Dean of Bournemouth University Commends BUV’s Market Insight and Industry-Relevant Programmes

The recent visit by senior leaders from Bournemouth University marked another step forward in the growing partnership with BUV, driven by a shared commitment to market-driven education and impactful academic programmes with a focus on preparing students for real-world success.

Recently, British University Vietnam (BUV) had the honour of welcoming a senior delegation from Bournemouth University (BU), one of the United Kingdom’s leading modern higher education institutions. The visit focused on enhancing digital transformation and strengthening academic collaboration between the two universities.

BUV senior leadership welcomes the Bournemouth University delegation to BUV campus

The visiting delegation comprised Professor Lois Farquharson, Executive Dean of the Bournemouth University Business School (BUBS); Professor Gelareh Roushan, Head of the Centre for Fusion Learning Innovation and Excellence; and Associate Professor Milena Bobeva, External Engagement and Internationalisation Lead at BUBS. The Bournemouth University delegation was warmly received by senior representatives of BUV, including Professor Rick Bennett, Deputy Vice Chancellor and Vice President; Mr. Chris Jeffery, Pro Vice Chancellor (International, Strategy & Engagement); and Associate Professor Jason MacVaugh, Dean of Higher Education.

In today’s rapidly evolving educational landscape, digital transformation is key to ensuring universities remain agile, inclusive, and future-ready. For institutions like BUV and BU, it means not only adopting new technologies but also reimagining how education is delivered to better meet the changing needs of students and industry.

The day commenced with a strategic meeting between the BU representatives and the BUV Senior Leadership Team, during which both parties reflect on BUV’s progress since the initial assessment conducted under the JISC Digital Transformation framework in the autumn of 2023. This was followed by a collaborative session with faculty members of BUV’s Business School, where both institutions shared insights on curriculum innovation, academic research, and future areas of cooperation.

This visit also served to reinforce the long-standing collaboration between BUV and Bournemouth University, particularly in digital transformation. Both institutions had previously partnered on the “SOARing to Successful Digital Transformation in Vietnamese Universities” initiative, supported by the British Council’s Going Global Partnerships fund.

As part of the visit, Bournemouth University representatives also hosted a presentation session for Business School students at BUV, introducing progression opportunities to postgraduate degrees at BU. The session provided valuable insights into a wide range of master’s programmes, entry requirements, and the student support services available at BU. Students were particularly interested in learning about how a UK postgraduate qualification could enhance their career prospects in both local and international job markets.

Professor Lois Farquharson, Executive Dean of the Bournemouth University Business School

Reflecting on the partnership with BUV, Professor Lois Farquharson shared her impressions: “The partnership between Bournemouth University and BUV is incredibly exciting. With BUV, we see an institution that is young, dynamic, and growing, with a strong understanding of industry needs and the future skillsets required by students. We are delighted to be partnering with BUV, as there is significant synergy between our institutions. I am confident that we will collaborate on exciting initiatives focused on employability skills, programme innovation, and new modes of educational delivery.”

Commenting on BUV’s educational approach, Professor Lois Farquharson noted: “We see an institution that is young, dynamic, and growing, with a strong understanding of industry needs and the future skillsets required by students.” This reflects BUV’s focus on delivering industry-aligned programmes that integrate both academic knowledge and practical competencies. Beyond the curriculum, initiatives such as Career Services training and the annual Career Fair further support students in developing essential soft skills and enhancing their employability in a competitive global market.

This visit marked a key milestone in the BUV–BU partnership, as Bournemouth University will begin awarding degrees for the BA (Hons) Tourism Management and BA (Hons) Events Management programmes at BUV from 2025. As a globally recognised institution with over 17,000 students from 100+ countries, BU ranks among the world’s top 100 young universities and holds prestigious AACSB accreditation. Notably, BU was ranked 5th globally in Hospitality and Tourism Management in the 2024 ShanghaiRanking’s Global Ranking of Academic Subjects, affirming its position as a global leader in hospitality and tourism education.

This milestone visit underscores the strong foundation and shared vision between BUV and Bournemouth University. Through continued collaboration in digital transformation and programme development, both institutions aim to lead in delivering future-focused, industry-aligned education in Vietnam and beyond.