01 June, 2018

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.  

Cork Institute of Technology (CIT) is strengthening its educational links with Vietnam through the StartUp Runway programme, established in 2015.  This programme links CIT 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 CIT’s Rubicon Centre participating in the CIT Student Inc. programme.  The StartUp Runway programme enables lecturers from CIT’s Rubicon and Hincks Centres to provide lectures and workshops in Vietnam on the topic of new venture planning.  Now in its fourth year, the CIT 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 extends 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 CIT and UE-UD, in the area of entrepreneurship education and comparative studies in entrepreneurship opportunities.   

StartUp Runway format (2018)

• March – CIT Staff in the cities of Danang, Kontum, Hui and Quy Nhon

1. Workshops with 50 student teams. 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 - CIT Staff in DaNang

1. Workshops with 20 student teams
2. Topics – Presentations, Financials, Sales, Marketing, BMC review and Business Plan.

• June  -  CIT Staff in DaNang

1. Workshops with 10 student teams. Topics – Investment Pitching, Videos, Business Plan, Customer Validation and Coaching.
2. Final Event to select winners.

• July – August

1. Three students in Ireland for Student Inc.
2. Vietnamese delegation to visit CIT.