Vietnam will have a Fulbright University.

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam has just signed a decision to establish Fulbright University Vietnam, abbreviated as FUV.

Fulbright University Vietnam is a 100% foreign-invested educational institution with legal personality, its own seal, and bank account, operating on a non-profit basis. The university is headquartered in Ho Chi Minh City and is subject to the state management of education and training by the Ministry of Education and Training and the territorial management of the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City.

Earlier in July 2015, during an official visit to the United States, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong witnessed the awarding of an investment certificate to Fulbright University Vietnam in New York. "I wholeheartedly agree with your view that developing FUV is for the people, for the cause of education and training. If we do this project well, we will contribute to strengthening and affirming the good relationship between Vietnam and the United States," the General Secretary said.

Thomas Vallely, President of the TUIV Foundation and Director of the Vietnam Program at Harvard University, stated that FUV will operate according to the essential governance principles of elite education: transparency and accountability, autonomy, talent development, mutual respect, and thought-provoking teaching.

Mr. Thomas Vallely, Director of the Vietnam Program at Harvard University, and his colleagues receive the investment certificate. Photo: VNA.

According to the plan, in the first five years, the school will focus on building three integrated training facilities: the Fulbright School of Public Policy and Management (offering graduate programs in public policy, law, finance and management, policy research and dialogue); the Fulbright School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (offering undergraduate and graduate programs in engineering, applied sciences, mathematics and computer science); and Fulbright University (offering undergraduate programs in social sciences and humanities).

In the Joint Statement on the Vietnam-US Vision dated July 1, 2015, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and US President Barack Obama acknowledged the efforts to promote educational cooperation between the two countries through the FUV initiative.

In June 2014, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung approved the investment plan for the FUV project. In December 2014, the US Congress approved legislation allowing the US government to provide approximately $20 million in funding for the FUV project in its initial phase.

According to VNE