To turn this roadmap into reality and bridge the gap between academic lecture halls and multinational corporate realities, on the morning of May 9, 2026. Taking place as Norway and Vietnam celebrate the 55th anniversary of their diplomatic relations, the workshop “From University to Global Projects: Nordic Perspective” was successfully co-organized at the main campus of Van Lang University (VLU). The event was jointly held by Gokstad Academy from Norway and the Faculty of Commerce at Van Lang University, with the official support of the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Hanoi. The workshop marked Gokstad Academy’s official announcement of Vietnam as one of its priority markets and Van Lang University as a strategic partner in its international education expansion plan across Southeast Asia.
The event proudly affirmed its international scale, attracting over 450 delegates, including high-level diplomatic, educational, and corporate leaders from Van Lang University, the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Hanoi and Gokstad Academy.
Assoc. Prof. Dr Tran Thi My Dieu- President of Van Lang University, sharing strategic alliance and pioneering European-standard (ECTS) career pathways for students.
Erlend Skutlaberg – The First Sceretary of the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Hanoi marks the GA x VLU strategic alliance 55 year milestone, reaffirming Norway’s commitment to deeper Vietnam-Norway cooperation.
Representing Gokstad Academy, Mr. Simon Hansen Elvestad (Founder) highlighted the mission to mend the academic-industry divide through Global Readiness, empowering students to master AI and integrate globally.
The convergence of diplomacy, academia, and global enterprises launching the GA x VLU Workshop
The workshop aimed to introduce practical training programs that seamlessly connect education with the concrete demands of the global labor market. In doing so, it inspired Vietnamese students to foster professional skills, global mindsets, and adaptability to the rapid shifts of the digital economy.
The program’s core highlights featured:
Three specialized parallel sessions: Focused on critical contemporary career trends, including Project Management in the Era of AI; Personal Branding and Career Development in the Context of AI ; and Multicultural Leadership and Competence in an International Environment.
Direct insights from Global Leaders: Speakers from Jotun, SalMar, Ekko, and Carlsberg shared practical management methodologies, corporate culture, and technical requirements from an employer’s perspective.
The topic Stand out or be Replaced: How to selling yourself in the Age of AI, shared by Mi Le Hagen- Facilitator of Gokstad Academy
Started the first session with the topic: Stand out or be Replaced: How to selling yourself in the Age of AI, shared by Mi Le Hagen- Facilitator of Gokstad Academy
Ms. Karin Greve-Isdahl (Commercial Counsellor of the Norwegian Embassy, Country Director at Innovation Norway, and Vice-Chair of NordCham Vietnam) unpacking the dynamics of Multi-cultural Management within global teams.
AI in Project Management, shared by Andreas Ursin Hellebust – facilitator from Gokstad Academy
Concluding interactive panel discussion with a joint dialogue among representatives from Gokstad Academy, VLU, and global enterprises, addressing students’ practical concerns regarding global workplace skills and university-industry collaboration models
Panel discussion, shared by leaders from Nordic companies – Jotun, Carlsberg, Salmar, Ekko
The strategic partnership between Gokstad Academy and Van Lang University marks a promising new chapter in bilateral higher education. By actively developing joint programs focused on project management and innovation, combined with a project-based learning model, both institutions are steadily bridging the gap between academia and industry. This represents a strategic initiative to equip students with Nordic-standard professional competencies, future-proofing them to embrace and support the expanding influx of investments from Norway into Vietnam.
