Modernization of curricula in agricultural universities (2005-2009 and 2019-2022)

Bureau Leeters was involved in the curriculum development process at 2 agricultural universities in Vietnam in the period 2005-2009: Vietnam National University of Agriculture (VNUA) in Hanoi and Nong Lam University of Agriculture and Forestry (NLU) in Ho Chi Minh City. Bureau Leeters' 'on-site' and 'on-distance' consultancy was part of the project Profession Oriented Higher Education (POHE), funded by Nuffic. A priority in this project was developing strategic partnerships between the universities and the private and public sector in the agribusiness environment.

In the period 2019-2022 Bureau Leeters participates in the project 'Enhancing performance of the horticultural sector in the north of Vietnam: educational, cooperative and value chain development', which builds further on the 2005-2009 project. The project supports VNUA and its educational and business partners in developing a stronger position in the knowledge infrastructure in the north of the country. Bureau Leeters collaborates with Dutch partners HAS University, Wageningen University and Lentiz Education and with Vietnam-based Fresh Studio and Agriterra in providing the required coaching and training.

The Vietnamese economy and social environment are fundamentally changing. In order to meet the demands of the labour market, institutions for higher education aim to re-define their curricula. The Dutch government supports these changes through Nuffic. In the project Profession Oriented Higher Education (POHE), 8 selected universities received assistance to develop and deliver new profession oriented curricula during the period 2005-2009 and beyond. The project supported lecturers to teach, assess and evaluate these new curricula and to establish relationships with the labour market. The 2019-2022 project is part of Nuffic's Orange Knowledge Program, has a similar scope, but focuses on one single university in Hanoi.