On November 27, 2017, Cornell University, on behalf of the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business, entered into an academic consulting contract with the Vingroup conglomerate of Hanoi, Vietnam. The goal was to to support Vingroup in its aspiration to establish the first private, not-for-profit Vietnamese university, according to international standards.
During this seven-year initiative, The Cornell-VinUniversity Project Team, based in the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business, managed this collaboration. Building and supporting faculty and leadership teams to validate and assure curriculum quality and to guide VinUniversity toward international accreditation, the team coordinated faculty consulting on the Cornell campus, virtually, and at the newly constructed VinUniversity campus in Hanoi.
VinUniversity now includes Colleges of Business, Engineering, and Health Sciences. Cornell led the consultative collaboration for the Business and Engineering Colleges. The University of Pennsylvania advised on the Health Sciences College.
Cornell was involved with every aspect of VinUniversity’s development, spanning infrastructure, governance, faculty hiring, and curriculum development, setting foundations to position VinUniversity as a world-class teaching and research university, in accordance with QS 5-star rating standards. The first cohort of under 300 students graduated in July 2024. Four Accelerated Degree programs continue.
Public engagement is central to Cornell’s land-grant mission, and this unique opportunity extended that mission internationally.
"The goal of VinUniversity is to be a university of the highest international standards in research, teaching, and training for students both at the undergraduate and graduate levels, serving as a magnet for the most talented faculty and students from all over the world."
Rohit Verma, Founding Provost, VinUniversity, Protem Committee Member, VinUniversity Project, Former Dean of External Relations, Cornell SC Johnson College of Business
2017
Cornell enters into a multi-year academic consulting contract with VinAcademy of Vingroup.
2018
Official signing ceremony between VinAcademy and Cornell. VinUniversity begins construction of campus in Hanoi, VN,
2019
Multiple Cornell faculty and leadership trips to Hanoi, VN. The Prime Minister of Vietnam officially approves VinUniversity's establishment.
2020
Series of virtual engagements by Cornell faculty and staff. VinUniversity celebrates inaugural academic year and welcomes its first cohort of students.
2021
Continued virtual capacity building with Cornell faculty and experts. VinUniversity completes first academic year and accepts its second student cohort.
2022
Several collaborations between faculty and students of both universities. VinUni sends multiple Visiting Fellows to Cornell during spring and fall semesters.
2023
Collaborations prioritize research capacity building. VinUni welcomes its fourth cohort of students, and sends multiple students to Cornell
2024
VinUni celebrates its first graduation of 132 students, and becomes the youngest university ever to receive a QS 5-Star rating.
Major Accomplishments
Assisted VinUni with ranking and accreditation standards, such as QS and AACSB, and ABET. Established four ongoing Accelerated Degree Programs at Cornell, at Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management, Bowers College of Computing and Information Science, and College of Engineering
Following the Cornell Study Away Program on the VinUni campus, four VinUni students attended one exchange semester, and 20 VinUni students attended three one-week immersion programs on the Cornell campus.
Conducted one-week VinUni faculty immersion programs within Cornell’s Arts & Sciences, Engineering, and Business colleges. Four VinUni faculty members came to Cornell as two-semester Visiting Fellows.
Developed and provided professional development training for VinUniversity leadership, faculty & staff in Hanoi and in Ithaca.
Assisted in the development of VinUniversity strategies in admissions, marketing, student affairs, library management, IT, research, Entrepreneurship, Community Service Learning, Diversity & Inclusion, Institutional Research & Planning, External and Corporate Engagement.
Spearheaded the recruiting process, which led to the selection of the Founding Provost, Deans in Business Management and Engineering, and the initial faculty for three colleges. Read more on this process here.
Assisted in the development, and validated VinUniversity’s curriculum in Business, Hospitality Management, Real Estate, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, General Science, Communication, Psychology, and Economics.
Developed and participated in the design charrette focusing on the high-level strategy of a world-class university. Assisted in the review and approval of campus design plans and infrastructure planning.
