The University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU will become one of the units authorized to organize the IELTS certification exam of the British Council.

In his welcoming speech to the delegation, Principal Hoang Anh Tuan expressed his thanks to Ms. Donna McGowan as well as the leadership team of the British Council in Vietnam for their favor, attention and cooperation with the University of Social Sciences and Humanities. In his speech, Prof. Dr. Hoang Anh Tuan emphasized the position and prestige of the British Council in Vietnam as one of the leading foreign language training organizations and educational cooperation organizations (study abroad, international conferences) in Vietnam. Especially in the current trend, standardizing internationally recognized foreign language certificates is a great advantage for Vietnamese students to apply for admission to international, private and public schools from secondary school to university and postgraduate. In addition, if properly trained, achieving a high-level international English certificate is also an important door to open many opportunities for Vietnamese students to seek scholarships to study abroad or jobs with high income. Therefore, cooperating with a prestigious organization and a big brand like the British Council will create conditions for the school's staff and students to improve their English proficiency, access advanced teaching methods and skills, and seek many study opportunities in the UK and other countries.

Representing the British Council in Vietnam, Ms. Donna McGowan expressed her pleasure to visit and receive a very warm welcome from the Principal and leaders of the units in the school. She shared: The British Council is an international organization for cultural cooperation and educational opportunities of the UK, founded in 1934 and now operating in more than 100 countries. The British Council has been present in Vietnam since 1993 and has become a prestigious organization in English language training and international cooperation in education. The University of Social Sciences and Humanities is one of the leading schools in Vietnam in training and scientific research in the field of social sciences and humanities. Therefore, we look forward to comprehensive cooperation with the school in many fields: training (improving foreign language skills of students and lecturers), scientific research (organizing international seminars) and introducing study abroad opportunities.

To have a legal basis for long-term cooperation in the future, the two sides officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding on educational cooperation (valid for 2 years), including the main contents:

- Support students and lecturers to access information about the UK in general and UK education in particular.

- Organize exams to assess English proficiency of lecturers and students according to international standards.

- Professional development of English teachers, both in terms of language competence and teaching methods.

- Raise awareness of study opportunities in the UK and within the British Council network for students and lecturers of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities.

Also at the signing ceremony, Ms. Donna McGowan, on behalf of the British Council in Vietnam, awarded the University of Social Sciences and Humanities a certificate as one of the units authorized to organize the IELTS certification exam of the British Council. This is an important milestone marking the effective cooperation between the two units and also creating very favorable conditions for students and staff of the school to study and take the IELTS certification exam of a very prestigious, internationally recognized organization.

The signing ceremony was a great success. Both sides exchanged commemorative medals, meaningful gifts and took souvenir photos.