The overall objective of Vietnam Ireland Bilateral Education Exchange (VIBE) programme is to contribute to Vietnam’s socio-economic development priorities by encouraging mutually beneficial development links between the two countries, with particular reference to third-level education and research cooperation.

Munster Technological University (MTU) is strengthening its educational links with Vietnam through the StartUp Runway programme. The programme was established in 2015. This programme links MTU and the University of Economics at the University of DaNang (UE-UD) in a programme to support entrepreneurship education and research. The project is funded by Irish Aid through the Department of Foreign Affairs in Ireland and supported by the Irish Embassy in Vietnam.

The programme facilitates Vietnamese student entrepreneurs to compete to win an opportunity to spend a month at MTU's Rubicon Centre participating in the MTU Student Inc. programme.  The StartUp Runway programme enables lecturers from MTU's Hincks Centre and Rubicon Centre to provide lectures and workshops in Vietnam on the topic of new venture planning. The MTU visits take place in March, April and June. The awards ceremony announcing the three winning groups occurs during the June visit. The 2018-2019 StartUp Runway programme extended beyond DaNang city to include lectures/workshops at the University of DaNang-Kontum City Campus, Hui and Quy Nhon Universities. 

In addition, the VIBE project provides valuable opportunities for research collaborations between MTU and UE-UD, in the area of entrepreneurship education and comparative studies in entrepreneurship opportunities. 

StartUp Runway format

March – MTU Staff in the cities of Danang, Kontum, Hui and Quy Nhon
1. Workshops with 50 student teams with topics – Idea Generation, Design Thinking, Business Model Canvas, Team Building and Marketing.
2. Visit to Incubator centre in DaNang

March – UE-UD staff in Ireland for Innovation week.

April - MTU Staff in DaNang
1. Workshops with 20 student teams
2. Topics – Presentations, Financials, Sales, Marketing, BMC review and Business Plan.

June  -  MTU Staff in DaNang
1. Workshops with 10 student teams
2. Topics – Investment Pitching, Videos, Business Plan, Customer Validation and Coaching.
3. Final Event to select winners.

July – August
1. Three students in Ireland for Student Inc.
2. Vietnamese delegation to visit MTU.