BUV and Manchester Metropolitan University Sign Expanded Partnership Agreement to Advance Work-Integrated Education for Vietnam's Next Generation of Professionals
Building on the ten new dual-degree programmes launched at BUV in October 2026, the agreement formalises a shared framework, signed at the British Ambassador's Residence in Hanoi and witnessed by UK Minister of State for Skills.
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Hanoi, 7 October 2026 - British University Vietnam (BUV) and Manchester Metropolitan University have signed an expanded partnership agreement that consolidates two years of collaboration into a shared strategic framework centred on work-integrated education and graduate employability in Vietnam.
The agreement was signed by Professor Rick Bennett, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of British University Vietnam, and Professor Jenny Watling, Pro Vice-Chancellor (International) at Manchester Metropolitan University, at the British Ambassador's Residence in Hanoi on 7 October 2026.
It was witnessed by Baroness Smith of Malvern, UK Minister of State for Skills; Professor Sir Steve Smith, UK International Education Champion; Iain Frew, British Ambassador to Vietnam.
From exploratory partnership to institutional scale
The relationship between the two universities began with an initial Memorandum of Understanding in November 2024, which established exploratory activities in student mobility, collaborative online international learning, articulation pathways into Manchester Metropolitan's Business School, and shared industry engagement.
Over the following two years, that foundation matured rapidly. In 2025, Manchester Metropolitan became an awarding body partner for BUV. In September 2026, BUV welcomed the first cohort of more than 200 students onto five joint undergraduate and postgraduate programmes awarded by Manchester Metropolitan, spanning business, finance, technology, and creative industries.
Manchester Metropolitan representatives pictured with a group of students enrolled in Manchester Metropolitan programmes at BUV in 2026.
From October 2026, the two universities will further expand their collaboration with the launch of ten new dual-degree programmes across undergraduate and postgraduate education, spanning areas including AI and data science, computing, business and management, hospitality and tourism, sustainable business and education.
The new agreement moves the partnership from exploration to a long-term commitment aligned with both universities' strategic priorities.
Work-integrated education for professional readiness
Manchester Metropolitan's Road to 2035 strategy sets out a vision to deliver excellent education and research with impact, equipping graduates with the knowledge, skills and experiences to thrive in a rapidly changing world.
Vietnam's higher education reform agenda, articulated in Resolution 71-NQ/TW, calls for stronger alignment between higher education and labour-market needs.
BUV’s strategic direction for the next phase focuses on strengthening graduate employability across its portfolio, including the ongoing development of an Employability Passport for BUV students. Awarded alongside the degree at graduation, the Passport certifies a student's professional skills, personal skills, and international study and mobility experience, giving employers clear evidence of employability that complements the academic qualification itself.
Beyond academic excellence, BUV aims to equip students with the capabilities they need to thrive in the workplace.
The expanded agreement builds directly on this shared strategic ground through three connected pillars:
Work-integrated curriculum across joint programmes. Co-designed employer-briefed live projects, capstone modules, and applied assessments will be embedded across the ten joint programmes, drawing on BUV's network of over 500 Vietnam-based corporate partners and Manchester Metropolitan's UK and international employer relationships.
Student mobility as an employability experience. The two universities will introduce semester exchange and are exploring summer schools at Manchester Metropolitan's UK campus, and joint capstone projects between BUV and Manchester Metropolitan student cohorts.
Faculty exchange and shared pedagogical development. The two university will explore enhance two-way faculty exchange, jointly developed teaching materials, and shared assessment innovation for work-integrated modules.
Alignment with strategic priorities
For Manchester Metropolitan, the expanded agreement reflects the ambitions of the Road to 2035 strategy, strengthening international partnerships and transnational education as a core pillar of growth. It supports the University's commitment to excellent education, strong graduate outcomes and global engagement, while extending its presence in one of Southeast Asia's most dynamic higher education markets.
For BUV, the agreement is a core component of the next phase of its employability agenda. Since its founding in 2009, BUV has built its model around bringing UK degrees to Vietnam alongside employer partnerships that translate qualifications into professional outcomes. The expanded agreement with Manchester Metropolitan gives BUV a shared institutional partner in operationalising work-integrated learning at scale across 15 programmes, ahead of further Employability Passport rollouts.
The agreement aims to advance the development of a highly skilled workforce in Vietnam.
The agreement also sits within the broader UK-Viet Nam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, agreed by Prime Minister Keir Starmer and General Secretary To Lam in London in October 2025. The partnership identifies education and skills as a pillar of bilateral cooperation.
UK Minister for Skills Jacqui Smith said: "We are proud of our partnership with Viet Nam, and today's signing is another example of our growing collaboration across education and skills. Through partnerships like this, we are creating new opportunities for learners on opposite sides of the globe and helping equip them with the skills needed for the jobs of the future."
Professor Rick Bennett, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of British University Vietnam, said: “Our sustained partnership with Manchester Metropolitan brings together the strengths of two institutions to connect academic learning more closely with the needs of an increasingly globalised world. We aim to co-develop future-ready programmes that respond to the demand for highly skilled professionals, while supporting the development of kind, confident and highly employable graduates who can contribute positively to Vietnam’s society and economy.”
Professor Jenny Watling, Pro Vice-Chancellor (International) at Manchester Metropolitan University, said: “Manchester Metropolitan is committed to giving our students the knowledge, skills and opportunities they need to succeed, and our partnership with BUV is an exciting opportunity to build on that in Vietnam. We’ve been named Modern University of the Year for two consecutive years by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide, and are a TEF Gold-rated university, recognising the quality of our teaching and student experience. By bringing together the strengths of both institutions, we can create more opportunities for students to connect their studies with the world of work, while strengthening links between our colleagues and wider university communities. We’re delighted to be building on two years of collaboration and look forward to seeing how this partnership develops.”