Provided input and feedback to VinUni leadership on university-level strategies, such as 5-year planning, research strategy, faculty hiring strategy.
Testimonials
Mark Campbell is a professor at the Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Cornell University’s College of Engineering. He has been advising VinUniversity in everything from initial faculty hiring recommendations to research strategy to curriculum development, in both mechanical and electrical engineering.
“VinUniversity is such a unique experience – we worked with the folks at Vingroup and at VinUniversity on designing a university that will be one of the top universities in Vietnam and really in South East Asia and the world, not just in the curriculum but also in other aspects like student experience, faculty development, etcetera,” Campbell said.
The academics Campbell consulted on are modeled on Cornell’s curriculum but modified to provide concentrations and minors that are more locally relevant to Vietnamese industries. “We interviewed top local companies to see what fields they are hiring from in Vietnam…so it grounds the technical education VinUni students are getting into real-world problems.”
Campbell reflected on his overall experience while working on this academic consulting project for the past three years. “I have very much enjoyed working with VinUniversity and Vingroup and love to see how it is evolving over time. It is something that I think we are all very proud of.”
Joseph Halpern, Professor of Computer Science at Cornell University, has been deeply involved in designing VinUniversity’s Computer Science curriculum, alongside his curriculum development director counterpart.
Speaking about his curriculum development work, Halpern said, “We designed the undergraduate and master’s programs and thought hard on what would be appropriate minors and what would be appropriate concentrations for CS majors. We looked at the curricula of leading universities anddesigned it to be very similar. So that means somebody coming with a strong degree from VinUniversity will have the preparation to go to graduate school anywhere else because they will have taken a comparable curriculum to any other leading university in the States or Asia.”
Through his academic consulting trips to Vietnam, he has continued to share his passion for the field of Computer Science, participating in multiple academic workshops and roundtables. Virtually, Halpern has continued to inspire current VinUniversity students through a series of online distinguished lectures. “In my opinion, VinUni has the strongest computer science program of any university in Vietnam.” Speaking to current and future VinUni students, Halpern said, “Computer Science will open many doors for you.”
Ed McLaughlin, Interim Dean, and Professor of Marketing Emeritus of the Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics & Management at the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business, has been a part of the Cornell-VinUniversity academic collaboration from its inception. He has seen the project evolve from the initial charrette to curriculum development, to advising in Business Management programs.
“Colleagues from VinUniversity and Cornell were presented with an unprecedented opportunity: presented with a blank piece of paper in Hanoi, we were asked to create a vision, curriculum, and set of policies for a new, distinctive and elite university that would become world-class.” – McLaughlin recalls.
Working alongside the project team at Cornell and with his counterparts in Vietnam, McLaughlin has enjoyed learning from a new set of perspectives and cultures. McLaughlin remarks that “My time advising on curriculum development was much different since we were focusing our lenses on an “academic startup” environment. We looked at the courses we have (at Cornell), we also looked at similar courses at other leading universities across the United States and the world, and we picked those courses that we thought were most appropriate to build a strong foundation in each of those major areas.”
Actively involved in this academic development project, McLaughlin is impressed with the overall pace VinUniversity is setting on its path to excellence, and he looks forward to his next visit to Hanoi, to finally see the complete campus first-hand.
Professor Douglas Stayman, an Associate Professor at the Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management in the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business, has been collaborating with VinUniversity on business management and specifically business leadership.
Professor Stayman has traveled to Vietnam three times for this academic consulting project and was thrilled to visit the region. “I have enjoyed learning about Vietnamese culture, and value the positive role that the Cornell team plays while building VinUniversity,” Stayman said.
Stayman’s connection with the Cornell-VinUniversity Project even expanded to the Cornell EMBA students. As the leader of the EMBA Global Business Study class, Stayman worked with colleagues at VinUniversity to transform a canceled in-person visit into a comprehensive virtual exploration of Vietnam, including virtual meetings with Vietnamese industry members.
