Deputy Prime Minister Le Tien Chau received Prof. Hongbin Cai, Dean of HKU Business School, on October 20. He called for stronger academic cooperation and welcomed the school's plan to establish a campus in Vietnam.
At the meeting in Hanoi, Cai briefed him on the school's development, operating model and training strategies in business and business administration.
He shared the school's experience in internationalisation, partnerships and research, noting that it attracts talented academics from around the world.
Chau commended HKU, the oldest research university in Hong Kong (China), and recognised the work of its representative office in Vietnam since 2022. The office helped secure more than 4.7 million USD in scholarships for Vietnamese students and organised AI management and digital transformation training for a high-level National Assembly delegation.
The Deputy Prime Minister said Vietnam has identified high-quality human resources as one of its three strategic breakthroughs. Politburo Resolution No. 71-NQ/TW calls for stronger cooperation and greater foreign investment in higher education.
Chau welcomed the proposal to establish an HKU Business School campus in Vietnam and develop a global business research and education platform in Hanoi.
He said Vietnam continues to improve its institutional framework and investment environment. Government Decree No. 361/2026/ND-CP sets conditions for foreign higher education institutions to establish branch campuses in Vietnam.
Chau proposed a phased approach, starting with joint programmes with reputable Vietnamese universities or pilot courses. These steps would assess demand before the school invests in a full campus.
He called for wider academic cooperation, including HKU faculty teaching and supervising doctoral candidates in Vietnam, joint research, co-authored publications and research commercialisation.
He also proposed priority admission for outstanding young scientists and students sent by Vietnam for training, more scholarships, and support for training Vietnamese lecturers and education managers.
Chau cited artificial intelligence, data science, semiconductors, green finance, financial technology, business administration and public health as areas matching the school's strengths and Vietnam's potential. He expressed confidence that HKU will become a strategic partner and trusted friend of Vietnam.
Sources: VietnamPlus / Vietnam News Agency
