In order to successfully implement the Decision N^o 335/QĐ-BGDĐT issued on January 21, 2008 by MOET on “Undertaking tasks to train overseas pre-departure programs for Higher Education Institutions’ postgraduate lecturers”, Hanoi University has delegated the International Education Center (IEC) to be the university’s frontier to collaborate and organize related activities.
     
Specific tasks:

• To conduct foreign language training programs for pre-departure candidates to meet language requirements to participate in overseas postgraduate training courses.
• To advance knowledge, research methods and skills in researching, writing and presenting minor thesis, thesis; and also strategies and tactics to fill in application forms to study overseas.
• To enhance political thought, soft skills, living skills, living activities, learning skills; and other orientation activities for overseas pre-departure candidates.

Training capabilities:

• Hanoi University (formerly Hanoi University of Foreign Studies) is a public university with 50 years of experience in training, advancing foreign language ability for Vietnam pre-departure undergraduates, postgraduates and on-the-job trainees. Hanoi University  trains different foreign languages such as English, Chinese, Russian, German, French, Japanese, Korean, Spain, Portuguese, Italian, Polish, Bulgarian, Hungarian, Romanian, Chzech, Slovak, Thai and Arabic.
• Hanoi University has more than 400 teach staff who are highly qualified  to conduct language training courses to meet the society's needs. Apart from the Vietnamese teaching staff, many expat teaching staff from other countries such as the UK, United States, Korea, Japan, China, Russia, Australia, New Zealand, etc.  also participate in the training courses.
• Most of the Vietnamese teaching staff have attended either  short-term and long-term training courses overseas. They are able to share experiences in  research methodology, living environment, living and learning skills and other activities. They  can also help the candidates to search and apply scholarships and fellowships, to fill in application formst, and to approach to scholarships sponsored not only by the Vietnamese government but also by other governments and international organizations.
• Foreign teaching staff from different countries are welcomed to participate in different sessions on their countries' history, culture, and education. More importantly, they give the candidates hints, key points, skills and strategies to face with cross-culture diversities when staying, studying and doing research overseas.  

Facilities:
The International Education Center (IEC) is located Building D6, inside the University's campus, with facilities invested by Vietnam - Australia Training Program. Before 2007, this was the location where Australia Development Scholarship Program (ADS) annually conducted pre-departure training programs for Vietnam higher education candidates going to study in Australia following the Agreement between Vietnam and Australia. As soon as the agreement ended, the ADS handed over the premise and facilities to Hanoi University. Since its establishment in March 2007, the Center has been continuously invested by Hanoi University with new and modern equipment for language training. Hereafter is a brief description of the Center:    .

• The 4-storey building (Building D6) is surrounded by a large yard with big  roof and green environment; a number of chairs and tables are available for relaxing, having fun and also for work and discussion in groups.
• On the ground floor, there is a Resource Center- a kind of open library- with abundant materials and databases such as books, magazines, journals, CDs, VCDs, Audio tapes and video tapes for students to do self-study. The RC opens daily from 7h00 to 18h00, from Monday to Saturday. In the Resource Center, there are three study rooms, 2 internet-connected computer rooms and many computers and places for independently quiet self-study.  
• The first floor is the administrative area where the Center's staff work. On this floor are located one computer lab with 31 PCs and one room for training skills of language listening and speaking with 60 units.   
• On the second and the third floors, there are 16 classrooms to conduct at the same time 16 classes with 25 students per class. When needed, some classrooms can be merged from two into one, so that the classroom can be used for class of 50 students.  
• All classrooms are equipped with air conditioners and multimedia system like TVs, CD players, VCD players and projectors.
• On the fourth floor there is a terrace fully covered by fire-tile dome and furnished by comfortable system for parties, meetings and outdoor activities.
• In particular, the Center has a standby generator to supply power when electricity is cut off.
• Besides the facilities in the Center, students are encouraged to have access to the University's Library-Information Center - a modern open library system of regional standard, and to study in the conference rooms and multimedia labs with modern equipment in other buildings of  the University.  

Output:
Since 2002, Hanoi University has successfully organized different English training courses for hundreds of postgraduate candidates to go to English speaking countries for study and research.  In 2008 alone, Hanoi University has organized and effectively conducted full-time foreign language training courses for 322 Project namely 10-week English program, German for 12 weeks and Chinese for 16 weeks.
 
Contact person:
Dang Thi Hong Thuy, PhD.
International Education Center - IEC
Tel. 84-4-8544338 (ext 4606)
Fax: 84-4-8544550
Email: thuydh@hanu.edu.vn                                     
Address: Building D6, Hanoi University, Km9 Nguyen Trai, Thanh Xuan, Hanoi