BUV celebrates birthday in style for a leap

Sir Graeme Davies

While the Vietnamese government is behind the establishment of foreign universities to meet the growing demand for such institutions in the country, there are only two operating at the moment: Australia-backed RMIT and BUV. Then there is one other university in Danang under construction. Why is this?

From the government’s point of view, education is vital to the development of the country and providing the foundation for its economic growth and global importance. It is important to bring in foreign investors to the country as establishing quality education provision is expensive and requires a long term commitment.

As far as we know, about 18 per cent of Vietnamese students who study abroad and are now studying in Britain. Building a university should be a long-term commitment and is something which should be considered deeply by investors and the government to ensure that they deliver what was agreed.

Is it true that the construction of BUV main campus in Hanoi hit snags because initially you could not find a project location in the capital? Are these sorts of issues throwing up hurdles for foreign investors looking at investment into Vietnam’s educational sector?

It was slow in the beginning and we could not get approval very quickly. It is important to talk with local government authorities to make them comfortable and make them realise our intention to establish international standard university here that is being developed and expanded over years. We needed to show our long-term commitment.

Location is now no longer our issue since last month BUV secured a 6.5-hectare land lease at Ecopark, on the edge of Hanoi, for our modern campus. This is a perfect location for study and sports and recreation. The campus is scheduled to be constructed over three years and the phase one will officially open doors in 2014.

How many students do you have at the moment and what is your target?

At BUV there are six classes this year. In the main campus in Hanoi, our aim is to take about 1,000 students in three or four years. During 2013–2014, we will move undergraduate studies to the new campus and plan to run professional programmes in banking and finance and post-graduate studies in the city campus. 

So, the total target will be 10,000 students. In one or two years from now we also hope to open a campus in Ho Chi Minh City with the goal of 1,000 students.  BUV also attracts foreign students who want to learn international qualifications as well as developing their understanding of Vietnamese language, culture and business.

The expectation would be the same as when students go to private institutions in Hong Kong or Singapore where they have students from other Asian countries. We want to encourage and create opportunities for not only Vietnamese but also international students.

Many Vietnamese parents still prefer to send their children to international universities abroad at a much higher cost than that being offered by foreign-backed universities like BUV right here in Vietnam. How can this way of thinking be changed?

BUV will issue degrees from London in banking and finance and Staffordshire universities in international business management and marketing management. The qualification gained at BUV is the same as the one issued in London. I believe Vietnamese parents will readily realise it is economical for their children to study here. If students pass the programmes here, they will be ready for masters level programmes at the top universities in the UK as well as around the world.

We have also just signed the formal memorandum with the British government, making us the only international educational organisation which has the endorsement of the British government. This is the first time this has happened anywhere in the world and there is no other private university where the British government has agreed to sit on the management board. This is a clear sign of the British government’s commitment to BUV and Vietnam.