New Cooperation With Vietnamese-German UniversityAalen University of Applied Sciences establishes a master's degree program in Vietnam

Vier Personen stehen vor einer Präsentation mit dem Thema Vietnamese-German Universitiy (VGU)

From left: Dr. Bernd Tilp, Manager International Office VGU; Prof. Dr. Tomas Benz, Rector VGU; Dr. Alexandra Jürgens, Managing Director Graduate Campus; Martina Kübler, Deputy Head of the International Relations Office; Prof. Dr. med. Ralf von Baer, Vice Dean of Faculty of Optics and Mechatronics. Photo: © Aalen University | Vietnamese-German University

We, 15. March 2023

As of now, students of Aalen University of Applied Sciences can choose Vietnam as a destination during their semester abroad. General cooperation and exchange agreements were signed at the beginning of March this year on the new campus of the Vietnamese-German University (VGU) in Binh Duong province, not far from Ho Chi Minh City.

The German delegation, consisting of Prof. Dr. med. Ralf von Baer, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Optics and Mechatronics, Dr. Alexandra Jürgens, Managing Director of the Graduate Campus, and Martina Kübler, Deputy Head of the International Relations Office, toured the new campus of the Vietnamese-German University (VGU) during their visit. In discussions with VGU colleagues and students, the foundation for future student exchange was laid. Another goal of the delegation was to examine the prerequisites and conditions for the transfer and implementation of the existing master's degree program in Health Technology Management of Aalen University on site at the VGU. Health Sciences of Applied Sciences are one of the study areas offered by the Faculty of Optics and Mechatronics. It consists of three bachelor's degree programs, Ophthalmic Optics/Optometry, Audiology and Digital Health Management, as well as a further master's degree program, Vision Science and Business (Optometry).

Transnational Education Project

Founded in 2008, the VGU is a higher education project initiated by the Vietnamese government and the German state of Hessen. On the German side, the project is supported by the State of Hessen and the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). The Vietnamese government provides the infrastructure for the university and a new campus, and provides funding for the day-to-day operations of the VGU. The German donors are financing the establishment of the VGU with different focuses.

Since its founding, the VGU has developed into one of the largest transnational educational projects with German participation. The mission of VGU is to establish a university with a strong research orientation and a special focus on technology, engineering and economics. The academic backbone of the VGU is the consortium association VGU e.V. with its member universities, which was founded in 2009 at the DAAD in Bonn. It supports and coordinates the activities of the German partner universities of the VGU and at the same time contributes to the internationalization of the German university landscape. Aalen University of Applied Sciences joined this consortium in 2022.

Aalen University of Applied Sciences Establishes Master's Degree Program in Vietnam

VGU currently has around 2,500 students and offers 16 bachelor's and master's degree programs. Further study programs are under development. Aalen University was invited to establish the master's degree program in Health Technology Management at VGU. This course of study responds to the diverse challenges of the healthcare sector of the future. The technological healthcare market is growing and needs qualified experts. Medical, scientific, technical and economic knowledge enable graduates to improve technology management and drive innovation.

"We were very impressed by the new campus and the excellent opportunities for teaching and research. Our next step will be to analyze what requirements potential Vietnamese students and employers have for our study program and how these can be met by the master's program in Health Technology Management," says Vice Dean Ralf von Baer. The structure of the program will then be developed in cooperation with the Graduate Campus.

"For students at Aalen University of Applied Sciences, the new cooperation not only opens up the opportunity to gain experience in such a culturally different environment, but also to complete an exchange semester that meets German quality standards," adds Kübler. Students interested in an exchange semester in Vietnam can find out more about the possibilities at the International Relations Office.