Pearson claimed that its member Edexcel International has run BTEC HND (BTEC Higher National Diploma) at 15 Vietnamese universities attracting almost 10,000 students over the past 10 years.  The programmes were licensed by the Ministry of Education and Training and accredited by Edexcel, a member of Pearson, according to Dan Tri online newspaper.

The National Economic University (NEU) in Hanoi is the first partner that offers BTEC HND programme, accredited by Edexcel. Other partners include Banking Academy and FPT University in Hanoi, Danang University of Economics, University of Technical Education and University of Transports in Ho Chi Minh City, etc.

Students graduating from BTEC HND in Vietnam can enrol in the final year at selected universities in the UK, Australia or the third year in the USA for bachelor degrees.

Pearson has identified stable development of BTEC in Vietnam is their priority. Alongside with their commitments in financial assistance, curriculum, train the trainers on teaching skills, Pearson also pays attention to localising its BTEC curriculum to align with Vietnam’s social and cultural context.

According to Mr. Le Dung, Chief Representative of Edexcel International Vietnam, the main purpose of the Edexcel and BTEC programme is to upgrade Vietnamese universities to international standard and pave the way for further development. It will also help improve the standard of teaching staff in Vietnam.

Additionally, Pearson has also poured investment to introduce UK school curriculum in the school sector of Vietnam through their strategic partnership with the Department of Education and Training in Ho Chi Minh City.

Further commentary

The Edexcel BTEC HND has been introduced in Vietnam since 2005. BTEC has become popular and are well recognised by various Ministries and industries in Vietnam.

Vietnamese universities offering BTEC maintain links with the UK universities which host Vietnamese BTEC graduates in the final year top-up for a Bachelor degree.

In June 2014 the Socialist Republic of Vietnam approved a strategy 2014-2020 to develop vocational colleges as centres of excellence.  The British Council Vietnam sees it that HND and other vocational programmes of the UK will fit well in supporting the Vietnam’s vocational training strategy. We will hold a seminar to recommend a partnership model towards HND delivery at Vietnamese colleges on 9 March in Hanoi. Interested UK institutions please find further details about the International Skills Partnership Seminar by clicking on the link.