The University has strengthened its international engagement through a new partnership supporting research, education and policy development in Vietnam
By Chris Lines (PR & Communications Manager), Published
In December 2025, Professor Raj Rajarajan from City St George’s School of Science & Technology was invited to present a keynote at the International Conference on Data Economy in Hung Yen, Vietnam.
The conference followed a September Round Table, at which Professor Feng Li of Bayes Business School, presented his research into the data economy to the National Data Association, in the presence of the Lord Mayor of the City of London and the British Ambassador and Consul. The conference was themed ‘New Ideas – New Policies – New Opportunities’.
During the event, Vietnam’s National Data Association signed a Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with several partners, including City St George’s, the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), the University of London, and British University Vietnam (BUV).
The aim is to help Vietnam build the skills, knowledge and systems needed for a strong and trusted data economy over the long term. The agreements set out plans for the partners to work together on research, policy advice and education.
For City St George’s, the new MoU builds on partnerships already in place. In 2024, the University signed a strategic agreement with BUV and the Centre for Foreign Affairs and Language Training in Ho Chi Minh City, focused on widening access to high-quality education and strengthening academic links between the UK and Vietnam.
The latest agreement goes further, aligning education and research more closely with Vietnam’s national priorities. At the conference, three areas were highlighted as central to the country’s data strategy: research in data economics and valuation, cooperation on data governance and security, and the development of high-quality talent.
Professor Raj Rajarajan, who is Professor of Security Engineering with the Department of Engineering, said:
“Vietnam’s digital natives constitute a rapidly expanding cohort of nearly 40 per cent of the population, whose identities, social practices, and economic aspirations are profoundly shaped by ubiquitous connectivity.
“As early adopters of mobile-first technologies, they are not merely consumers of digital culture but active agents who reinterpret tradition, accelerate innovation, and drive Vietnam’s transition from a knowledge‑based economy to data economy.
“This is creating greater opportunities for City St George’s to contribute towards innovation in AI and new business models that will be transformative and position Vietnam as a leader in the next generation of deep-tech innovation and enterprise.”
Dr Sionade Robinson, Vice-President (Enterprise, Engagement & Employability) at City St George’s, said:
“Vietnam is a fast-growing, professionalising economy and our faculty have a lot to offer as policies and strategies are developing to maintain growth in the ASEAN region. Our developing relationships and strengthening profile are creating exciting opportunities for City St George’s research at the edge of practice, employability focused education and professional learning.”
These are areas where City St George’s has established strengths. Known for its focus on professional education and real-world impact, the University brings experience in translating academic research into practical outcomes. The partnership creates opportunities for students and researchers to explore how data is managed, protected and governed, and how those decisions shape economies and public life.
Working with Vietnamese partners also offers valuable perspective. Vietnam is moving quickly to build its digital infrastructure, and collaboration allows both sides to learn from each other as policies and systems evolve in real time.
British University Vietnam plays a central role in this work. As a leading provider of British-style higher education in the country, BUV has expanded its focus beyond teaching to include research and skills development that support national economic goals.
At the conference, which attracted more than 350 delegates, Professor Raymond Gordon, Vice-Chancellor and President of British University Vietnam, described the data economy as more than a technical challenge. He said it is “a new national development architecture, closely linked to how a country designs its infrastructure, governance frameworks, talent pipelines and trust mechanisms”.
That perspective helps explain the role universities can play. With strengths across health, business, law and professional education, City St George’s approaches data not just as a technical resource, but as something that shapes policy, opportunity and social outcomes.
The relationship with BUV also extends beyond research. In October 2025, the two institutions signed a separate agreement to strengthen study pathways, enabling BUV graduates to progress to master’s degrees in London. Cultural immersion programmes and joint projects have already given students and staff first-hand experience of working in Vietnam’s fast-changing digital environment.
