Vietnam seeks opportunities for sustainable education partnerships

Education World Forum 2022 (EWF) has supported Vietnam to find opportunities for sustainable education partnerships, Vietnamese Ambassador to the UK Nguyen Hoang Long has said.

While attending the four-day EWF 2022 in London from May 22-25, Long stressed that EWF is a great opportunity for Vietnam to learn about cooperation between the UK and other countries, not only in the field of education but also economy.

“The Vietnamese Government regards high quality human resources education as one of the strategic breakthroughs for sustainable development of the country. The basic and comprehensive renewal of the education system is currently our key mission for international integration,” Long said.

The ambassador added that Vietnam wishes to cooperate with the UK to fulfill the commitments made at the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26), as well as in the field of skills development for students.

Vietnamese Ambassador to the UK Nguyen Hoang Long (middle) and other UK education leaders at the event. Photo: Minh Hop

“The forum is a wonderful opportunity to bring together not only Vietnam higher educational institutions but also Vietnamese education policy makers. We believe that this forum will make a valuable contribution to our shared vision of broader education partnerships and Vietnam’s development as a leading economy of the future,” Long said.

For his part, British Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi emphasised that it is high time for the countries to work together to tackle the challenges posed by the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and economic difficulties around the world.

He said he believes that cooperation among countries is the key to success in solving global challenges, highlighting the need to share experiences to build a better future through education.

Through building the capacity of young people as a means of meeting the rapidly changing challenges from around the world, countries will be more prosperous, more competitive, and more equitable for all citizens, Nadhim Zahawi said.

Underway with the theme "Education: Building forward together; stronger, bolder, better", EWF 2022 features sessions in learning from education and how responses by all stakeholders have strengthened, changed, and improved.

It is drawing the participation of education ministers from over 100 countries as well as international and non-governmental organizations. This year’s theme is a follow-up to the goal of EWF 2020, which focused on developing children’s digital skills.

During the forum, education leaders and experts have discussed and shared their expertise and initiatives, as well as put forth effective ways to foster cooperation in education.

Besides, participants will discuss how technology, artificial intelligence and experience can be leveraged to strengthen education systems and economies worldwide. Furthermore, participants also debated ways in which countries can develop education systems with limited resources.

The forum will consist of nine plenary sessions, six ministerial-level exchanges, and a special meeting on the UK’s experience in bridging the gap in qualifications between disadvantaged students and other groups due to the impact of the pandemic.