Rising Together: Leadership Skills for the Future of Higher Education in Vietnam and Southeast Asia

Dr. Dang Van Huan is the Deputy Director of the Department of Higher Education at the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) of Vietnam. With a doctoral degree in Public Policy and Public Affairs from the Hatfield School of Government, Portland State University (USA), he has extensive experience in higher education management, international cooperation, and policy analysis. Dr. Huan has contributed significantly to digital transformation initiatives in education, the development of STEM education for secondary schools, and the creation of online training programs and learning materials for teachers and school leaders. He has also served as a visiting lecturer and program coordinator in the United States, reflecting his strong commitment to educational innovation and smart education development in Vietnam.

Dr. Hoang Huu Hanh is the Deputy Director General at the National Digital Transformation Authority of the Ministry of Science and Technology of Vietnam. He brings extensive expertise in information systems, international collaboration, and digital policy development, supported by his academic background and leadership roles at the Posts and Telecommunications Institute of Technology. Dr. Hanh has contributed to research and training in multimedia, innovation, and global digital partnerships, with a strong focus on areas such as AI governance, cybersecurity, and digital skills development in cooperation with international organizations.

Dr. Choltis Dhirathiti is currently the Director of the SEAMEO Regional Centre for Higher Education and Development (RIHED), which operates under the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organisation (SEAMEO). His current work at SEAMEO RIHED focuses on facilitating higher education policymakers in Southeast Asia and supporting the development of the region’s higher education sector.

Dr. Choltis served the ASEAN University Network (AUN) for 16 years, from 2009 to early 2025, holding the position of AUN Executive Director for eight years. In this role, he applied his experience in public sector strategies, policy consultancy, and human resource development to foster regional collaboration among higher education institutions in ASEAN.

He is also a former lecturer at the Faculty of Political Science, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand, where he taught normative political theory from 1996 to 2025.

Dr. Ha Thuc Vien is the Vice President for Academic Affairs, Research, Campus Infrastructure and Services, and concurrently Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Management at the Vietnamese-German University (VGU). A DAAD and IDCA alumnus, he earned his Ph.D. in Resource Economics from Humboldt University, Germany, and has extensive academic and leadership experience spanning more than two decades.

At VGU, Dr. Vien has been instrumental in shaping academic strategy, research development, and the construction of the university’s new campus under a USD 200 million World Bank–funded project. His research focuses on institutions, sustainable development, and the intersection of economics, land management, and climate change.

Before joining VGU, he held leadership positions at Ho Chi Minh City University of Agriculture and Forestry, where he founded the Center for International Education. Dr. Vien’s professional journey reflects a strong commitment to advancing transnational higher education, institutional innovation, and sustainable academic growth in Vietnam.

Dr. Ly Thien Trang is a higher education leader and international quality assurance expert with over 20 years of experience in academic management, accreditation, and institutional development. Since 2023, she has served as Vice President of Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (HUTECH) and Director of Accreditation and Quality Assurance at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics and Finance (UEF), overseeing strategic initiatives in quality assurance, internationalisation, and global university rankings within the HUTECH Education System.

As a TrainIQA Alumna (DAAD – University of Potsdam, 2022–2023), Dr. Trang has been actively promoting quality culture and sustainable development in higher education. She is also a speaker and panelist at various international conferences such as the DIES Forum 2024, QS Higher Ed Summit 2024–2025, and the International Conference on Leadership and Management in Higher Education 2024.

She has led and participated in more than 15 international projects funded by USAID, the British Council, ADB, and UNESCO, focusing on digital transformation, transnational education, gender equality, and sustainability. With her strong commitment to innovation and international integration, she continues to shape the global presence and competitiveness of Vietnamese higher education institutions.

Dr. Soubin Sisavath is the Deputy Head of the International Mobility Division at the International Relations Office, National University of Laos (NUOL), and a MOI Alumnus. He has extensive experience in coordinating international academic exchange and mobility programs, and has played a key role in strengthening NUOL’s global partnerships. His professional portfolio includes leadership and coordination in several regional and European-funded projects, such as ASTRA, CIRCULAR, and REAL, which aim to enhance institutional capacity and innovation in higher education. Since 2023, he has also been actively involved in teaching and research in communication management and global citizenship education. His work focuses on internationalization, employability, and transnational higher education in Laos and Southeast Asia.

Dr. Nguyen Thi Huyen is a quality assurance and accreditation specialist with nearly 20 years of experience enhancing higher education quality in Vietnam and the ASEAN region. As a Member of the Advisory Board at the Center for Education Accreditation, Vietnam National University – Ho Chi Minh City (CEA-VNUHCM), she advises on aligning national accreditation frameworks with global standards and fostering international cooperation.

With an interdisciplinary background in law, biology, and educational management, Dr. Huyen has conducted over 60 institutional and program-level assessments as a MOET Accreditor and AUN-QA Assessor. A DIES-UNILEAD Alumna, she also contributes to leadership development and internationalisation initiatives through projects with USAID and Chemonics, supporting Vietnam’s progress toward a globally competitive higher education system.

Dr. Nguyen Thi Hong Van is the Programme Manager at the International School of Management and Economics (ISME), National Economics University (NEU), Vietnam. Her expertise includes international program management, curriculum development, program accreditation, and research in the field of Business and Management. She holds a PhD in Education Management from the University of Leeds, UK and a Master’s in International Marketing Management also from the University of Leeds (UK), and a Bachelor’s in International Business from Foreign Trade University (Vietnam).

Dr. Trinh Viet Dung is a higher education leader and marketing expert with extensive experience in academic management, research, and executive training across Southeast Asia. As Campus Director for Southeast Asia at Kühne Logistics University (KLU), he leads initiatives in regional engagement, partnership development, and educational innovation, strengthening KLU’s presence in the region.

An UNILEAD-Alumnus, he actively promotes leadership capacity building and sustainable development through projects and professional training in digital transformation, service design, and marketing innovation. His work bridges academia and industry, fostering collaboration, entrepreneurship, and internationalisation in higher education across Southeast Asia.