intelligence, digital education, and technology governance cooperation.

General Secretary and President To Lam and senior delegates from both countries at Tsinghua University, China. (Photo courtesy: Vietnam News Agency)

“The Top Priority Among Priorities”

In his opening address at the forum, General Secretary, President To Lam underscored the strategic importance of education cooperation between the two nations, affirming that “education, training, and the development of high-quality human resources must be the top priority among priorities.”

“I firmly believe that by faithfully carrying forward the legacy of friendship painstakingly nurtured by previous generations, with trust as the foundation, substantive cooperation as the driving force, science, technology and innovation as the breakthrough, and youth as the bridge to the future, Vietnam-China relations will certainly continue to develop in a positive, healthy, stable, and enduringly sustainable manner, delivering tangible benefits to the peoples of both countries and making active contributions to peace, cooperation, and development in the region and the world,” said General Secretary, President To Lam.

Delivering the opening remarks at the Forum, General Secretary and State President To Lam emphasised that education and human resource development will be a defining priority in the new phase of Vietnam-China relations. (Photo courtesy: Vietnam News Agency)

The event took place against the backdrop of the Vietnam-China Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership entering a new phase of development, with education and science-technology identified as key pillars. Approximately 25,000 Vietnamese students are currently studying in China, and demand for training cooperation between the two countries continues to grow.

Speaking on the sidelines of the event, Professor Rick Bennett, Vice President of BUV, said: “BUV is proud to be the only international university from Vietnam present and contributing at this important forum. Our presence reflects BUV’s commitment to providing international-standard higher education options for Chinese students in particular, and Asian students in general, while building strategic partnerships with reputable Chinese enterprises expanding their operations in Vietnam. This direction contributes to realising the vision set out by the senior leaders of both countries, in which education and high-quality human resource development are positioned as the foremost priority in Vietnam-China cooperation in this new era.”

From Commitment to Action

Alongside its participation in the high-level Forum, BUV signed Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with the Communication University of China (CUC) and Beijing Institute of Technology (BIT). Both are leading higher education institutions listed among China’s key universities under Project 211 and Project 985 — strategic national initiatives aimed at building world-class universities. Partnering with these two prestigious institutions opens pathways for high-quality academic exchange while supporting the development of skilled talent to meet the demands of the digital age in both countries.

Professor Rick Bennett, Vice President of BUV, signs a Memorandum of Understanding with the Communication University of China – one of the world’s leading institutions in journalism, broadcasting and digital content.

BUV’s new partnership with Beijing Institute of Technology, one of China’s most prestigious engineering universities, marks a significant expansion of the university’s academic collaboration network across the region.

Under these agreements, the universities will pursue bilateral cooperation across multiple areas, including student and faculty exchanges, development of dual-degree programmes, short-term training, strengthening scientific research, building postgraduate study pathways, and collaborating to enhance international ranking positions.

These agreements, signed alongside the state-level forum, elevate the cooperative relationships that BUV has been actively building with education partners in China. In December 2025, BUV signed a strategic cooperation Memorandum of Understanding with the Chinese Service Centre for Scholarly Exchange (CSCSE) under the Ministry of Education of China, elevating the relationship from official recognition to strategic bilateral cooperation. BUV is the only international university in Vietnam to be officially recognised by China’s Ministry of Education as a qualified foreign institution, with its degrees verified and recognised in China.

Most recently, BUV was honoured by the Hunan Federation of Enterprises for its contributions to the Chinese business community in Vietnam, further affirming the mutually beneficial partnership between the university and the Chinese business community.

As the first university in Vietnam to achieve comprehensive accreditation from QAA (the UK’s Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education) and having maintained a QS 5-star overall rating for six consecutive years (2022-2028), BUV continues to affirm its pioneering role in delivering high-quality British education experiences, working towards its vision of becoming the leading international university in Vietnam and the surrounding region.