4/10/2012
NEVER A DULL MOMENT
IN DANANG
Christine Bundesen AM
Director, Institute of Continuing & TESOL Education
The University of Queensland (ICTE-UQ)
AIEC Conference, 2012
Danang, Central Vietnam
• One of major port cities in Vietnam
• Commercial and educational hub of
Central Vietnam
• Fourth biggest centre of economy in
Vietnam (after Ho Chi Minh city, Ha Noi
and Hai Phong)
• Higher urbanization ratio than any of
Vietnam's other provinces or centrally
governed cities
AIEC Conference, 2012
Australian International Education Conference 2012
www.aiec.idp.com
1
4/10/2012
A cheese sandwich
moment: 1999
AIEC Conference, 2012
2000
The University of Queensland (UQ) in Brisbane
Australia, and the University of Danang (UD) in DanangVietnam, commenced a relationship of cooperation
linked to an Atlantic Philanthropies (AP)funded 5-year
Coursework Masters Scholarship Program and the UD
Learning Resource Centre development.
AIEC Conference, 2012
Australian International Education Conference 2012
www.aiec.idp.com
2
4/10/2012
2001
UQ & UD cooperation expanded to include a plan to
establish a joint initiative English Language Institute, the
UD-UQ ELI project, with construction and initial start-up
funding from AP on the city campus of UD in Danang.
AIEC Conference, 2012
2001-2004
Preparations for the UD-UQ ELI were undertaken:
application submissions for funding to AP; project and
premises design and management; formalisation of the legal
UD-UQ project relationship; and gaining of the required
multiple Vietnamese government approvals.
2004
The UD-UQ ELI project was approved by the Vietnamese
government MPI under a Business Cooperation Contract
(BCC) - the first BCC in higher education in Vietnam. UQ
and UD were issued with an Investment Licence in mid2004, superceded by an Investment Certificate by the
Danang DPI in mid-2007.
AIEC Conference, 2012
Australian International Education Conference 2012
www.aiec.idp.com
3
4/10/2012
October 2004
Construction of a new building
to international standards to
accommodate the UD-UQ ELI
commenced.
AIEC Conference, 2012
October 2006
A small team of staff moved
into the new UD-UQ ELI
building after damage
caused by Typhoon
Xangsane was repaired.
AIEC Conference, 2012
Australian International Education Conference 2012
www.aiec.idp.com
4
4/10/2012
January 2007
UD-UQ ELI
commenced its first
General and Academic
English language
training programs for
10 students.
AIEC Conference, 2012
March 2007
UD-UQ ELI became an official member of the
Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
April 2007
UD-UQ ELI became an approved test administration
centre for IELTS and the suite of Cambridge ESOL
tests. The first UD-UQ ELI administered IELTS test
was delivered for five candidates. From 4/2007 to
5/2012 IELTS tests have been administered to 3,096
candidates on 120 test days.
AIEC Conference, 2012
Australian International Education Conference 2012
www.aiec.idp.com
5
4/10/2012
May 2007
UD-UQ ELI delivered its first corporate classes for
personnel from Furama Resort Danang and Danang
Customs. To date more than 300 staff from the Furama
Resort have received UD-UQ ELI English language training.
AIEC Conference, 2012
June 2007
UD-UQ ELI premises were officially opened.
AIEC Conference, 2012
Australian International Education Conference 2012
www.aiec.idp.com
6
4/10/2012
August 2007
UD-UQ ELI was granted full accreditation by NEAS International.
June 2008
UD-UQ ELI in collaboration with the Australian Embassy
hosted the "Viet Nam - Australia Then and Now" Exhibition
commemorating 35 years of
bilateral relations between
Vietnam and Australia.
AIEC Conference, 2012
April 2009
The inaugural Professional Development Network (PDN)
session was held at the UD-UQ ELI. To date in 2012, UD-UQ
ELI has delivered 25 PDNs to Danang teachers of English.
November 2010
The first of the annual
International Diploma in
Language Teaching Management
(IDLTM) programs was delivered
at the UD-UQ ELI with a full
cohort of 12 participants.
AIEC Conference, 2012
Australian International Education Conference 2012
www.aiec.idp.com
7
4/10/2012
May 2011
The Australian Governor General, Her Excellency
Dr Quentin Bryce AC, toured the UD-UQ ELI.
AIEC Conference, 2012
2012
UD-UQ ELI celebrated 5
years of capacity building
in Danang and the
central region of Vietnam.
Australian International Education Conference 2012
www.aiec.idp.com
8
4/10/2012
Challenges
• Understanding and meeting foreign regulatory and legal requirements
• Merging and integration of differentiated business practices and cultures
• Partner management and alignment
of expectations and objectives
• Alignment of local systems and
requirements with international
standards
• Movement from aid mentality to
financial self-sustainability
•Dealing with unanticipated
international competition
AIEC Conference, 2012
Challenges
• Introduction and promotion of
international standards and the benefits
to the local market
• Recruiting and retaining the right people
– both locally engaged staff and foreign
staff
• Integrating local teachers – changing
perceptions
• Minimising isolation for the ELI and its
staff – making them part of the larger
organisation and culture
• Understanding local market conditions
and cultures
As the song says – “It is a Long and Winding Road”
AIEC Conference, 2012
Australian International Education Conference 2012
www.aiec.idp.com
9