HCM City (VNA)🃏 - Implementation of Conceive-Design-Implement-Operate (CDIO) principles have helped 10 universities in Vietnam reform their curricula, providing students with skills, knowledge and attitudes needed by businesses and organisations.

Doan Thi Minh Trinh, Vice Director of Vietnam National University-HCM City’s Department of Academic Affairs, said that initial results of CDIO implementation had improved the learning environment, the basic content of programmes and teaching and learning methods. Trinh spoke at a conference about CDIO that was held on August 25 at Vietnam National University-HCM City, which is one of 10 universities implementing CDIO as part of a pilot programme. As Vietnam is integrating into the global economy, it faces challenges transforming a young population into a skilled labour force. The transformation requires acceleration of reform in the entire education system, and, especially, in higher education. As one of the flagship universities in Vietnam, VNU-HCM City has spearheaded many initiatives for reform. A key effort has been the adoption of CDIO principles, which is being used to build a model framework for national curriculum reform. VNU-HCM City has implemented a framework based on the adoption and adaptation of the CDIO approach for 62 training programmes, including engineering, since 2010. Faculty and staff are also working in a more professional and systematic way, using the CDIO approach. “Through implementation of CDIO, we have a more practical basis for improving policy in education reform,” Trinh said, adding that human resources were the most significant factor in education innovation and change. CDIO has especially helped the majority of faculty to become competent in providing integrated learning experiences and has led to active and experiential learning, in addition to improving learning assessments, all of which are now more innovative. Student learning outcomes have also been enhanced. CDIO helped VNU-HCM City’s international business and chemistry programmes receive accreditation by the ASEAN University Network-Quality Assurance evaluation in 2015. The programmes received positive reviews for curriculum design, teaching facilities, teaching and learning strategy, and student assessment. Pham Ngoc Tuan of HCM City University of Technology’s mechanical engineering faculty said that innovation was integrated into the CDIO syllabus. “Via the CDIO syllabus, students are more self-confident and can become future engineering leaders with an innovative spirit,” he said. The conference attracted more than 300 representatives of universities and colleges as well as enterprises throughout the country.-VNA