Vietnam and Saxion: 25 years of fruitful collaboration
Vietnam has been of great strategic importance to Saxion during the past quarter of a century. It is no coincidence that this landmark in our relationship concurs with Saxion’s 25th anniversary. Since the early days, we have attached great importance to our warm relationship with this rapidly developing country in South-East Asia. In this article we will take a trip down memory lane with Strategic Partnerships Manager, Ngoc Ngo. We will also look into the future. What are the potential gains of this ‘line’ between the Eastern Netherlands and Vietnam?
All the way from Hanoi
Ngoc Ngo is on a business trip to Vietnam when we chat to her about her memories and her vision of the future. A perfect time for highlighting the current collaboration. But not before we have discussed the weather. In the Eastern Netherlands, the sky is grey and it’s drizzling whereas it’s 25 degrees Celsius in Hanoi. Ngoc tells us: “Vietnamese people think it’s cold. It is usually warmer.” She then goes on to tell us about the purpose of her visit: “I’m in Vietnam with Professor Harry Futselaar of the International Water Technology research group and two colleagues from the School of Finance and International Business.”
Ngoc and Harry are in Hanoi to round off an Orange Knowledge Project (OKP) supported by Nuffic, the Dutch organisation for internationalisation in education. "The subject of the project is 'how we in the Netherlands focus on education and demand-driven research in our curriculum and how we collaborate with the business community,'” explains Ngoc. After she leaves Hanoi, Ngoc will continue her journey through Vietnam. In Ho Chi Minh City, she will pay a visit to our oldest partner in Vietnam, the Ton Duc Thang University. The agenda will cover several topics related to collaboration.
First group of Vietnamese exchange students, visiting the Dutch city of Deventer.
Back to the beginning
Water Technology and its impact on the business community; two major issues come up for discussion within no time. But how did the collaboration between Saxion and Vietnam actually start? Ngoc: “I have been working for Saxion for 25 years in various functions related to internationalisation. Ngoc started her career at the same time as the course of collaboration between Saxion and Vietnam began. She tells us that she started as an intern and began working on collaborative projects shortly afterwards. “First of all, it focussed on education and it was later extended to include research.”
The process of internationalisation does not always run smoothly, says Ngoc: “Some lecturers found it very difficult in the beginning ... I can remember one lecturer saying to me: ‘If I have to travel to Vietnam for my work, who will take my children to school and pick them up again?’ I said: ‘Wow! If I got the chance I would welcome it with open arms.’ I would see it as a great opportunity for my personal development.“ She laughs: “Dutch people think differently from the Vietnamese.”
Ngoc has also noticed that times have changed in relation to internationalisation. “Many people want to work on internationalisation these days,” she says. “Students too.”
It has been a sustainable collaboration which has continued under different generations of leadership.
Opportunities and commitment
Looking back on the last 25 years, Ngoc has this to say: “It has been a sustainable collaboration which has continued under different generations of leadership. I think it is something unique.” And why is the ‘line’ to Vietnam still very much alive? Ngoc: “There are many opportunities for students, researchers and lecturers. They have a high level of commitment, they want to share their expertise and learn from each other. I don’t only hear this from students, lecturers and researchers but also from members of the Executive Board who give us a great deal of support. To date, I have seen three chairpersons of the Executive Board involved in the collaboration. Anka Mulder has now visited Vietnam with three professors, three school heads and me. The objective was to visit our partner universities and discuss collaboration in research.”
Looking into the future
The Vietnamese culture is different from the Dutch. However, there are parallels when it comes to dealing with major challenges. Ngoc says: “There are overlapping themes, for example Water Technology.” She is referring to the Netherlands as a delta country and comparing it to the Mekong River Delta in Vietnam. Both countries face problems with water and they share their expertise on this area.
Ngoc says this about the future: “We hope that more researchers and professors will get to know each other and work together. We are moving towards interdisciplinary collaboration in research with our partners. This means that people don’t keep to themselves and run their own show. Our students can benefit from the collaboration between professors and from interdisciplinary learning.”
Dutch students who did an internship in Vietnam.
The ‘green economy’ is another area where Ngoc believes that Saxion and its Vietnamese partners can share their expertise. She mentions as example the place of plastic in a circular world. This kind of issue requires knowledge from more than one discipline. Ngoc: “We think that we could involve at least three more research groups and more Dutch companies in our collaboration.”
International experience
Students can also benefit from our warm relationship with Vietnam. It is now easier for Saxion students to do an internship in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City and for Vietnamese students to travel to the Eastern Netherlands.
Saxion held a seminar on this collaboration in February. Ngoc was met by enthusiastic reactions when she invited alumni to share their experiences. Ngoc: “Students say that this experience has made it easier for them to find a job. A lot of students go abroad these days but going to Vietnam is something completely different! European locations are quite run-of-the-mill. People think that you’re a good prospect, you are not afraid to take risks. Students who go outside their comfort zone can learn a lot.”
Photos: from Ngoc Ngo's own archive. In the large photo above the article, Ngoc Ngo is the fourth person from the left. Immediately to the right of Ngoc are Iwan Rutjens (First Secretary for Economic and Commercial Affairs, NL Embassy in Vietnam), Assoc. prof. Dr. Nguyễn Thành Hiếu (Vice president National Economics University, Hanoi (NEU)) and Harry Futselaar (Lector International Water Technology (IWT), Saxion)
Saxion and Vietnam: collaboration in short
- When Saxion and its Vietnamese partners embarked on their collaboration 25 years ago they focussed first on education; research was included during the intervening years.
- Saxion’s Vietnamese partners include the National Economics University, the Viet Duc University Hospital in Hanoi and the Ton Duc Thang University in Ho Chi Minh City.
- In addition to the universities, more and more industry partners are becoming involved.
- At Saxion the Water Technology, Business Models and Blockchain research groups are closely involved.
- Collaboration is organised according to the Triple Helix model of innovation. Here, the interaction between educational institutions, industry and the government plays a central role in promoting economic and social development.
- Important themes are the links between education and the business community, the circular economy and the sustainable use of water by people and society.
- Within the EU, the Netherlands is the largest investor in Vietnam.