Dr. Wallat has been serving as Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany in Ho Chi Minh City since 2019. Prior to this she has been holding various positions within Germany’s foreign service, amongst them in China, the Czeck Republic and at headquarters in Berlin, Germany.  Dr. Wallat was born and raised in Berlin, but educated in England, receiving her PhD in International Relations from Oxford University.

Dr. Kai Sicks was elected to lead the German Academic Exchange Service as Secretary General in 2021. Internationalization, however, had been in his focus, heading the International Office of the University of Bonn. His entire professional career has been dedicated to higher education and higher education management, with positions at various German universities. He received his academic education in Germany, Austria and the USA.

Felix Wagenfeld is director of the DAAD-Regional Office Hanoi, the central point of contact for all questions relating to academic exchange between Germany and the countries of Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar. The DAAD-Regional Office Hanoi provides information on study and research opportunities in Germany, advice on scholarship and university partnership programmes, represents the interests of German higher education institutions in the region and works closely with alumni of German universities.

Prior to taking over this position in November 2023, Mr. Wagenfeld held various positions at DAAD-headquarters in Bonn, Germany. In his last capacity, he was responsible for the development and management of academic cooperation programmes for partners in Germany, the Middle East, Asia, Africa and Latin America. Between 2015 and 2020, he was in charge of monitoring and mapping DAAD’s regional expertise in Sub-Saharan Africa, the MENA-region and Asia and is the founding head of section of DAAD’s Centre for international academic cooperation (KIWi). His first position in DAAD was in the field of higher education management-cooperation with developing countries – after having  worked in designing and implementing trainings and conferences for development practitioners at Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).

His academic background lies in international cooperation with a degree in political science having studied at the University of Bonn and the University of Toronto and a post-graduate certificate in international development cooperation from the Centre for Rural Development (SLE) at Humboldt University Berlin.

Dr. Viet Dung Trinh is a visionary leader in higher education, currently driving the expansion of Kühne Logistics University (KLU) into Southeast Asia as the Campus Director for the region. Based in Ho Chi Minh City, Dr. Trinh is at the forefront of establishing KLU’s new campus in one of Asia’s most dynamic business and logistics hubs. His work is focused on enhancing logistics, operations, and supply chain management education, with the goal of shaping future leaders equipped with a strong operations mindset.

With over a decade of experience in higher education, Dr. Trinh has held various leadership roles that bridge academia and industry. Before joining KLU, he served as the Academic Program Director at VinUniversity in Hanoi, where he played a key role in advancing educational quality and student experience. His career also includes significant contributions to the International University – Vietnam National University in Ho Chi Minh City, where he managed business programs and forged strategic partnerships.

KLU, founded in 2010 and supported by the Kühne Foundation, is dedicated to providing world-class leadership and management education rooted in logistics and supply chain management. The new campus in Ho Chi Minh City will offer comprehensive programs at both the bachelor’s and master’s levels, as well as executive education and lifelong learning opportunities tailored to the needs of the region.

Dr. Trinh’s research focuses on premium branding, customer experience design, and the application of marketing technology. He is a recognized speaker at national and international conferences and has an extensive portfolio of publications, including journal articles, book chapters, and other scholarly works.

As KLU prepares to extend its global impact through its Southeast Asia campus, Dr. Trinh is eager to collaborate with local partners to provide exceptional educational experiences and cultivate the next generation of leaders in logistics and supply chain management.

Nguyen Trung Dung is an expert in innovation and entrepreneurship certified by the Vietnam-Finland Innovation Partnership Program (IPP), Leadership Innovation Fellowship Program at Cambridge University (UK), Mashav Innovation Program (Israel). He is currently a lecturer at Hanoi University of Science and Technology (HUST) as well as the CEO of BK Holdings in charge of science and technology enterprises system, innovative and entrepreneurship of the university. Dung has over 20 years experiences in investment, training, incubation and technology transfer in Vietnam.

