In an era of deepening global integration, cultural and academic exchanges offer students boundless opportunities to connect and learn. To enhance understanding of the value inherent in student mobility models, the University of Economics and Law, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City (UEL) hosted the seminar “Value of international exchange towards learners” featuring Prof. Jacob Ryan Adams from the University of Stavanger (UiS), Norway on January 6, 2025.

Expert insights and practical experience

Chaired by Dr. Le Van Hinh, Head of the UEL Department of Cooperation and Development, the seminar opened with a candid discussion between Dr. Hinh and Prof. Adams on the opportunities and tools required to prepare UEL students for global integration. They also addressed the specific challenges UEL faces in implementing student exchange models.

While flagship majors such as Business Administration, International Economics, and Foreign Trade consistently send and receive exchange students in stable numbers, other strong programs (e.g. Finance & Banking, Information Systems, and Mathematical Economics) have seen lower participation. Law is a notable exception: inbound exchange students in UEL Faculty of Law outnumber outbound participants in recent years.

As a distinguished legal scholar, Prof. Adams introduced smart learning methods widely adopted in Norwegian education to help Law students overcome anxiety about studying abroad in English: “Studying law in Vietnamese is already challenging, I never imagined I could study law in English,” shared Nguyễn Thị Tú Anh, B23 International Trade Law student.

“Legal education requires more than hard work as it demands strategic learning. You should identify real-world cases and analyze how they function to retain knowledge effectively. For International Trade Law students, early exposure to a global environment is absolutely essential,” Prof. Adams emphasized.

“As a Law student, I never considered any destination other than France for short-term study, given our shared legal heritage and the joint Vietnamese-French Master’s program in Property Law between UEL and Panthéon-Assas Paris II. After today’s seminar, however, I realize that with true ability and passion, any country can enrich my expertise,” reflected Phương Minh Anh, B23 student from Talent Bachelor’s in Economic Law.

Founded in 2005, the UiS has rapidly established itself as one of Norway’s leading universities, distinguished by modern facilities and a multicultural campus that fosters student research and development. UEL is proud to be one of UiS’s four partner institutions in Vietnam. This seminar not only inspired UEL students but also reaffirmed UEL’s commitment to expanding international exchange opportunities and equipping students to thrive on the global stage.