European universities are nowadays active players widely in the society, thanks to modern active learning methods. External public and private stakeholders have a significant role in providing real-life learning platform for higher education students. Vietnamese universities are still far behind European pedagogical practices. The main aim of the SAUNAC project is to narrow that gap and arm Vietnamese universities with capabilities to provide high level education, especially in the globally remarkable field of Smart Sustainable Cities. The new interdisciplinary higher education module of SMART SUSTAINABLE VIETNAMESE CITIES SSVC - to be developed and piloted - combines in a fascinating way modern blended learning practices and several themes crucial for eco-friendlier and more sustainable urban areas. As the contrary for the existing situation in the Vietnamese Universities, pedagogical methods and practices introduced in Smart Sustainable Vietnamese Cities SSVC module, enables them to offer modern blended learning studies permanently after the project. Additionally, new ideas and practices in the themes of smart sustainable cities enriches the existing contents in several degree programmes. Regional sustainability networks will be created and maintained. External stakeholders, participating in the SSVC module implementation, will get an opportunity to get familiar with the new theories and innovations developed in the local HEIs. Above all enterprises will see the students’ as future employees and it lowers the threshold of new graduates to enter to the working life. Along with expertise on sustainable development, the self-confidence of students will arise and finally they learn how to handle risks and solve societal challenges. Finally, European HEI’s interested in cooperation with Vietnamese universities get added value from the SAUNAC in creating soil for forthcoming intercontinental cooperation in higher education.
European universities are nowadays active players widely in the society, thanks to modern active learning methods. External public and private stakeholders have a significant role in providing real-life learning platform for higher education students. In the core of the SAUNAC project was to test innovative learning practices and environments as well as utilize modern technology.SAUNAC project aimed at modernizing the teaching and learning methods of Vietnamese higher education institutions and at promoting their networking and cooperation and this, also in collaboration with enterprises as part of the studies. Based on that, main achievements of the project were:1) Changing the mind-set relating to efficient and innovative learning and teaching methods, an important step for successful adaptation of innovative European teaching and learning methods to the Vietnamese HEI context.2) Use of innovative learning and teaching methods in practice. Vietnamese HEIs adapted innovative learning and teaching methods by developing and piloting SSVC Module.3) Stakeholders as a part of learning. The urban planning system of Vietnam is fragmented and need the collaboration, involving plan preparation and implementation with different stakeholders. Knowledge acquisition is an important part, and for that education, training, research and information resources play a key role. Stakeholder cooperation was linked in several different ways to the SAUNAC project implementation.The main outcomes of SAUNAC project (related to main achievements of the project) were:- SAUNAC project improved the reputation and leadership of some universities on Smart and Sustainable City and it helped to set up the stakeholder network.- Experience and new knowledge learnt from European partners.- New active learning and teaching methods in the joint SSVC module.- New curriculum for selective course and updated contents for 4 mandatory courses.- Human resources development; successful adaptation of innovative European pedagogy in HEIs and new student evaluation approaches.- Creating local, regional and global network in education and research.- E-learning/Moodle on SSVCs are available on both languages in the website.The benefit of the SAUNAC project for the Vietnamese partner Universities was to bring added value to their educational systems as a whole. New ideas and practices in the themes related to the smart sustainable cities remarkably enrich the existing contents. As for the contrary, for the existing status quo in the Vietnamese Universities, pedagogical methods and practices introduced in the SAUNAC project enable Vietnamese Universities in the near future offer blended learning studies which are implemented by following the main principles of the Innovation Pedagogy learning approach. Students have been closely involved to project implementation. Vietnamese universities run SSVC Module pilot together with students. Approximately 150 Vietnamese students completed the Module.