Advisor, lecturer training hoped to boost entrepreneurship in universities

Young people at a co-working space in Hanoi (Photo: VNA)

The IPP2 has provided financial support to train 12 advisors and more than 150 lecturers about startups and innovation from 50 universities and educational organisations nationwide.

The second phase was co-funded with 11 million EUR by the Finnish and Vietnamese governments and implemented from 2014 to 2018. It tested a new model in making policies, training and capacity building and supporting startups and innovation so as to help develop a healthy E&I ecosystem.

Addressing a forum in Hanoi on September 20, Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Bui The Duy said the pioneering efforts of the IPP2 have helped change university leaders and lecturers’ awareness of the importance of an E&I ecosystem in universities while creating a network connecting lecturers from different schools.

It has also included E&I training programmes in universities’ curriculum, helping nurture an innovation and entrepreneurial culture among students, alumni and in society. This is very important because to integrate into the world, Vietnamese people need to step out of their comfort zone, dare to think different and accept differences as well as risks and failures to achieve success, he noted.

IPP2 Director Tran Thi Thu Huong said phase 2 of the programme has helped the country build E&I policies, provide funding for E&I projects, train startup mentors and central and local officials and promote an innovation partnership network with Finland.

She added the IPP2 has also cooperated with local universities to train lecturers, teach startup and innovation-related subjects in universities and boost the formation of an E&I ecosystem in schools./.

VNA