Van Lang University discussed with partners from the "Swiss Tourism for Sustainable Development" project

On August 9, 2023, The VLU’s Faculty of Tourism welcomed a delegation from the "Swiss Tourism for Sustainable Development" project to discuss the future direction of cooperation in developing a high-quality hospitality curriculum.

The meeting had the participation of: 

• Mr. Kenneth Wood, Director of the project "Swiss Tourism for Sustainable Development",
• Dr. Dang Thi Phuong Anh, Project Manager, 
• Ms. Nguyen Thi Minh Thu, Human Resources Manager of Sheraton Saigon Hotel & Tower, 
• Ms. Quang Thi Minh Tam, Director Manager of Renaissance Riverside Hotel Saigon, 
• Mr. Phan Truong Duy, Training Manager of Renaissance Hotel Saigon 
• Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Thi My Dieu, President of Van Lang University,
• Dr. Le Minh Thanh, Dean of the Faculty of Tourism, 
• MSc. Hoang Ngoc Hien, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Tourism.

Swiss Tourism for Sustainable Development in Vietnam (ST4SD), funded by the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), is a long-term project from 2023 to 2027. Aiming to contribute to a more sustainable and inclusive tourism sector in Vietnam, the ST4SD project is expected to bring 3 outcomes: National level support in integrating industry needs into public policy formulation and implementation through public-private dialogue channels; Tourism management training programs development through leading Swiss experts, contributing to increasing the industry's competitiveness; Localities and destinations expected to deploy sustainable product development support.

Speaking at the Workshop “Sustainable Tourism Development Project Documents (SECO)” occurring in Quang Ninh on June 26, 2023, according to Deputy Director General Ha Van Sieu, Switzerland has a developed and well-known tourism industry. Many international students, including Vietnamese students, choose Swiss Institutions for their tourism education. The Deputy Director General anticipates that through this project, Switzerland's advanced management, education, and tourism development experiences will be transferred to the Vietnamese tourism industry, contributing to sustainable tourism development in accordance with Vietnamese tourism's current situation.

Established in 1995, the VLU’s Faculty of Tourism is one of the long-standing and prestigious institutions in the tourism industry, training many talented generations who play important roles in tourism businesses both domestic and international. Mr. Kenneth Wood, Project Director, expressed his desire to collaborate closely with VLU in developing curriculum for hotel management and tourism management, producing a high-quality workforce meeting Swiss standards, and contributing to the domestic tourism development.

Mr. Kenneth Wood, a representative of the partnership, shared more details about the expected project development locations, which span three regions of the country, including the Mekong Delta, with a focus on Dong Thap province, Hoi An city, and northern mountainous provinces (focusing on Ha Giang province). The project will implement branding plans and specific point promotion strategies at these locations. 

The collaboration between the two parties will bring many practical benefits to the country's tourism sector and the community, contributing to economic development, supporting the project to produce professionals with global standards, ready to integrate in the era of globalization.

News: Nguyen My
Photos: Thanh Nhut