Vietnamese Universities as Partners

Representatives from Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences visited the Socialist Republic of Vietnam from October 1 through 7, touring various universities in Hanoi and Dalat as well as a national park in the “Central Highlands.” The trip was the result of many years of preparation, including a Master's thesis defended in 2015 by the project leaders in the Faculty of Managerial and Cultural Studies/International Tourism Management, as well as additional extensive research. The initial contacts established through this work were then further developed.

The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Development and Cooperation (BMZ), supports such exploratory trips with the goal of preparing for long-term, contractually bound collaborations that lead to structural improvements at the partner university.

The trip aimed to lay the groundwork so that both partner countries can exchange technical expertise in the future and further develop it in teaching and research. This includes, among other things, the exchange of relevant curricula, which will be further developed based on the local context.

The participants discussed opportunities for student and faculty exchanges.

The partners mentioned are now working step by step toward establishing a “subject-specific partnership.” To this end, discussions at the university must be deepened, and preparations must be made regarding the structural requirements necessary to offer corresponding degree programmes.

For the HSZG, the ongoing acquisition of expertise in development cooperation is of central importance for further internationalizing its teaching.

Representatives from the University of Social Sciences & Humanities Hanoi, Dalat University, and Bidoup Nui Ba National Park—one of the practical partners—coordinated with HSZG representatives to prepare the “Memorandum of Cooperation.” In particular, the collaboration between the departments of Tourism Management and Environmental Sciences provided a good foundation for initiating an exchange, and the task now is to involve additional departments at the university.

The Vietnamese partners expressed great interest and also urged a deeper focus on content in the next phase.

During the same period, Prof. Dr. Frank Worlitz from the Institute for Process Engineering, Process Automation, and Measurement Technology (IPM) was in Vietnam to strengthen subject-specific ties with Hong Duc University in Thanh Hoa. The participants met in Hanoi and exchanged information.

Representatives from HSZG were:

• Prof. Dr. Ute Pflicke, Tourism Management (TM) and International Tourism Management
• Prof. Dr. Dieter Greif represented the Faculty of Natural and Environmental Sciences
• Ms. Solvig Langschwager, instructor and module coordinator for Tourism Management
• Ms. Eva Pretzsch, research assistant in Tourism Management and project coordinator