Since 2001, he has been the founder and investor of more than 10 educational institutions, systems integration companies, science and technology enterprises. He is also consulting for government, organizations and enterprises in innovation as well as in the executive boards of organizations and associations in this field such as Board member of Hanoi city in Innovation project, Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN), Vietnam Mentoring Initiative (VMI), Chairman of Junior Achievement Vietnam (JA), Chairman of Hanoi Innovation & Startup Association (HANISA), President of Vietnam Higher Education Network on Entrepreneurship and Innovation (VNEI)…

In 2017, he was selected as the Ambassador of Vietnam by the World Innovation Forum (WIF).

Associate Professor Pham Ngoc Nam is the Vice Dean of College of Engineering and Computer Science, VinUniversity, Vingroup.  He earned his bachelor’s degree in Electronics Engineering from Hanoi University of Science and Technology (HUST) in 1997 and his M.S. in Artificial Intelligence and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from KU Leuven, Belgium in 1999 and 2004 respectively. His research interests include Artificial Intelligence, QoS/QoE management for multimedia applications, reconfigurable computing and low-power embedded system design.

Prior to joining VinUni in 2018, he was with Hanoi University of Science and Technology where he served as Vice Dean at School of Electronics and Telecommunications. With this position, he has gained a lot of experience in CDIO based curriculum development and AUN-QA quality assessment at program level. He attended various trainings, both at home and abroad, on curriculum development and accreditation, quality assurance, higher education leadership development, active teaching/learning. He was a visiting scholar at Cornell University from 9/2020 to 8/2024, at the University of Aizu, Japan in 2015, at Chulalongkon University, Thailand in 2013, and at University of Wisconsin at Madison, USA in 2009.

Vi Nguyen is HR Manager of Endress+Hauser International – Asia Pacific locating in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Endress+Hauser are a leading supplier of products, solutions and services for industrial process measurement and automation. We offer comprehensive process solutions for flow, level, pressure, analysis, temperature, recording and digital communications across a wide range of industries, optimizing processes with regards to economic efficiency, safety and environmental protection. With around 17,000 employees worldwide, we take pride in being a family-owned company. We believe that the competence and motivation of our employees are crucial to our future success. The Endress+Hauser International – Asia Pacific is the contact partner for local sales partners in over 14 countries across the Asia Pacific region.

Ms. Nguyen joined Endress+Hauser in 2014 when the team was around 10 people. Since then, the team has expanded to over 60 people with offices now established in the Philippines, Hong Kong, Myanmar, and Taiwan. She is currently heading up HR function across these countries. Her leadership involves managing a wide range of HR responsibilities, from workforce planning, leading HR strategies to fostering a collaborative environment across different geographical locations.

Her academic background is Bachelor of Arts in English and Business Administration at Ho Chi Minh City University of Foreign Languages – Information Technology (HUFLIT). Ms. Nguyen is also pursuing her Master of Human Resource Management at Massey University.

Dr. Nguyen Thi Thu Thuy is a policy maker in national higher education and an accomplished researcher with a passion for advancing the internationalization of education. With a Ph.D. in Education and a Graduate Certificate in Tertiary Management, Dr. Thuy has spent over 17 years driving impactful reforms in educational governance, system dynamics, and the vital university-industry relationship both at national and institutional levels.

As the Deputy Director of the Higher Education Department at the Ministry of Education & Training (MOET), she plays a pivotal role in shaping policies, developing curricula, and ensuring quality assurance across Vietnam’s higher education landscape. Dr. Thuy’s expertise and contributions have positioned her as a thought leader in fostering innovation and excellence within Vietnam’s higher education system.

Dr. Elisabeth Holuscha is a highly qualified organisational sociologist who completed her PhD at the University of Marburg on the topic “The Concept of Fachhochschule – A Success or a Failure?”. With her extensive knowledge and vast experience in science management, she successfully works as a consultant at Plan W. Currently, she supports scientific organizations, mainly Universities of Applied Sciences in the formulation and implementation of strategies, as well as in the successful acquisition of external funding.