“VinUniversity is truly unique,” said Stayman. “It is trying to bring a very international education model, but do it within Vietnam, within what is appropriate for Vietnam industry, and Vietnamese society. And that we think is very powerful… something that is evolving.”
Gary Thompson is the Burton M. (Skip) Sack ’61 Professor in Food and Beverage Management, Professor of Services Operations Management at the School of Hotel Administration, and Area Coordinator for Operations, Technology & Information Management with the SC Johnson College of Business. Thompson joined the academic consulting project early on, first serving as the VinUniversity faculty director for Hospitality Management, before transitioning into his current advisor role.
During his curriculum development work, Thompson described the Cornell curriculum as the template for his work with VinUniversity but stressed the importance of adaptations. Speaking to how he envisions the Hospitality curriculum at VinUniversity, Thompson said, “Any curriculum that is static and pulled out as a model to all different countries in the world, is missing something. It is missing that customization and taking advantage of the skillset of the people that have been hired at the university to deliver the content and engage with the students in a meaningful way.” As VinUniversity evolves, he looks forward to seeing how this customization transforms its Hospitality curriculum.
Thompson has enjoyed his experience advising on the academic collaboration, and he appreciates the team environment. “The organization of the Cornell-VinUni Project team at Cornell has been very helpful to keep deliverables on track and help VinUniversity reach its goals.” Thompson looks forward to seeing VinUni progress into an elite university.
Featured Collaborations
Leadership Immersion
VinUni leaders visited their Cornell counterparts in the spring of 2023. Attendees experienced campus life while learning more about leadership, entrepreneurship, program development and quality assurance, teaching innovation, student experience cultivation, faculty recruitment and retention and research management. The group ended the week at Cornell Tech in NYC to attend the Open Studio event and case competition.
Faculty Immersion
In 2023 and 2024, five faculty each from VinUni’s College of Arts and Sciences, College of Engineering and Computer Science, and College of Business Management experienced life on the Cornell campus in Ithaca for one week. Their itinerary included meetings and events focused on teaching innovation, learning strategies, and research projects, and more.
Student Immersion
Twenty-two VinUniversity students enjoyed a 10-day immersion at Cornell, experiencing curricular, extra-curricular, and personal development classes, meetings, events, and workshops to help acquaint them with campus life. Following the trip, the students worked with the VinUni student life team on several plans to enhance the VinUni student experience.
Early Faculty Development-Visiting Fellows
Select VinUniversity assistant professors were visiting fellows at Cornell, mentored by Cornell faculty members. VinUniversity faculty spent two semesters at the Cornell campus in Ithaca, developing their research and teaching programs alongside their Cornell mentors.
Virtual Research Mentorship
The Cornell-VinUniversity Research Mentorship (CVRM) program extended the research skills, capacity, and productivity of VinUniversity faculty, encouraged candid conversations between VinUniversity faculty and Cornell mentors about research topics and plans.
Curriculum Enhancement
Cornell faculty supported VinUni faculty teaching similar courses, participating in virtual meetings where the Cornell faculty members reviewed VinUni syllabi, shared teaching experiences and best practices, and provided helpful teaching materials.
Community-Engaged Projects
During the summers of 2022 and 2023, a select set of Cornell University-wide students were paired with VinUni students to collaborate on projects aiding the local non-governmental organization SCDI (Center for Supporting Community Development Initiatives). This organization works to improve quality of life for vulnerable marginalized populations in Vietnam. Read more about these projects here.
Online Learning with eCornell
The VinUni-eCornell Lifelong Learning Program was offered to select VinUni students, faculty, and staff to support their continued contributions to the academic success of VinUniversity. These participants had the opportunity to participate in non-credit online courses in topic, including leadership, business, technology, finance, project management, and more.
