Hoa Binh University and Nanyang Polytechnic Singapore: Announcement of 2 Short-Term International Training Programs OELP and HBU-Merlion English in Vietnam – Singapore for the Academic Year 2024-2025

On the afternoon of October 10, amidst the joyful atmosphere commemorating the Liberation Day of Hanoi, a delegation from Nanyang Polytechnic Singapore visited Hanoi and engaged in discussions at Hoa Binh University. During the event, the leadership teams of both institutions announced 2 short-term international training programs to be conducted in Vietnam and Singapore, commencing from October 2024. Mr. Raphael Lee Poh Joon led the delegation from Nanyang Polytechnic Singapore, while Assoc. Prof. Dr. To Ngoc Hung, President of Hoa Binh University, presided over the meeting.

Nanyang Polytechnic is a public higher education institution established by the Singapore Ministry of Education in 1992. It spans 30.5 hectares and comprises 6 academic schools, 3 key centers in Asia, including Singapore. The institution offers 40 academic diploma programs and 64 vocational training programs, with a faculty of 1,360 members (as of March 2024) and approximately 15,000 students. Nanyang Polytechnic pioneers Singapore’s unique model of practical university education, intertwining higher education with industry, aligning the university’s goals with market demands. Presently, Nanyang Polytechnic stands out as a beacon in Singapore and the ASEAN region for innovative education linked to industry, emphasizing post-graduation employment opportunities for students.

The collaboration between the two universities began in 2022 through international training activities. Hoa Binh University sent staff to participate in international training courses at the Vietnam-Singapore Cooperation Center (Vietnam Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs) under the ASEAN integration initiative regarding Greening TVET and Public Governance. In 2023, a survey was conducted on the School-Enterprise connected training model, supported by the Singapore Embassy in Vietnam and the Singapore Ministry of Education. Hoa Binh University leadership visited Nanyang Polytechnic to discuss collaboration with the President of the institution on May 4, 2023, in Singapore.

The academic year 2024-2025 marks a significant shift in Hoa Binh University’s international cooperation efforts towards a focus on international education. With the support of both universities’ leadership, on October 10, 2024, based on proposals from the International Cooperation and Development Committee of Nanyang Polytechnic and the International Training Institute of Hoa Binh University, the President of Hoa Binh University and the delegation from Nanyang Polytechnic Singapore exchanged ideas with relevant departments and reached an agreement to support two short-term international training programs: HBU-Merlion English from Hoa Binh University and the OELP international education program starting in October 2024.

The HBU-Merlion English program is a collaborative initiative between Hoa Binh University and Nanyang Polytechnic Singapore, spearheaded by Hoa Binh University. This short-term program consists of 12 sessions per course over 4 weeks, with 3 weeks held at Hoa Binh University in Hanoi (including after-hours classes conducted both in-person and online) and a 1-week practical language session at Nanyang Polytechnic, Singapore. The course is designed for both internal and external learners, focusing on practical basic English communication skills applied to modern topics, intercultural communication, and multi-platform communication ranging from email to Zalo, Viber, Facebook, meeting the needs for connectivity, learning, personal branding, and professional relationship building.

The HBU-Merlion English program is designed to feature three main courses annually along with specialized courses based on demand:

• Winter 2024 Course on Communication – Innovation and Creativity (October – November)
• Spring 2025 Course on Nursing – Healthcare (January – March)
• Summer 2025 Course on Finance – Banking – Hotel Tourism (April – June)

And specialized courses based on demand…

The International Education Program OELP (Overseas Education and Learning Program): This program is a collaboration between Nanyang Polytechnic and Hoa Binh University based on an initiative from Nanyang Polytechnic. It is a short-term program lasting 5 days, jointly organized by the two institutions, designed for first-year students from Nanyang Polytechnic in Singapore to visit Vietnam. The program aims to provide insights into Hoa Binh University, partner enterprises, updates on industry trends and practices, and hands-on experiences in production areas and service sectors of Vietnamese businesses.

During the discussions, representatives from the University’s Office of Undergraduate and Postgraduate Training, the Tourism Department, the Institute of International Education at Hoa Binh University, and the Development Cooperation Committee, along with the Internship Issues Committee of Nanyang Polytechnic, exchanged ideas. As a result, Nanyang Polytechnic is supporting certain aspects for students and learners from Hoa Binh University in Singapore under the HBU-Merlion English program. Additionally, Hoa Binh University, a member of the Sovico Group ecosystem, has agreed to collaborate with Nanyang Polytechnic to act as a liaison, organizing short-term international education programs OELP for Singaporean students in Vietnam tied to businesses. Proposed topics for the OELP program for the academic year 2024-2025 include: Innovation and Creativity, Healthcare, Finance and Banking, Artificial Intelligence, Applied Industrial Arts, etc., in Hanoi, with specific topics (such as AI in finance and banking…) in Ho Chi Minh City or other provinces and cities as agreed upon.

At the conclusion of the working session, NGND.PGS.TS. To Ngoc Hung and Mr. Raphael Lee Poh Joon, head of the Nanyang Polytechnic delegation, affirmed the cooperative relationship between the two higher education institutions (HEIs), unanimously supporting and announcing two short-term international training programs, committing to implementation starting from October 2024.

Following the meeting with the University’s Board of Directors, the Singaporean delegation visited practical teaching and learning sessions at the Medical Faculty, engaging in discussions with faculty members and students from the Medical Faculty and the Industrial Arts and Design Department at Hoa Binh University.

With both programs set to be simultaneously implemented during the academic year 2024-2025, hundreds of Singaporean students and Vietnamese students and learners have the opportunity to experience and practice skills in Vietnam and Singapore, gradually enriching their cultural understanding, knowledge, and global citizen skills in this new era. The Singaporean delegation’s visit to Hoa Binh University concluded successfully at 5:30 PM the same day. ./.

News, photo: IIE-HBU, DAC

Other activities of the NYP Delegation in Hoa Binh University:

#NYP #Singapore #daotaoquocte #HBU

#international #OELP #HBU-Merlion #English

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