This project aims to reinforce the staff and lab capacity, thereby enhancing the quality of education and training programmes in molecular and materials sciences (MMS) at four Vietnamese universities: Can Tho University, Quy Nhon University, University of Education – The University of Danang and Hanoi National University of Education. This will be done through intensive collaborations with three European universities: KU Leuven, University of Twente and University of Rostock. The main objective of this project is to develop research-based modules in MMS, which will be integrated into the current curricula in chemistry and physics at the four Vietnamese partner universities (VPU). 24 courses in MMS will be adapted by professors from the European partner universities (EPU), who will be responsible for teaching these courses in this project. At the end of the project, four research-based curricula in MMS are developed. This project emphasizes the staff exchange between the VPU and the EPU. In addition to the visits of EPU professors to deliver the courses at the four VPU, young staff of VPU will be visiting EPU to follow scientific and soft-skills training courses for two months. By following the courses given by EPU professors and experts, knowledge in MMS and teaching experiences and skills of VPU staff are improved, which is needed for VPU staff to take over the 24 courses in the following years. The project also focuses on the improvement of academic English for both staff and students at the four VPU. For this purpose, specialized English courses will be designed and given by experts from EPU. In addition, to implement the research-based curricula, a portion of upto 30% of the project budget will be used to upgrade the lab facilities at the four VPU. Moreover, to raise public awareness about the role of science and to attract students to start science education, especially students from remote areas in Vietnam, appropriate plans for dissemination are designed.

The irruption of Human Resource Management (HRM) as a strategic element for quality development of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) is relatively recent. Few decades back and until our days, HR approaches just focused on staff recruitment, employment contracts and payment of salaries. This scenario is deeply changing with the international growth and increasing complexity of Higher Education. HRM aspects such as staff motivation, continuous development, evaluation, and strategic planning are gathering momentum under HEIs’ strategic plans worldwide.The evolution of HRM is, however, slow and certainly challenging in developing countries. In Southeast Asia, HEIs are facing significant difficulties derived from disparities in their countries’ political and social structures as well as the backgrounds of their Higher Education systems. Well-structured HRM strategies could very much contribute to HE development and HEIs’ autonomy, thus supporting the processes of reform towards regional growth. Against this background, HR4Asia aims at contributing to Higher Education organisational reform in Southeast Asia by improving HRM at the target HEIs from Cambodia, Lao PDR, Vietnam and Thailand.This global objective will be pursued by means of three specific objectives, namely: • Building capacity in HRM at Southeast Asian HEIs to enhance organizational performance;• Improving HRM Strategic plans for more staffing autonomy; • Setting up of the ASEAN University HR Network as a regional forum for the exchange of knowledge and best practices.With these, HR4Asia will introduce in Southeast Asian HEIs a scheme to developing and implementing innovative HRM approaches, paying attention to transversal and additional skills, such as communication and self-learning, as well. Tailor-made dissemination activities addressing non-partner HEIs, Ministries of Higher Education and other stakeholders will promote the project objectives, paving the way for its sustainability .

« Bridging Digital Divide in Mongolia and Vietnam through HEI’s Digital Transformation », the DIGITAL MOVE project aims at implementing Digital transformation within Mongolian and Vietnamese universities through innovative teaching and learning methods and an active engagement with external stakeholders. Taking into account that Digital transformation is a « serie of deep and coordinated culture, workforce, and technology shirts », the DIGITAL MOVE project addresses Digital transformation at four levels: institutional, processes, individuals and communities. At institutional level, the project aims to foster institutional reforms including readiness in terms of digital skills and development of modern university services. At processes and services level, DIGITAL MOVE helps HEIs create and or reinforce specific departments to foster digital education through support for academic staff in digitally enhanced teaching and learning. For individuals, DIGITAL MOVE bridges the digital divide by developing digital soft skills through new learning pathways open to all: staff, students, lifelong learners (including private sector and civil society at large). Moreover, DIGITAL MOVE also aims to impact the communities at local, regional and national levels and pursues this objective by developing activities targeting the society at large and disseminating information, knowledge and good practices through Communities of practices.While it is true that digital transformation represents a great opportunity for our societies, it is also a significant risk of social exclusion. Indeed, the digital divide is already a reality that shoud be adressed. To tackle this challenge, the DIGITAL MOVE project focuses on bridging the digital divide by enhancing HEI capacities in digitally teaching and learning and making HEI main actor of Digital transformation in local, regional and national communities.