Global Festival of Learning 2019 - Hanoi
Bournemouth University staff and students are in Vietnam, taking BU global for four days of discussion on global talent and the world of work.
The Global Festival of Learning 2019 has begun in Hanoi, Vietnam, where BU staff and students will be engaging with industry, and speaking with colleagues from Foreign Trade University, Hanoi.
Staff from BU's Professional Services, Faculty of Management, and Faculty of Media and Communication are in Vietnam to share knowledge, advance learning and build links between the UK and Vietnam.
They have been joined by eight BU students who are on hand to support the Festival, gaining valuable work experience that will help add to their own global skillset.
The 2019 Festival is the 10th Global Festival of Learning to-date, with this year's event themed on university-industry partnerships and students engagement. The delegation will be delivering presentations and workshops exploring how universities and industry collaborate to create work-ready graduates who are global in nature.
The theme of the Festival as a whole is 'Global Talent for the World of Work', with the Festival also supporting a British Council-funded project looking at collaboration between the UK and Vietnam and creating global talent.
Beginning at MB Bank in Hanoi, the BU delegation toured the facility and participated in a panel discussion on the skills gap in Europe and Vietnam.
Joining the delegation in Vietnam are four members of Breda University of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands, who work closely with BU.
The day was opened with a keynote talk from Ms Que Tran, from MB Bank in Vietnam, who spoke about labour demand and supply in Vietnam, using her experience working with Foreign Trade University as a case study.
MB Bank is a key industry partner of Foreign Trade University (FTU) in Hanoi.
BU's Dr Lois Farquharson then chaired a panel discussion on the skills gap in Vietnam and Europe, and what universities and industry can do to help fill the gap and provide work-ready graduates who can work across the world.
The panel also included BU graduate Philip Ost, who now works are Zurich International, based in the UK. BU graduate Quang Hoang was also in attendance for the event, and is now the youngest branch director at MB Bank.
“With the current climate of Brexit in the UK, it has never been more important for the university to show that we are very much open to collaboration internationally. This year’s Global Festival of Learning is a fantastic chance for us to work alongside international partners to share research and knowledge, and to underline BU’s commitment of being a global university, creating graduates who can use their talent internationally.”
The morning session included a tour of the bank, where staff were told about the bank's successes and place in the Vietnamese finance sector.
In the afternoon, the delegation spoke with in-country agents and partners to give information about Bournemouth University and its strengths.
BU's Mark Ridolfo, Mira Koseva and Dr Jeff Bray gave information on what life is like at Bournemouth University and the opportunities available for students while studying.
The event also included a 'Meet the Experts' element, with BU academics on hand to answer questions about their courses and what Vietnamese students studying at BU might be able to do.
Dr Samantha Leahy-Harland talks about the 2019 Global Festival of Learning
Dr Samantha Leahy-Harland talks about the 2019 Global Festival of Learning
The day ended with an alumni reception, bringing together Bournemouth University graduates now based in Hanoi.
With over 25 alumni in attendance, the graduates had a chance to mingle with BU staff and current students, and even meet lecturers who taught them when they studied in England.
The reception was hosted at the British Ambassador's Residence in Hanoi, and was hosted by Steph Lysaght, Deputy Head of Mission at the British Embassy Hanoi.
Staff, students and graduates were treated to a traditional Vietnamese music performance while they spoke to alumni.
Steph Lysaght was joined in welcoming the delegation by BU's Professor Stephen Tee, Dean of the Faculty of Management.
Day two - Foreign Trade University
Continuing the Festival in Hanoi, at a partner university, with a series of workshops, lectures and panel discussions on global talent and UK-Vietnam relations
Day two of the Global Festival of Learning took place at Foreign Trade University (FTU) with a day of collaborative working, lectures, workshops and panel discussions.
Topics ranged from global talent creation, through to increasing links between the UK and Vietnam.
The delegation were welcomed to FTU with a traditional Vietnamese dance before Professor Stephen Tee and Mr Minh Nguyen of FTU opened the second day.
A series of five minute 'ignite' presentations were delivered by staff from BU and FTU before a breakout workshop session looking at curriculum-based engagement and differences in education between Vietnam and the UK.
In the afternoon, a panel discussion took place, chaired by Professor Stephen Tee, on internationalisation and student development for the world of work. Colleagues from BU and FTU were joined by BU graduate Holly Bathurst, now working at Siemens, and a student from BU, and one from FTU, to discuss the topic.
The Hanoi leg of the 2019 Global Festival of Learning concluded with gift giving.
The Festival will now move on to Ho Chi Minh City, for two days of discussion on global talent and the world of work with the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City, as well as an industry visit to Co.op Mart Vietnam.