Until 2018, Dr. Holuscha headed the “KOMPASS” department at the Project Management Jülich (Research Centre Jülich). The “Competence Center for Analyses, Studies, and Strategies” advised various federal ministries. Under her leadership, KOMPASS developed innovative funding programs, evaluated existing programs, and facilitated internal processes in the context of organisational development.

Prior to this, Dr. Holuscha led the “Strategic Issues of Universities of Applied Sciences” department at the Project Management Jülich. In this position, she focused on the strategic and substantive realignment of funding guidelines in the area of “Research at Universities of Applied Sciences.”

For over a decade, Dr. Holuscha shaped the “International Affairs” division at TH Köln as the head of the department, where she played a key role in advancing the university’s internationalisation process.

Her extensive experience and commitment have also led her to serve as an evaluator, author, speaker, and moderator in various higher education policy contexts. Dr. Holuscha is an expert in Germany’s application-oriented dual higher education system, whose work and influence extend beyond her immediate areas of activity.

Dr. Do Thi Hai Ninh is a Senior Researcher Analyst at the School of International Business and Marketing, University of Economics, Ho Chi Minh City (UEH). She holds a Ph.D. in Business from the Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology and an M.S. in International Management and Business Administration from National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan. Dr Ninh has extensive experience in data analysis and is an expert in digitalization, innovation, creation, consumer behaviour, and technology. Her research focuses on various aspects of digitalization, education, consumer behavior, and e-commerce, particularly in the context of the digital economy. She has led and contributed to numerous research projects, including studies on the impact of innovation on SMEs, the Vietnamese entrepreneurial map, constructivist learning environments, and the influence of technology on consumer purchasing behaviour.

In her academic career, Dr. Ninh has held a key role as Marketing Program Director at UEH. She has been instrumental in designing undergraduate and short courses, supervising dissertations, and promoting innovation in teaching methods. Dr. Ninh is also a prolific author, with publications in esteemed journals and presentations at international conferences. Her contributions to education and research have been recognized with multiple awards.

Ha brings over 16 years of experience in education projects to her role as Project Officer for the Digital Skills to Succeed (DS2S) project at GIZ Vietnam. This experience has provided her with a strong understanding of education, women’s rights, and labor rights issues within Vietnam. She holds a master’s degree in Linguistics from the Hanoi National University of Education.

As part of the DS2S project, Ha is focusing on capacity development and transformative education in higher education. She collaborates with public and private stakeholders and universities to foster exchange and networking, while also developing quality micro-credentials in Artificial Intelligence, Data, and Digital Entrepreneurship. The project aims to enhance employment-oriented digital skills among students in Vietnam.

Bui Thu Thuy is a Senior Project Manager in Education and Training. After studying and working in Germany, she returned to Vietnam to implement and develop the German Dual Vocational Training programs. Over the past eight years, Thuy has consulted and supported Vietnamese and international companies across sectors such as technical, logistics, and hospitality. Her work focuses on enhancing the quality of young Vietnamese employees through practical, hands-on training programs that bridge the gap between education and industry needs.

Dr. Nguyen Thi Mai Anh is a lecturer at the School of Economics and the Program Director for the joint MBA program between HUST and Leipzig University at Hanoi University of Science and Technology. She holds an MBA from Swinburne University (Australia) and a PhD in Economics and Social Sciences from the University of Fribourg, Switzerland. Her teaching expertise covers a broad range of marketing disciplines, including Marketing Management, Service Marketing, and Market Research, along with Research Methodologies and International Business Negotiation.

Dr. Mai Anh’s research centers on consumer behavior, ESG and corporate sustainability, service quality, and the motivation of frontline employees. She has published over 40 works in the field of management and serves as an international consultant on projects funded by prominent global development organizations, such as the World Bank (WB), UNIDO, ADB, and UNDP.