Accelerated Degrees - Ongoing
Four Accelerated Degree programs continue for VinUni students to complete two degrees in five years. Beginning their undergraduate studies at VinUni and finishing with a Cornell Master’s degree, students can earn the Master of Professional Studies (MPS) in Applied Economics and Management from the Dyson School, the MPS in Applied Statistics from the Bowers College of CIS, or Master of Science (MS) in Systems or Mechanical Engineering from the College of Engineering. Learn more about this ongoing collaboration here.
“Working with my VACEP team members in Vietnam to learn about adverse childhood experiences was enlightening, as I got the opportunity to learn about research practices in Vietnam and other nations. This experience has inspired me to seek more global and cross-cultural collaborations in research related to public health, medicine, and the social sciences. I hope to use the skills, knowledge, and experiences gained by conducting international research to guide me into becoming a life-long learner and supporter of research in community engagement projects.” – Sara Baaser ‘23 (Student in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cornell University)
“It has truly been priceless to be able to come to Vietnam, to work and more importantly learn alongside the whole VACEP team. I think it is one thing to study issues like adverse childhood experiences from the comfort of your own home, but having the opportunity to speak with community-based organizations and families who have been affected was eye-opening and reminded me of why I was doing this project in the first place.”- Veronica Zellers ‘24 (Student in the College of Human Ecology, Cornell University)
“This experience has touched my heart and I can only hope to leave a positive impact on the hearts of the people we met. Development is not an easy task, but I believe our efforts and goals to create change can align and eventually become reality.”- Sophia Su ‘24 (Student in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cornell University)
“During this project, the VACEP team members were given the opportunity to visit many places and families, which I believe has greatly influenced the way that I view my own environment. I would like to send my gratitude to both universities and SCDI for providing us this opportunity to reach out and grow with the community, by empathizing and sharing ACE victims’ stories.”- Yamada Homi (Medical Doctor Program ’26,College of Health and Sciences, VinUniveristy)
“These experiences have become some of my most valuables memories that I will cherish for a very long time.”-Nguyen Khanh Nghi–(N/A ‘24, College of Business Management, VinUniversity)
“I have high regards for the EFD Visiting Fellow Program (and program coordinators providing seamless support) and see benefits of welcoming a scholar from VinUni and collaborating in person although the benefits certainly go beyond collaborative outcomes – learning about different academic institutions and culture, engaging in intellectual conversations, and bonding on a personal level have been all meaningful.” – Cornell Mentor Prof. Helen Chun
“The first semester at Cornell has been quite challenging due to the Covid-19 pandemic and cold weather but is also rewarding and exciting. I manage to meet many leading professors, working with them on several interesting research projects. Also, I learn a lot from their teaching and gain some great tips for student engagement.” -VinUni Prof. Jenny Le
“ I have been involved in various research and teaching activities at Cornell. I have learned a number of skills from how to design an EE lab, how to run a lab, and how to generate ideas from group activities. It’s a precious experience that would help me greatly in my future academic career at VinUni.”- VinUni Prof. Cuong Do
“Very much enjoyed working on this and connecting with the VinUni faculty. Great job organizing the process and providing a useful framework for interaction.”
“I also sincerely let my counterpart know that I would be happy to just continue the conversation and some sharing with him going forward as a colleague.”
“It was a very nice relationship. I enjoyed assisting a fellow educator in course design!”
“We had a great conversation. I told her that I am more than happy to continue to be a resource and to answer any questions she may have about the course in the future.”
“The professor I worked with at VinUni was very happy to talk to me about the class and seemed grateful which made me happy that I chose to participate.”
“In today’s meeting with Cornell professor, I had the best learning experience of my life. I am deeply grateful to him.”
“This is an amazing opportunity for me to develop the course, helping the students to lead their futures with values and purposes.”
“What I like the most about this course is that the schedule and due date of the assignments are very flexible in time so that I can focus on my school work whilst studying this course without being burned out.”
“The course is very efficient and has helped me a lot!”
“The discussions between students were great. Most of what I have taken away from the class was from the discussion with other students.”
“The course is divided into well-organized units, easy to follow, professionally prepared PDF documents, and convenient for online learning.”
