Vietnam, EU sign Letter of Intent on education, training cooperation

The signing took place within the framework of the official visit to the European Union (EU) by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam.

This marks the first standalone document on education and training signed between Vietnam's Ministry of Education and Training and the European Commission (EC). Previously, bilateral cooperation in this area relied primarily on general provisions of a framework agreement. The event therefore carries significance beyond diplomatic protocol, marking the official turning of education into a cooperation pillar with clear orientation and a defined roadmap.

The Letter of Intent notes that since establishing diplomatic ties in 1990, Vietnam and the EU have maintained enduring, meaningful, and positive relations. Education and training represent an important cooperation area under the EU-Vietnam Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation (PCA), signed in 2012 and taking effect in 2016. Both sides reaffirmed their mutual interest and desire to strengthen cooperation based on equality, mutual respect, and understanding.

Under the document, both sides wish to deepen and expand cooperation across specific areas, starting with information exchange and connectivity under the Erasmus+ Program, the EU’s flagship initiative for education, training, youth, and sport. They will also cooperate within the framework of the Global Partnership for Education and other multi-level educational programs. Erasmus+ National Focal Points will receive support to better fulfill their bridging role.

Additionally, the two sides will enhance capacity for individuals and academic institutions, promote exchanges of learners and academic staff, share experiences and best practices, and facilitate joint training and research programs. To realize these commitments, both sides plan to develop a comprehensive roadmap for existing and upcoming cooperation activities.

Speaking to the press in Brussels, Minister Hoang Minh Son noted that while Vietnam and Europe have a framework agreement on comprehensive partnership, they previously lacked a specific agreement on education and training.

He said Europe has provided significant support to Vietnam through Erasmus+ and joint programs between universities and colleges, with notable results. However, these activities remained fragmented and lacked a common guiding framework.

"This is the first time a Letter of Intent has been signed between the Ministry of Education and Training of Vietnam and the European Commission to implement cooperation comprehensively, from qualification recognition in education and training to skills development in the new period," Minister Son stressed.

According to the minister, the second focus is comprehensive cooperation aimed at building highly specific roadmaps spanning general education reform, vocational education, and higher education. The goal is to enhance institutional capacity, increase student and faculty exchanges, and move toward close partnerships between training institutions on both sides. He identified this as a vital resource to develop high-quality human resources, serving the country's growth model reform and meeting foreign investors' demands in high-tech sectors.

Regarding next steps, Minister Son revealed that the two sides will establish a joint working group to draft an implementation roadmap. In line with directives from Party General Secretary and President To Lam, cooperation must be materialized through concrete actions, projects, and programs, with results and efficiency evaluated annually.

On that basis, both sides will continue refining and adjusting to move toward equal, comprehensive cooperation, rather than a one-way relationship based on European support.

For many years, educational cooperation between Vietnam and the EU was viewed mainly through the lens of aid, scholarships, and project funding. Vietnam’s proactive emphasis on "equality" and a "two-way" partnership reflects the new position of a partner seeking to co-design programs rather than only receive support.

The Letter of Intent was handed over during a high-level roundtable between Party General Secretary and President To Lam and leaders of prominent European and Belgian enterprises. According to Minister Son, Belgian and European businesses expressed strong interest in expanding investment in Vietnam, targeting sectors that require high-quality human resources such as high technology, logistics, and healthcare.

Minister Son affirmed that directly delivering the cooperation document to the EC right at the roundtable sent a message that Vietnam is committed to promoting training linked to the needs of foreign businesses, satisfying both present and future demands.

According to the minister, a commitment to high-quality human resources is a key investment draw, as it creates a strong advantage for Vietnam to attract foreign enterprises, particularly high-caliber ones. He noted that this message was clearly demonstrated at the forum: businesses interested in investing in Vietnam base their decisions on high-quality human resources. Therefore, the timing and location of handing over the document carry significant meaning.

Placing an educational agreement among investors is Vietnam's way of sending a message that human resources have become a part of its investment attraction strategy, standing on par with infrastructure, institutions, and incentives. For European companies seeking to diversify supply chains, a workforce trained to standards compatible with Europe represents an advantage.

The signing of the Letter of Intent occurred on the same day Vietnam and the EU issued a Joint Press Statement, in which leaders of both sides agreed to strengthen cooperation in education and training. The event shows that education is gradually becoming one of the substantive links in the EU-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

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