Pablo Barriga is an experienced academic and project coordinator, currently coordinating the Saxon Science Liaison Office (SSLO) in Vietnam. He plays a key role in promoting academic cooperation between Saxon and Vietnamese universities, focusing on exchange programs, research collaborations, and fostering university-business linkages. Since 2022, he has conducted teaching activities in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, specializing in research methodology, statistical analysis, and quantitative research. Over the last three years, Pablo has been deeply involved in various academic and research activities at the SEPT Competence Center at Leipzig University. His work involved been actively involved in managing international projects, fostering university-business collaborations, and supporting innovation management initiatives in underdeveloped regions. His work is supported by funding bodies like DAAD, with whom he has coordinated and executed numerous international academic projects.

Pablo’s background combines industrial engineering with an MBA focused on the development of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). This interdisciplinary expertise complements his extensive experience in academic leadership, research supervision, and international project management, collaborating with universities in particularly Germany, Vietnam, Latin America and other regions.

As Vice President at Foreign Trade University (FTU), Assoc. Prof. Pham Thu Huong is responsible for undergraduate training, postgraduate training, international cooperation, entrepreneurship and innovation, business cooperation, student affairs and accounting. Her work coordinates units towards developing new disciplines/curricula and complementary/extra-curricular activities as well as connecting resources from all stakeholders towards the goal of creating an environment that encourages independent thinking, resilience, and harmony to train excellent young leaders.

Assoc. Prof. Pham Thu Huong is an outstanding leader in the fields of higher education management, innovation, and financial management in education. Prior to being FTU’s Vice President, she was the Head of Finance and Planning Department and then the Head of Undergraduate Training & Management Department. She was also the Head of Academic Affairs Department at Vietnam – Japan Human Resources Development Institute (VJCC), the Chairwoman of Labour Union of Foreign Trade University and held key positions in various international projects. With more than 20 years’ experience, Assoc. Prof. Pham Thu Huong’s contribution to the higher education sector extends beyond these roles.

Mr. Bach-Duong Pham is the director of the Office of International Affairs (OIA) at HCMC University of Technology and Education (HCMUTE), the official representative person of HCMUTE to all international partners in fostering collaborations for the university.

During his 23 years serving at HCMUTE and the academic industry, Mr. Duong had experienced in several positions as a senior lecturer and co-founding member of the mechatronics program at HCMUTE; vice-dean for corporate affairs of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering; director of International Education Exchange Center where the joint-training programs with overseas partners were founded; he was also the core founding member of the 13 English-taught undergraduate programs at HCMUTE when he served in the Faculty for High Quality Training as a vice dean; prior to the current position at OIA, Mr. Duong was the Director of Innovation and Startup. With his experience as an entrepreneur, he supported students in various faculties to win all highest titles in the National Startup competition for students (SVSTARTUP) and a First prize for Student Innovation in the Asia.

Mr. Duong received a Master of Engineering in Mechatronics from Asian Institute of Technology – Thailand and a Master of Business Administration from Bolton University – UK. He is also an entrepreneur and a USAID certified trainer in Design Thinking and Product Design and Development.

Prof. Dr. René Thiele is the President of VGU, a public Vietnamese University developed in close partnership with the German Government, Prof. Thiele is leading the university for its strategy and development not only in Vietnam but also reaches out to South East Asia.

VGU is committed to excellence in research and teaching in the fields of smart engineering, information technology as well as business and economics relevant to both local and global sustainable development. Currently, VGU offers 20 programs in which 9 bachelor programs and 11 master programs.

Before taking this position in April 2024, Professor René Thiele has held positions in academic management, scientific research and international cooperation such as Acting President and Vice President academic and international affairs at Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences and participated in many scientific research activities throughout his career.

