British University Vietnam named international partner of University of London

During the visit of Wendy Thomson, vice chancellor of the University of London (UoL), and her delegation, the partnership between BUV and UoL reached a new milestone.

Raymond Gordon, vice chancellor of BUV, and Wendy Thomson, vice chancellor of UoL, sign a cooperation agreement, witnessed by Iain Frew, British Ambassador to Vietnam (left, second line), and James Shipton, director of the British Council

BUV has been recognised as an International Partner of UoL, acknowledging its ongoing contribution to educational excellence and deepening the strategic relationship between the two institutions.

This reflects BUV's exceptional academic quality and prestige, especially given its upcoming Ho Chi Minh City expansion.

Vice chancellor of UoL, Wendy Thomson, shared, “This designation reflects the long-term commitment we have to working closely with our colleagues at BUV, continuing to develop our partnership and our collective focus of excellence in education.”

The new designation also signifies a strategic shift from programme-level engagement to a strategic and long-term collaboration.

Raymond Gordon, president and vice chancellor of BUV, noted, “We are proud to be one of the few international partners in the University of London's global network. The new status has proven our academic excellence and potential growth, while bringing us closer to our goal of being viewed as the top international university in Vietnam and the surrounding regions.

Gordon stated that the BUV remains committed to working closely with the University of London to develop new programmes, expand learning opportunities, and strengthen educational cooperation between the UK and Vietnam.

From left: Dato' Loy Teik Ngan, chairman of Taylor's Education Group; Wendy Thomson, vice chancellor of UoL; Raymond Gordon, vice chancellor of BUV; and Michael Driscoll, chancellor and chair of the board at BUV

On this basis, BUV and UoL signed a cooperation agreement for education development under the witness of Iain Frew, British Ambassador to Vietnam, and James Shipton, director of the British Council, and representatives from both institutions.

“It is fantastic to see the University of London's continued commitment to acknowledge a truly remarkable achievement.

This prestigious recognition speaks volumes about the quality and reputation of BUV, further cementing its position as a leading provider of British higher education in Vietnam,” shared Ambassador Iain Frew.

BUV has inaugurated the second phase of its campus in Ecopark, as part of its long-term strategy to develop quality accredited British education and a five-star campus environment.

With a total investment of up to $165 million, the new facility features modern infrastructure and a world-class learning environment for 5,500 students from Vietnam and abroad.

During the event, BUV also inaugurated a student lounge, an exclusive academic space for students enrolled in the UoL and BUV postgraduate courses. The lounge aims to promote educational exchange and international connectivity.

Wendy Thomson (left) and Raymond Gordon (right) cut the ribbon for the new student lounge

During her first visit to BUV, Thomson expressed her strong impression of the university's facilities and learning environment.

She remarked, “The facilities at BUV are outstanding and, while I know they have plans for even more growth, what they have already achieved is world class. I get to visit universities all around the world and what you find here is significant. If you are a student who has an opportunity to come to BUV, I think it would be well worth your while.”

The University of London is the official awarding body for the courses delivered at BUV, under the academic direction of the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).

In the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025, LSE is ranked among the top 10 universities worldwide for economics and econometrics, alongside Harvard, MIT, and Stanford.

Many of the UoL's member institutions are listed in the Russell Group, the leading research institution in the UK. Dubbed the Ivy League of the UK, these institutions are known for their research excellence and global academic reputation.

All programmes are designed and assessed by the academic faculty in the UK, ensuring that students in Vietnam receive qualifications with the same value as in London.

This offers significant advantages to students in Vietnam and Southeast Asia are access to a prestigious British degree with globally recognised value without the need to study abroad.

As of now, BUV is the only institution in Vietnam that offers UoL's international foundation programme and internationally standardised undergraduate programmes.

The international partner status affirms BUV's academic standing and opens broader collaboration opportunities towards educational excellence.

International university provides equal opportunities for high-quality education Universities play a crucial role in providing high-level education, serving as a bridge to transition students from academic environments to the practical ‘racetrack’ of the job market, not only domestically but also globally. Therefore, investing seriously in this level of education is often likened to an investment with high returns.

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