BUV partners with University of London, CEFALT, Departments of Education & Training to strengthen crisis communication management in education

British University Vietnam (BUV) continues to affirm its role in connecting knowledge, promoting innovation, and enhancing educational quality in Vietnam, aiming for a modern, sustainable, and internationally integrated education system.

The workshops brought together leading experts in education and communication, education leaders, principals, and administrators from across the country.

Mastering Communication in the Digital Era 

The current educational landscape is seeing a significant rise in communication crises, from issues related to school violence, campus security, to ethical dilemmas and social reactions. A global search for the term “education crisis” generates nearly 600 million results, highlighting the public’s growing concern about these issues. 

In response to this, BUV has collaborated with the University of London (UoL), CEFALT, and the Departments of Education & Training (DOET) in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi to organise a series of training workshops on “Managing Communication Crisis in Education in the Digital Age.” 

The workshops, held on March 31 and April 1, 2025 in Vietnam’s two major cities, focused on enhancing the management and practical skills required in modern educational settings. These events also provided an opportunity for education leaders, researchers, and experts from Vietnam and the United Kingdom to exchange knowledge and discuss emerging trends in education and communication. 

A Vital Issue for Both Public and Private Schools 

The workshops brought together leading experts in education and communication, including Professor Wendy Thomson CBE, Vice-Chancellor of UoL; Mr. Le Quoc Vinh, Chairman and CEO of Le Group; Professor Raymond Gordon, Vice-Chancellor of BUV; Professor Rick Bennett, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of BUV; and representatives from the DOET in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. Education leaders, principals, and administrators from across the country also took part in the event.

Mr. Mai Anh Thai, Director of CEFALT (left), and Professor Wendy Thomson, Vice-Chancellor of UoL (right), at the Ho Chi Minh City workshop.

Professor Wendy Thomson CBE, Vice-Chancellor of the UoL, highlighted the critical role of education in driving economic and social development: “Vietnam’s strong emphasis on education and training positions it well to overcome the middle-income trap. Recognizing education as a key driver of national development, the University of London has prioritized Vietnam, sharing its belief in the power of education to fuel economic growth and improve lives.” 

At the workshops, Mr. Le Quoc Vinh explored the impact of the digital age on crisis management, focusing on the role of social media, the crowd effect, FOMO (Fear of Missing Out), and the challenges posed by biases and hasty judgments. The discussions also underscored the importance of collaboration between all stakeholders, from schools, the media, partners, to education authorities. 

Mr. Le Quoc Vinh, Chairman and CEO of Le Group, shared his insights at the Hanoi workshop.

Another critical point was transparency in handling crises. Experts noted that crises often stem from gaps in information or unclear communication, leading to confusion, misunderstandings, and a breakdown in public trust. 

Drawing from case studies in the United States, such as the Parkland school shooting and a racial discrimination incident at Eastside High School, Mr. Vinh emphasised that swift, transparent responses are key to managing education crises effectively. 

Timely control of information helps ease public concern, and open communication (a widely adopted strategy in advanced educational systems) not only resolves conflicts but also reinforces a school’s core values within the community. 

The workshops also explored recovery governance models and strategies for managing crises remotely. The focus was on a proactive approach—identifying risks, planning preventive scenarios, and ensuring preparedness—rather than simply reacting once a crisis hits. 

The workshop gathered leaders, principals, deputy principals, and education managers from across the country.

Mr. Nguyen Quoc Binh, Principal of Luong The Vinh Secondary and High School, shared: “With technology advancing so quickly, communication crises are becoming a real concern for both public and private schools. The key takeaway for me is that it’s not just about reacting when a crisis strikes; it’s essential to be proactive and have management solutions in place from the very beginning to minimise risks.”  

Commitment to Enhance Educational Quality in Vietnam 

This training programme is part of BUV’s ongoing collaboration with DOET and its strategic engagement with educational leaders. Over the years, BUV has consistently organised over 1,200 workshops and panel discussions, alongside both local and international partners, to elevate professional expertise and align Vietnam’s education system with global trends. 

The training workshop on communication crisis management took place at BUV’s learning theatre.

Professor Rick Bennett, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of BUV, remarked: “The collaboration between BUV and education authorities highlights our unwavering commitment to enhancing leadership and management in education, ensuring that we can adapt to the evolving challenges of the modern age.” 

Dr. Tran The Cuong, Director of the Hanoi Department of Education & Training, praised the programme’s value, expressing his hopes that participants would successfully apply the advanced methods and insights, contributing to educational reform in the capital.  

Dr. Tran The Cuong, Director of the Hanoi Department of Education and Training, spoke at the event.

“For the past three years, my personal wish has been to improve the standards of education and management in education, and to achieve this, we have engaged many external stakeholders and launched numerous campaigns, with BUV proving to be the only institution that meets all of our highest standards,” stated Dr. Tran The Cuong. 

These workshops are part of BUV’s long-term strategic initiatives with UoL, aiming to create open forums for knowledge exchange. In the coming time, BUV and UoL will continue to offer advanced trainings, specialised workshops, and research collaborations to support the development of Vietnam’s education system. 

The University of London is BUV’s degree-awarding body, with academic oversight provided by the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). In the field of Economics & Econometrics, LSE ranks among the top 7 universities globally (THE Rankings 2024), alongside Harvard, MIT, and Stanford… To date, BUV remains the first and only university in Vietnam offering undergraduate programmes awarded by the University of London and is one of the few recognised as an International Partner.