Upskilling academic staff
Through the Innovation Academy, the VIBE programme has upskilled and inspired over 2,500 academic staff (VIBERs) across Vietnam and Laos. Over the seven-year project, these educators have created a cascading impact on an estimated 250,000 students — bringing transformational education to life through creative teaching practices. This initiative aligns with the government of Vietnam’s key development priorities of Entrepreneurship, Innovation, and Creativity. VNU has integrated innovation in education into its strategic plan, and many VIBE graduates have gone on to lead new initiatives. Additionally, a vibrant peer-to-peer community (VNU VIBErs) has been established, fostering strong connections with a network of like-minded Irish peers.
VIBE Impact By Numbers
VIBE Impact By Numbers:
🌏 2 Countries
Vietnam & Laos
📚 7 Years
Of Partnership-led Innovation
👩🏫 2,500+
Educators Trained
🎓 250,000+
Students Impacted
🧩 9
New ESD Modules Created
🏅 23
VIBERs Received VNU Excellent Teaching & Learning Awards
🏫 18
Universities Driving Sustainability Projects
🤝 100+
Community & SME Projects Delivered
🎖️ 1
Development Cause Medal Awarded to Prof. Suzi Jarvis
Sustainable Development Goals
VIBE supports the work of UCD and the Government of Ireland towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. In 2019, Prof. Suzi Jarvis and Dr. Colman Farrell were proud to accept medals on behalf of the Innovation Academy, in recognition of our work “for the development cause of VNU”.
VIBE is supported by Irish Aid through the Embassy of Ireland, Vietnam, promoting the reciprocal relationship between the two countries and highlighting the value of international partnership.
Take a look below at our most recent updates from the VIBE Partnership
2025 VIBE Visiting Academics to UCD
As part of the VIBE collaboration, faculty members from Vietnam National University (VNU) regularly visit UCD to co-facilitate undergraduate block week modules alongside UCD Innovation Academy facilitators. This year, we were delighted to welcome seven visiting academics to UCD Innovation Academy. Their presence enriches the student experience and fosters meaningful cross-cultural collaboration. You can meet some of our visiting academics here and learn more about their backgrounds and contributions to the programme.
UCD Prof. Suzi Jarvis Honoured for Advancing Sustainable Development in Vietnam
Prof. Suzi Jarvis, UCD Innovation Academy Director and PI of the VIBE Project, received the Development Cause Medal from former VNU President Son, (currently Minister for Education) for the contribution to sustainable development in VNU and Vietnam.
In recognition of the valuable contributions to the sustainable development of VNU as well as to the promoting of partnership between VNU and University College Dublin (UCD), and beyond, the relationship between Ireland and Vietnam, On October 31, 2019, VNU President Nguyen Kim Son presented Medals “For the Development Cause of VNU” to Prof. Suzi Jarvis Founding Director of UCD Innovation Academy.
See more here
Educators Share the Impact of the VIBE Project
A video featuring testimonials from participating educators illustrating how the VIBE Project transformed their mindset and skillset (in Vietnamese)
Hear from the educators here
Empowering Educators: Scaling Innovation & Sustainability in Vietnam and Laos
A series of VNU VIBERs delivered training-for-trainers courses to enhance entrepreneurial mindsets and sustainability competencies for Educators in different universities across Vietnam and Laos.
Showcasing the cascading impact as educators integrate new methods into wider education curricula and upskill their colleagues:
Driving Local Impact: VIBERs Tackle Sustainability Challenges in Da Bac
VIBERs engaged with the local community in Da Bac, Vietnam, to address sustainability challenges, particularly around climate action (SDG13), quality education (SDG4), supporting poverty reduction (SDG1).
Video Here
CoolVietnam: A Lasting Legacy of the VIBE Project
A social enterprise (CoolVietnam) was developed by one participating educator as illustrative for the long-term impact of the VIBE Project. Coolvietnam provides cultural and creative workshops, events, classes, experiences for Vietnamese and foreigners with a goal of fostering a more sustainable community. The motivation for establishing the social enterprise, as well as the pedagogy and curriculum, are replicated or modified from the original VIBE project.
See the CoolVietnam Facebook Here
EMPOWER ME: Enhancing Education & Wellbeing for Children in Hanoi
A community project (EMPOWER ME) was initiated by a group of VIBERs during the Covid-19 pandemic to provide Sketchnote and English instruction to a Special School for Disability Children in Hanoi. This initiative is beneficial for the mental health of the students (SDG3). Design Thinking and Entrepreneurial Mindset learned from the original VIBE project were utilized for EMPOWER ME.
See Video Here
“[The programme] ignited an active movement of innovative training activities, embedded a culture of innovation and contributed to the innovative ecosystem at VNU. A vibrant community of entrepreneurial educators has been established with a close connection with a like-minded network in Ireland.”
For further information about VIBE, please contact:
Eleanor Kelly
Head of Strategy and Partnerships
