WORKSHOP 02: Empowering Women’s Leadership in Vietnamese HEIs

As part of the British Council-funded project “Empowering Women’s Leadership in Vietnamese Higher Educational Institutions: Navigating Retirement-Age Reforms and Cultural Barriers”, Workshop 02 was held at UEH Mekong in Vinh Long Province. The event brought together department heads and deputy heads, women leaders, researchers, and female lecturers to explore how higher education institutions can foster more equal, inclusive, and supportive working environments. 

Chaired by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Thi Mai Hoai, the Vietnam-side Principal Investigator of the project, the workshop marked an important step in its progression from research dissemination to practical engagement and experience sharing. In her opening remarks, she emphasized the importance of connecting research findings with the lived experiences of women working and leading in higher education institutions.

Workshop 02, held as part of the British Council-funded project “Empowering Women’s Leadership in Vietnamese Higher Education Institutions: Navigating Retirement-Age Reforms and Cultural Barriers”, was successfully organized at UEH Mekong in Vinh Long Province

Dr. Nguyen Thi Thy Lieu, Director of UEH Mekong, delivered the keynote presentation on “Building an Equal and Inclusive Working Environment” at the UEH Mekong campus. She opened by introducing the campus and its workforce profile, noting that women comprise 62.4 percent of the total staff and hold 53.3 percent of leadership positions. These figures highlight the substantial contributions of women to both the academic and managerial development of the campus. Dr. Thy Lieu highlighted that gender equality should not be viewed solely as an independent institutional objective, but as a key driver of human potential, organizational performance, and long-term competitiveness.

Dr. Nguyen Thi Thy Lieu, Director of UEH Mekong, delivered a presentation on “Building an Equal and Inclusive Working Environment”

Following this, drawing from over three decades of experience at UEH, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Thi Mai Hoai emphasized that career and leadership pathways across the UEH system, including UEH Mekong, are accessible to all faculty members, with advancement built on capability, commitment, experience, and the readiness to embrace greater responsibilities. She noted that leadership is shaped not only by competence and perseverance, but also by the courage to assume responsibility, overcome doubts, and continue pursuing the values one believes in.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Thi Mai Hoai, Dean of the UEH Sustainable Finance Institute, shared about career development opportunities at UEH

The workshop also featured two personal leadership narratives.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Thi Hoang Anh, Vice President of the Banking Academy (Hanoi), shared “A Journey of Learning, Responsibility, and Service” as part of her path to becoming a woman leader. Reflecting on her journey from an aspiring lecturer with the ambition to become distinctive and outstanding to an academic leader, she emphasized the importance of lifelong learning, seizing opportunities, and striving for excellence in every role undertaken, no matter how small.

Drawing on her experience pursuing doctoral studies in Japan while raising a young child, she candidly spoke about the sacrifices, moments of self-doubt, and resilience required to overcome academic and personal challenges. She also acknowledged the pressures of balancing professional aspirations with family responsibilities, as well as the gender expectations that women in leadership positions often encounter. Throughout her journey, the support of her family, colleagues, institutional leaders, senior teachers, and mentors played a vital role in helping her persevere and grow. 

She underscored the values that have guided her career: professional integrity, a spirit of service, meticulous dedication to even the smallest tasks, and a willingness to take on challenging assignments. Her story illustrated how leadership is shaped not only by competence and perseverance, but also by the courage to embrace responsibility, overcome setbacks, and earn the trust that opens new opportunities for growth and contribution.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Thi Hoang Anh, Vice President of the Banking Academy (Hanoi), shared her “Journey of Learning, Responsibility, and Service” on the path to becoming a woman leader.

Dr. Dang Le Hoa from Eastern International University delivered a presentation titled “The Journey of Growth in a Leadership Role”. She shared how taking on leadership responsibilities required her to adapt, build confidence, learn from challenges, and strengthen her ability to work with diverse colleagues and stakeholders. 

She also reflected on balancing professional responsibilities with family commitments, emphasizing the importance of being present during key moments in her children’s lives. Beyond fulfilling her responsibilities at work, she intentionally set aside time to connect with her children through activities such as learning and playing musical instruments together. Responding to colleagues’ curiosity about how she managed to make time for such activities, she shared that personal growth and meaningful family connections should be treated as priorities and consciously included in one’s schedule. 

Her story highlighted that leadership is not a fixed personal trait, but an ongoing process of learning, reflection, and growth - one that also requires self-management, intentional choices, and the ability to nurture meaningful relationships along the way.

Dr. Dang Le Hoa from Eastern International University delivered a presentation titled “The Journey of Growth in a Leadership Role”

The event concluded with an open discussion involving UEH Mekong women managers, female lecturers, and male leaders. Participants exchanged perspectives on building an inclusive working environment, leadership development, institutional support, and the promotion of gender equality in higher education, while also addressing the challenges women face in balancing their careers, family responsibilities, and social roles. The discussion further highlighted the importance of transparent policies, professional mentoring, supportive leadership, and expanded development opportunities that enable women to realize their potential and confidently take on leadership positions.

Building on the previous seminar and workshop, Workshop 02 created a meaningful space for dialogue, mutual learning, and collective reflection on issues arising in the practical context of higher education institutions. By connecting research findings, professional experiences, and local perspectives, the event contributed to the project’s broader objective of advancing more equitable and inclusive leadership environments in Vietnamese higher education, while laying a strong foundation for future collaboration, policy consultation, and women’s leadership capacity-building initiatives.