VIETNAMESE GERMAN UNIVERSITY:

CURRENT STATUS, CHALLENGES AND

OUTLOOK

www.vgu.edu.vn
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 VGU BACKGROUND
• Diagnosis: Ineffectiveness of the Vietnamese Higher Education System
• Decision to establish four „New Model Universities (NMU“) as
„lighthouses and blueprints“ within the Higher Education Reform Agenda
• Agreement with Germany to found VGU as Vietnamese State University
and first of the New Model Universities
• VGU represents the German University Concept among NMU
• Funding for VGU from Germany by
Hessen Ministry of Higher Education, Research and the Arts (HMWK)
Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)
Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Science, Research and Art (MWK)
• Strong support by DAAD German Academic Exchange Service and
34 German Universities and Institutions

www.vgu.edu.vn
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Berlin, June 2010
 DEVELOPMENT OF VGU - 1
• 2006 Nov First idea to establish a German University in Vietnam
• 2007 May Memorandum of
Understanding is signed
• 2008 Febr 29 Founding documents
are signed
• 2008 Sept 10 Opening Ceremony
• 2008 Oct 35 students start
Foundation Year for B.Eng.
Electrical Engineering and
Information Technology
• 2009 Febr 32 German Universities found VGU Consortium
• 2009 Mar VGU Charter approved and signed by DPM Prof. Dr. Nhan

www.vgu.edu.vn
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Berlin, June 2010
 DEVELOPMENT OF VGU - 2
• 2009 Jun 1. Seminar in Continous Education on „Health Management“
in cooperation with Fresenius Kabi Bidiphar
• 2009 Sept Opening of 3 M.Sc. Programs:
Computational Engineering
Urban Development Planning
Business Information Systems (part-time)
• 2010 Febr Inaugural meeting of VGU University Council in HCMC
and approval of VGU Masterplan (draft version)
• 2010 Mar Finalization of VGU Masterplan
• 2010 Mar Opening „Transport Research Center“ together with
UTC, Hanoi and TU Darmstadt
• 2010 Apr Finalization of VGU Feasibility Study
• 2010 Jun hopefully: Approval of World Bank loan by WB Board

www.vgu.edu.vn
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Berlin, June 2010
 GERMAN-BASED ESSENTIALS OF VGU
• Autonomy, secured by VGU Charter (March 2009)
• Unity of research and teaching
• Academic freedom in research, teaching and learning
• Self-governance
• Application-oriented: links to economy / enterprises
• Selection of staff for research and teaching by the University

www.vgu.edu.vn
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Berlin, June 2010
 CORNERSTONES OF VGU PROFILE
• Focussing on “HiTec”
+++ Engineering and Technology
++ Applied Natural Sciences
+ Management / Health related programs
• Research oriented and –driven
• „Quality first“ policy in all fields of performance
• Benchmark / best-practice provider as “New Governance University”
• Transparency and accountability
• Designed as “University of Excellence” and top-level university
• Vietnamese State University

www.vgu.edu.vn
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Berlin, June 2010
 FACTS AND FIGURES AS OF MAY 2010

• Study programs 1 B.Eng. + 3 M.Sc.

• Enrolled students > 100
• Faculty 2009/10 4 German professors permanently
in VN; ~ 15-18 visiting professors 2009/10
• Vietnamese Staff 11
• German Experts 5 advertised; 2 temporarily delegated
• Space 600 m² in VGU building; 600 m² rented;
250 m² in TRC building
• Annual Budget ~ 3,3 Mill. € (GER) + ~ 500.000 US $ (VN)

www.vgu.edu.vn
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Berlin, June 2010
 STUDY PROGRAMS 2009 - 2030

www.vgu.edu.vn
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Berlin, June 2010
 NEW CAMPUS IN BINH DUONG
PROVINCE
• Land ~ 50 ha, 38 km north of HCMC (Highway 13),
ready to use
• Land Use Right transfer to VGU ~ May/June 2010
• Budget for ~ 180 Mill. US $
New Campus (160 Mill. $ from World Bank;
20 Mill. $ from VN Government)
• Design
Competition Spring 2011
• Handover 2016/17

www.vgu.edu.vn
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Berlin, June 2010
 LOCATION CAMPUS IN BINH DUONG

www.vgu.edu.vn
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Berlin, June 2010
 GROWTH APPROACH FOR NUMBER OF
STUDENTS
Expected number of students (approx.; depending on
availability of new campus)

End of phase 1 (2014): 1.000

End of phase 2 (2020): 5.000
End of phase 3 (2030) 12.000

www.vgu.edu.vn
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Berlin, June 2010
VGU INTERDISZIPLINARY RESEARCH CENTER

Vietnamese German University

Research Centre for High Tech
Engineering & Sustainability

Research Research Research Research Research

Center Center Center Center Center

Traffic, Renewable Water Sustainable ‘Green’

Transport, Energy Technologies & Urban Technologies &
Mobility, Technologies Water Development Resource
Logistics Resource Management
Management
www.vgu.edu.vn
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Berlin, June 2010
 THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!

www.vgu.edu.vn
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Berlin, June 2010