Vietnamese lecturers graduated from Finland-Vietnam IPP2’s training

23 lecturers from 6 universities from Ho Chi Minh City has graduated from the Training of Trainer ToT-HCM course organized by Finland-Vietnam Innovation Partnership Programme Phase 2 (IPP2) co-organized together with Saigon Innovation Hub – SIHUB (part of HCMC Department of Science and Technology).

The ToT-HCMC Graduation Ceremony took place on 17 July 2017 at Liberty Central Saigon Citypoint Hotel, Ho Chi Minh City.

On the same day, IPP2 has also organized two other activities: ‘Local E & I Agenda’, a co-creation workshop for TOT students and projects funded by IPP2; and IPP Alumni Kick-off event to launch the network of alumni for members and contribute ideas on activities for the coming time.

The training content was based on IPP2 own Entrepreneurship & Innovation (E&I) Curriculum. In the past, IPP has organized Training of Trainers 2 (ToT2), also based on E&I curriculum, in collaboration with SIHUB to build capacity for training institutions and enhance the role of the university in HCMC start-up ecosystem.

Ultimately, the training helps to improve mind-set, and shapes and encourages a culture of innovation for Vietnamese start-ups in general and HCMC in particular.

Today the event is part of IPP2 Exit Strategy, aiming at the long-term goal of introducing E&I programs in Vietnamese universities and to create the groundwork for innovative ecosystem formation in university campuses.

The ToT-HCM course consisted in a two-week of training (Bootcamp), in addition to two training workshops. Among the participants, 23 trainers were selected from 6 local universities. This included Hoa Sen University, Nguyen Tat Thanh University, University of Natural Sciences, Vietnam National University in HCMC, University of Labour and Social Affairs in HCMC, Vietnam-Germany University and University of Foreign Trade of HCMC. In addition, there were 5 SIHUB’s full-time officers in charge of supporting start-ups, who will become the driving force for linking and implementing partnerships in the ecosystem of start-ups in HCMC.

Attending the graduation ceremony and awarding certificates to graduates were leaders of IPP2 and SIHUB governing bodies, including: H.E. Mr. Ilkka-Pekka Simila – Ambassador of Finland to Vietnam, Mrs. Tran Thi Thu Huong — IPP Programme Director and Assistant to Minister of Science and Technology, Mr. Nguyen Viet Dung — Director of Department of Science and Technology City, Lauri Laakso – Chief Technical Advisor IPP2 and Mr. Huynh Kim Tuoc – Director of SIHUB. Also attending the graduation ceremony where leaders and representatives from local universities.

After graduating from ToT-HCM, the innovation lecturers will build and implement E&I curriculum and start-up support programs for their own school in various forms, in accordance with needs of each university. They will be the key agents of change to promote a sustainable and healthy development of start-up ecosystem in HCMC and Vietnam.

About IPP
Vietnam-Finland Innovation Partnership Program (IPP) is an Official Development Assistance (ODA) program financed jointly by the governments of Vietnam and Finland. IPP is in its second and final phase running through 2014-2018 with EUR 11 million budget. IPP targets long-term benefits for the Vietnamese economy and E&I ecosystem. The program works with key national and international partners to scale up practical E&I training as well as to improve local support mechanisms and programs for Vietnamese new innovative companies. IPP connects key actors in the ecosystem in order to build a strong foundation for Vietnam’s next-generation entrepreneurs and promotes partnerships between Vietnamese and other, particularly Finnish businesses.

About Sihub
Saigon Innovation Hub is a strategic entity of Ho Chi Minh City’s Department of Science and Technology to implement its activities and policies regarding entrepreneurship and innovation. The Hub bridges the entrepreneurial community of the City with the supporting resources from the Department and its many international and local partners.

Source: Finland-Vietnam Innovation Partnership Programme Phase 2

About Joakim Persson

Freelance business and lifestyle photojournalist

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