Rising Together: Leadership Skills for the Future of Higher Education in Vietnam and Southeast Asia
Introduction
Vietnam is setting its sights on becoming a high-income country by 2045, an ambitious goal that marks a turning point in its development. General Secretary To Lam speaks of an “era of rising”, driven by technology, industrial modernisation, education reform, and international cooperation.
Internationalisation plays a key role here: Vietnam aims to triple the number of international students by 2045, expand joint programmes, boost international research and publications, as well as attract foreign university branches. These bold plans could position Vietnam as a regional hub for higher education and research, but they also highlight challenges shared by many Southeast Asian countries, from strengthening staff capacities to building international networks.
This workshop brings together higher education managers from ASEAN to exchange ideas, learn from each other and develop the innovative strategies needed to lead their institutions into the future.
Expected outcomes of the workshop
- Participants are aware of the implications of current policy developments for their institutions.
This Workshop is aimed at a) decision makers at president and vice-president level, b) heads of central management departments, and c) educators or heads of faculties and academic units who design academic programmes. It will address the major challenges arising from Vietnam’s planned large-scale transformation of its higher education and science sector: institutional development (how universities can adapt their models, meet policy expectations and strengthen governance), internationalisation (how ambitious national targets will affect current efforts and how they can be made more strategic), quality assurance (whether existing systems are fit for new demands and what structures are needed to ensure quality), and capacity development (which competencies leaders at all levels need and how staff can acquire them). A cross-cutting theme in all discussions will be how international cooperation, especially with German partners and the DAAD, can support these processes. - Connections between higher education institutions in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar will be strengthened and expanded.
Higher education institutions in Vietnam and across the region cannot face the challenges ahead on their own, they need strong networks. While some have already made progress in building resilient management structures, high-quality study programmes and sustainable international partnerships, others are only just beginning this journey. Learning from one another and engaging in active exchange will be essential to help all institutions move forward. - Decision-makers at universities are sensitized to how higher education management structures and capacity development can be strengthened.
It is crucial not only to analyse the tectonic shifts in expectations towards the higher education and research sector, but also to jointly develop strategies on how universities can actively respond by identifying needs and formulating potential approaches for training and capacity development.
Concept and Agenda
Call for Participation
Call for Participation – Rising Together: Leadership Skills for the Future of Higher Education in Vietnam and Southeast Asia: https://www.daad.de/surveys/178734?lang=en
Date and Time
Day 1: 21st November (Friday, from 12:30 to 18:00)
Day 2: 22nd November 2025 (Saturday, from 09:00 to 13:00)
Venue
Fortuna Hotel Hanoi, 6B Lang Ha, Giang Vo Ward, Hanoi, Vietnam
Keynote Speakers
- Dr. Choltis Dhirathiti – Centre Director of Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization Regional Centre for Higher Education and Development (SEAMEO RIHED)
- Dr. Nguyen Thi Huyen – Member of Advisory Board at Center for Education Accreditation at Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City (CEA-VNUHCM) and DIES-UNILEAD-Alumna
- Dr. Nguyen Thi Hong Van – International School of Management and Economics, National Economics University and DIES-MoI-Alumna
- (To be updated)
Contact
Ms. Nguyen Thao My
Programme Coordinator Higher Education Management (DIES)
Email: my.nguyen@daad.de
Presentations and other materials
(To be updated)
