LHU’s strategic working visit to the United Kingdom: What benefits will it bring to students?

As part of the transnational education (TNE) project “AI-EMI Connect”, funded by the British Council, a leadership delegation from LHU recently paid an official working visit to Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) in mid-June 2026. The visit marks an important milestone in LHU’s strategy to enhance academic quality and align more closely with global education standards.

The LHU delegation, led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Lam Thanh Hien, Rector, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Lam, Vice Rector, together with leaders of the Faculty of English Language, held official meetings at LJMU, LHU’s key partner in the project. More than just an academic exchange, the visit represented a concrete step toward integrating advanced educational practices into LHU’s curriculum development, faculty enhancement, and student learning opportunities in Vietnam.

Buidling a cross-border learning ecosystem

A key highlight of the project is that the British Council’s funding not only supports collaboration between the two universities, but also enables UK-based education specialists to directly participate in advising, reviewing, and supporting LHU in curriculum development. This is a valuable opportunity that not every higher education institutions has access to when implementing internationalization initiatives.

During the working session, both universities reached agreement on several foundational areas of cooperation. Among the priorities is strengthening academic capacity through faculty and student exchanges, joint research activities, and the implementation of Virtual Mobility as a cross-border learning model. Through this model, LHU students will be able to engage in academic activities, cultural exchanges, and collaborative group work with international peers without facing financial and geographical barriers.

Reducing financial and geographical barriers for learners

For students, the greatest value of the partnership does not lie in traveling abroad, but in gaining access to an international learning environment while studying at LHU. A major initiative set to be introduced is the COIL (Collaborative Online International Learning) model, which will allow students to participate in structured online intercultural exchange programs. Through COIL, students can strengthen their foreign language proficiency, develop multicultural teamwork skills, build global perspectives, and adapt to international professional standards. These competencies are increasingly valued by employers as regional and global labor markets become more interconnected.

For students, the greatest value of the partnership lies not in traveling abroad but in gaining access to an international learning environment while studying at LHU. A major initiative set to be introduced is the COIL (Collaborative Online International Learning) model, which will allow students to participate in structured online intercultural exchange programs. Through COIL, students can strengthen their foreign language proficiency, develop multicultural teamwork skills, build global perspectives, and adapt to international professional standards. These competencies are increasingly valued by employers as regional and global labor markets become more interconnected.

Enhancing academic competitiveness

For LHU’s academic staff, the project opens pathways to modern teaching approaches, particularly the EMI (English as a Medium of Instruction) model, which integrates English into specialized subject teaching. Through collaboration with LJMU experts, lecturers will have the opportunity to improve course design, develop technology-integrated learning activities, and stay updated on emerging educational trends related to Artificial Intelligence. These are critical factors in strengthening teaching quality and enhancing the university’s long-term academic competitiveness.

At the strategic level, the expert recommendations provided by LJMU regarding LHU’s master’s degree programs carry significant weight. The recommendations focus on integrating AI and EMI into the curriculum while standardizing learning outcomes according to international reference frameworks. This reflects how internationalization is moving beyond partnership agreements and academic exchanges to become embedded in the core of the teaching and learning process.

Turning educational internationalization into action

Beyond academic discussions, the LHU delegation also explored LJMU’s facilities and student support services. Models such as open self-study libraries, career support centers, financial assistance policies for disadvantaged students, and comprehensive academic advising systems offered valuable practical insights for LHU to study and adapt to the Vietnamese context.

From a higher education development perspective, the greatest value of the AI-EMI Connect project lies not in a single overseas visit or memorandum of understanding, but in its potential to create meaningful, long-term improvements in teaching, research, and student support. With the support of the British Council and the partnership of LJMU, LHU is steadily building a more internationally oriented learning environment, one that enables students to access advanced global educational standards without having to leave their local community.

This is how educational internationalization becomes a reality: by taking concrete actions that deliver direct value to students, faculty members, and the sustainable development of the University in its next phase of growth.