Expats working in Ho Chi Minh City can upgrade their knowledge with a good choice of international standard study programs without leaving their current employment.

Vietnam has become a popular destination for higher education with a wide range of study disciplines.

According to the recent database of the UNESCO Institute of Statistics, Vietnam has attracted more than eight thousand international learners from around the world.

More and more universities develop study programs delivered in English, which is not only suitable for English-speaking learners but also helps improve the domestic training quality and study environment.

Internationalization in Vietnamese higher education has been widely sought-after by top universities.

Among universities’ different efforts, executing study programs in English is the most popular.

However, when it comes to engineering disciplines, there are not many options until a pioneering university in engineering introduced its Bach Khoa International Master Program (BK-IMP), which is tailored for local learners employed by international enterprises and expats who are working in Ho Chi Minh City and nearby places to deepen their knowledge as well as field practice.

The Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (HCMUT) under the Vietnam National University-Ho Chi Minh City (VNU-HCM) launched the BK-IMP in the early of 2019 with three cutting-edge engineering fields, namely construction management, telecommunications engineering, and petroleum engineering, and rolled out two more study areas in 2020, including computer science as well as a major in cyber security and business administration oriented toward innovation and entrepreneurship.

In 2021, HCMUT added another major to computer science – data science – which is among the sought-after in both working and studying areas.

BK-IMP is also aimed at providing a professional managerial background for engineers who are seeking intensive professional and practical knowledge in their disciplines, together with essential skill sets to become prospective managers.

In 2019, HCMUT started to implement a project called Collaborative Education Program for the BK-IMP Master in Construction Management, sponsored by the JICA for AUN/SEED-Net.

The project boasts the participation from Yokohama National University in Japan, Yangon Technological University in Myanmar, and JFE Steel Corporation in Japan.

During this project, the consortium attracts ASEAN students to join, study, and cooperatively research demanding topics.

Furthermore, the consortium is developing a double-degree program run by HCMUT and YNU, as well as expanding the network of partner universities to enhance learners’ practices and knowledge during their enrollment in BK-IMP.