Ngoc Lan Thi Dang, Ph.D., is currently Director of the Language Center and Foundation Year of Vietnamese-German University. Dr. Dang is also the Vice President of the Scientific Board of Nam Viet Institute of Education Sciences based in Ho Chi Minh City (https://rises.edu.vn/en/scientific-board/). She earned her Master’s degree in Educational Management and Human Resource Development at the University of Sydney in Australia and her doctoral degree in Higher, Adult, and Lifelong Education at Michigan State University (MSU) in the United States. Her research interests are in gender equality, women and leadership in academia, transcultural women’s leadership, global citizenship, female students in STEM, and transnational higher education.

Dr. Dang can be reached by:

• Email: lan.dtn@vgu.edu.vn/ ngoclandang72@gmail.com
• ResearchGate: Ngoc Lan Thi Dang; or
• Google Scholar: Ngoc Lan Thi Dang

Dr. Tran Binh Dai is a lecturer and the academic coordinator of the MBA program at the Vietnamese-German University, with a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, Thailand. With a strong commitment to bridging academic research and practical skills, Dr. Dai actively contributes to the development of university programs that better equip graduates for the workforce, emphasizing employability and fostering sustainable career success.

Dr. Tran Ngoc Tien is currently a lecturer at the Language Center and Foundation Year, Vietnamese-German University.  He has almost 20 years of experience in teaching and researching in the fields of English language, education, and culture.

Dr. Tran Ngoc Tien holds two master’s degrees (Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, Japan, and Edith Cowan University, Australia) and a Ph.D. from Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University.

During his work and studies, he gained the Japanese government’s Monbukagakusho (MEXT) scholarship for both master’s and doctoral programs and he has published a couple of scientific articles in the fields of language teaching, educational attainment, and job satisfaction.

Research interests/Field expertise:

• English language teaching
• Educational attainment
• Education for underprivileged children
• Job satisfaction and work motivation

La Thu Thuy serves as the Head of the Logistics Management and Multimodal Transport Department at Ho Chi Minh City University of Transport, a leading institution in Vietnam, recognized for its comprehensive programs in transport and related industries. The university is distinguished by its focus on research, industry collaboration, and hands-on training, preparing students with the expertise required to thrive in Vietnam’s rapidly evolving transportation sector.

After spending time in Japan for the master’s degree, Thuy returned to Vietnam to further her academic career as a lecturer and researcher at the Vietnam Logistics Research and Development Institute. She has actively contributed to research projects sponsored by the World Bank and various provinces in Vietnam. In addition to her academic role, Thuy is also a key figure in project development at Hop Hung Industrial Parks Infrastructure Investment Joint Stock Company.

Dr. Dung brings over 19 years of experience in R&D and engineering to his current role as the Head of R&D Department in Product Engineering and Industry 4.0 at Bosch Global Software Technologies. He holds a Master’s and a PhD in Engineering with full European scholarship and an MBA from Australia. Dr. Dung has spent over a decade studying and working overseas before joining Bosch, where he has been for the last 10 years. In his current position, he leads a team of 180 engineers and is responsible for the daily operation, strategy, business excellence. His expertise spans across academics, aerospace, automotive, semiconductor, and IT industries, with a focus on areas such as manufacturing, quality, lean, design, simulation, product development, coding, IoT, Industry 4.0, digital transformation, innovation, program management, and business development. He is also leading university collaborations related to innovation. He is responsible for collaborating on scientific research and innovation with universities, research institutes, and startups. In addition, he plays a crucial role in collaborating with universities to train master’s and doctoral students for Bosch BGSW Vietnam, with the aim of developing high-quality human resources for Bosch. Furthermore, he serves as a mentor, coach, and trainer in technical skills, soft skills, and leadership skills. Dr. Dung is also actively involved in social and community activities, particularly in building up competency for students and helping them bridge the gap between academia and the enterprise. His passion for new technologies and smart products enables him to engage in continuous learning and apply it in his daily work.