{
  "id": 12363833,
  "title": "Expanding education partnerships to drive mutual growth",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/06/expanding-education-partnerships-to-drive-mutual-growth",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-06T09:04:55.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Vietnam Investment Review",
    "slug": "vietnam-investment-review",
    "url": "https://vir.com.vn/expanding-education-partnerships-to-drive-mutual-growth-162287.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Jacqui Smith, the Right Honourable Baroness Smith of Malvern and Minister for Skills at the UK Department for Education, is set to visit Vietnam, emphasizing the nation's importance as an International Education Strategy (IES) priority for the UK government. Smith, formerly a secondary school economics and business teacher, firmly believes that education is a country's most vital asset and export, driving stronger trade, investment, and long-term economic growth.\n\nSmith's visit marks the first by any UK Department for Education Minister, highlighting the UK's commitment to Vietnamese education reforms. Vietnam aims to create a skilled workforce to support its growth, with sectors such as artificial intelligence, digital technology, advanced manufacturing, green industries, and professional services driving its prosperity. These sectors also benefit from the UK's world-leading expertise.\n\nInternational education, including UK qualifications, scholarships, and English language teaching, already plays a significant role in supporting jobs, investment, and growth in the UK. Vietnam, one of only five priority countries in the UK's IES, has a strong foundation for collaboration, with over 70 UK transnational education programmes in place.\n\nDuring her visit, Smith will address the International Education Conference and Exhibition, which gathers educators, institutions, businesses, and policymakers to explore how international cooperation can prepare learners for future opportunities. Smith will also meet with senior Vietnamese ministers, including the Minister of Education and Training and the Deputy Prime Minister, to strengthen education, skills, and workforce development cooperation.\n\nA crucial aspect of Smith's visit will be the signing of a renewed UK-Vietnam Memorandum of Understanding on education and training, outlining a framework for future collaboration. Smith, alongside UK’s International Education Champion, Professor Steve Smith, will lead a delegation of over 20 UK education and technology organizations to showcase British expertise in various areas, such as higher education, technical training, professional qualifications, and English language learning.\n\nBoth the UK and Vietnam recognize the immense value of education as an investment, aiming to equip young people with essential skills to succeed. This partnership, bolstered by initiatives like the British Council's Skills for Employability Programme, British University Vietnam, and Chevening Scholarships, not only fosters skill development but also builds lasting relationships and mutual understanding that will endure for generations.",
  "summary": "Vietnam and the United Kingdom are cementing training and education cooperation Jacqui Smith the Right Honourable Baroness Smith of Malvern Minister for Skills at the UK Department for Education is going to pay a visit to Vietnam to deepen educational cooperation and support national ambitions of making English a second language in schools by 2035",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}