BTEC HND Providing Int'l Degrees in Vietnam

3:26:23 PM | 7/8/2005

BTEC HND (BTEC Higher National Diploma) is a Grade 4 programme of the UK National Qualification Framework with two years of training. Prof. Dr. Banh Tien Long, Vice Minister of Education highly commended the BTEC programme at the opening ceremony of Edexcel International UK and the BTEC training programme in Vietnam, on October 27, 2004 in Hanoi.

Edexcel International was established in 1996 by the merger of two leading organisations in the UK: Business & Technical Education Council (BTEC) and the University of London Examinations and Assessment Council (ULEAC) with a history of 150 years. BTEC HND includes several natural and social sciences, trade and technology. The programme maximises students’ potential by combining theory and practice. It develops students’ thinking and helps them perfect their professional skills and obtain employment promptly after completing training.

The versatility of BTEC HND lies in its integration with university and post graduate programmes the world over. BTEC HND is highly rated by leading universities and colleges in the UK, USA, and Australia. Students graduating from BTEC HND in Europe, Latin America, Singapore or Vietnam can enrol in selected final year studies at universities in the UK, Australia and third year level in the USA.

Hanoi National Economic College (HNEC) is the first to offer the BTEC HND programme with the approval of Edexcel International. HNEC and Singapore Tyndale Education Group are partners in BTEC HND training and the last year of Sunderland College at HNEC with the approval of Edexcel International and University of Sunderland. HNEC Deputy Director, Dr. Nguyen Thanh Do said "The programme focuses on standalone expertise but also meets the academic requirements of universities in the UK and the USA, therefore students can either continue on to higher education or start working in companies."

According to Mr. Le Dung, Chief Representative of Edexcel International Vietnam, the main purpose of the Edexcel and BTEC programme is to upgrade Vietnamese universities to international standard and pave the way for further development. It will also help improve the standard of teaching staff in Vietnam.