University of Turku Delivers Degree Programme in Cyber Security to Vietnam

​The Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City (VNUHCM) and Finland University, a transnational education company partly owned by the University of Turku, have agreed on the delivery of a degree programme in cyber security technology and management. The agreement spans five years and the three-year programme provides the students with a Bachelor’s degree in science. The University of Turku delivers the education.

VNUHCM is one of the largest universities in Vietnam and its multidisciplinary academic programme covers information technology, sciences, humanities, law, environmental studies, and more.

In recognizing Vietnam’s increasing need for IT graduates – particularly those skilled in cyber security – VNUHCM opted to find an international academic partner with whom it could further develop its ICT programme.

VNUHCM selected the Department of Future Technologies of the University of Turku, which has strong expertise in cyber security research and teaching, as its a partner . The Bachelor’s degree programme in ICT is tailored to the needs of VNUHCM’s undergraduate students with a specific focus on cyber security.¨

Studies in Vietnam and Finland

The goal is that the students complete the degree in three years, first in Vietnam and then in Finland.

– During the negotiations, we determined that a ‘two-plus-one’ model would be the best way for VNUHCM’s students to earn the degree. This means the students do their first two years of studies in Vietnam – with our lecturers visiting there and supporting participants through online learning platforms – and their third year they spend entirely at our department in Turku, says Docent Seppo Virtanen from the Department of Future Technologies at the University of Turku.

To build the BSc. programme, the Department will draw on its skills and experience from the Master’s Degree Programme in Information Security and Cryptography that it currently offers. The University’s academic team comprises of specialists in cyber security technology, mathematical cryptography, and information security management.

– Data security is critical in any society, so there is a great demand for this kind of education. There are massive job opportunities in the sector, and through this programme for VNUHCM we’re helping to educate the future specialists who will increasingly be needed in Vietnam and elsewhere, says Finland University Key Account Manager Ari Koski.

Future Experts to Vietnam

The new programme is Finland University’s first information technology agreement in Vietnam, and marks an important milestone in academic collaboration between the two countries.

– This agreement is part of something bigger. Internationalisation is very important for the development of the field. There is a lot of potential here for a future that will benefit not only both universities, but both countries as well, notes Seppo Virtanen.

– The University of Turku has invested in transnational education for some time and earlier we have provided especially Finnish teacher training that has a great brand all over the world. Our education in ICT has been very international for a long time and now we have a great initiative also for the ICT transnational education, says Professor Tapio Salakoski, the Dean of the University’s Faculty of Science and Engineering.

The BSc programme is the first degree programme in ICT and cyber security in Finland which is realised as a transnational education programme. Earlier, the University of Turku has agreed to deliver a Bachelor's degree programme in teacher education for a Namibian NSFAF foundation.

The University of Turku delegation included Sari Puustinen (Finland Futures Research Centre, University of Turku), Seppo Virtanen (Department of Future Technologies) and Tapio Salakoski (Faculty of Science and Engineering). They gave a presentation at Role of Information Technology in the Development of Smart City workshop, arranged together with the signing of the agreement.

TK / MR
Photos: VNUHCM, Pekka Saavalainen