Ten years of a double bachelor’s degree: Bochum and Vietnam strengthen education!

Ten years of a double bachelor’s degree: Bochum and Vietnam strengthen education!

March 8, 2025 marks an important anniversary for mechanical engineering in Vietnam and Germany: A double bachelor's program between the Ruhr University Bochum and the Vietnamese-German University (VGU) in Ho Chi Minh City is celebrating its tenth anniversary. Over the years, approximately 570 students have participated in this program, which creates an important connection between the two countries.

The academic director of the course at VGU, Prof. Dr. Roland Span, highlights how the program contributes to strengthening economic relations between Germany and Vietnam. Many graduates find employment in companies in both countries, which promotes transnational exchange and expands the students' professional prospects.

Academic perspectives and international study programs

In addition to the mechanical engineering program, the Ruhr University Bochum also offers the Joint European Master's Degree, which is aimed at students who want to research the transformation of post-industrial cities. The master's degree program has a clear target group: It is intended to shape more sustainable, social and climate-resilient urban futures.

The structure of the master's program includes several parts: In the first semester, students acquire basic methodological and theoretical knowledge and deal with current problems in research, urban planning and administration. In Cork, Ireland, a practical application part takes place in the City Lab.

• Erste Vertiefungsrichtung: Urban Transformations and Resilience (Cork, Irland)
• Zweite Vertiefungsrichtung: Diversity and Social Justice (Istanbul, Türkei)
• Dritte Vertiefungsrichtung: Urban Analysis: Smart, Sustainable and Resilient Cities (Bochum)
• Vierte Vertiefungsrichtung: Governance of Post-Industrial Cities (Zagreb, Kroatien)

In the third semester, students are active in a practical City Lab and have the opportunity to choose between in-depth study in Liège or a dedicated research internship in Cork. The program concludes with a master's thesis, which is written under the supervision of two partner universities. The language of instruction for the entire program is English.

Education system in Vietnam

Vietnam's education system, which is highly centralized and managed by the Ministry of Education (MOET), has made remarkable progress in recent years. The structure includes different levels: preschool, primary school, secondary school and higher education. Parents in Vietnam, influenced by Confucian traditions, are heavily involved in the educational process of their children and invest a lot in their education.

In addition, the Vietnamese government has taken initiatives to improve the quality of higher education. This school education offers degrees at bachelor's, master's and doctoral levels and is organized by the state, although private universities also exist. Particularly noteworthy is the high value Vietnamese people place on education, as evidenced by efforts to increase access to education, particularly in rural areas.

Despite progress, Vietnam remains faced with challenges, including inequalities in access to education and the need to improve quality. International cooperation and exchange programs with foreign universities are crucial steps towards the further development of the education system.

The anniversary of the double bachelor's program in mechanical engineering and the initiatives of the Ruhr University Bochum illustrate the committed effort to strengthen and further develop the educational landscape in both Germany and Vietnam through international cooperation. The successes and challenges of both education systems are closely intertwined and reflect the global responsibility that lies in education.