Project Development: 1. Curriculum design and update

Based on the outcomes of the Project Preparation, 24 courses in the fields of MMS that need to be upgraded or built will be identified. The Project Development involves the design and integration of the 24 uppraded/built courses into the current education programmes in chemistry and physics of the four VPU. This will take place during the 3 years of the project (2 courses each year at each VPU). These 24 courses will be taught by the professors from EPU, who are also in charge of preparing the syllabi of the courses they are involved in. For every course, at least 1 key lecturer from each VPU, who will be in charge of taking over the course in the following years, will intensively follow.

In addition, in order to reinforce the staff capacity, each year 3 staff members from each VPU will be sent to an EPU for 2 months for skills training and following courses. The knowledge and experiences accrued from their visits will be applied to improve the education programmes at the VPU.

At the end of the project, 4 updated education brochures are released at the four VPU.

• Task 1: Identify courses to be upgraded or newly built

During the workshop (WP1), the current shortcomings in the education programmes of each VPU will be discussed. Based on the outcomes of the discussion, the committee will identify 24 courses on MMS that need to be improved or newly built to integrate into the current education programmes in chemistry/physics at the four VPU, which will be divided into 6 courses for each VPU.

• Task 2: Upgrade existing courses and build new courses.

24 syllabi for 24 upgraded/built courses will be designed by experts and professors from EPU and VPU on the basis of the gaps in the current education programmes, local staff capability and student level, and the feasibility of integration into the current curricula. The integration of the 24 courses into the education curricula of the four VPU will take place in 3 years, which will be divided equally for each year at each VPU.

• Task 3: Identify EPU professors to VN, VPU staff to EU.

Based on the outcomes of WP1, along with EPU, the four VPU will identify EPU professors who will give lectures at each VPU and select Vietnamese staff members who will visit EPU for two-month studying and training.

• Task 4 : Arrange travels

Each year, 2 professors from EPU will give lectures at each VPU for 10 days, which makes a total number of 8 travels from Europe to Vietnam.  In the opposite direction, a total number of 36 staff members from the four VPU will visit the EPU for 2 months.  The local coordinator from Quy Nhon University will work together with the project coordinator from KU Leuven on the time arrangement, visa application, international and domestic transportations and accomdation for every travel.

• Task 5: Deliver courses in Vietnam

Each VPU will be responsible for the preparation for the lectures at its institution, including staff and students, classroom, course materials distribution, evaluation and feedback collection. In addition, each VPU will be in charge of sending their key lecturers to follow the courses delivered by EPU professors at their university and at other VPU.

• Task 6 : VPU staff visit EU

Each year, each VPU will be responsible for sending three staff members to the EPU for two-month studying and training. Staff members are expected to follow various courses to improve their knowledge, experience and skills.

• Task 7 : Release the upgraded education programmes

Depending on the university programmes, the upgraded curricula will be implemented immediately or only from 1-2 years after the end of the project.

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