About US

Our team was established with the participation of three different universities, including Lac Hong University, the University of Natural Sciences - Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Education, along with the Center for Education Accreditation - Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City. Additionally, the team is joined by international experts as follows:

Team Member of the Project

Ho Dac Hai Mien has over 20 years of experience in organizing training programs, workshops, and seminars in the field of quality assurance and accreditation in higher education. Right after graduating in 2002, she began her career at Ho Chi Minh City University of Education, where she was responsible for coordinating numerous training courses, workshops, and seminars on education (education pedagogy, assessment in education, accreditation…) each year—on average, two events per month for universities across the country.

Currently, she serves as the Deputy Director of the Center for Education Accreditation, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City where she oversees the organization of training courses for accreditation experts/accreditors (on average, we organize five such courses annually). Additionally, she is involved in conducting quality assurance trainings directly at higher education institutions nationwide, with a typical schedule of one training per month. She also participates as a trainer in many of these courses.

Moreover, her participation in international training programs, such as Train IQA funded by DAAD, has provided her with valuable insights and skills in managing international-scale training programs. She has also had the opportunity to participate in numerous conferences and workshops organized by INQAAHE (International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education) and APQN (Asia-Pacific Quality Network), which has broadened her understanding of global trends in quality assurance. Additionally, she has attended various direct and online training courses offered by ASU (Arizona State University), which have significantly enriched her knowledge and experience in conducting and organizing both virtual and in-person training events.

A highlight of her recent experience was her involvement in organizing the 2024 conference on "The Application of AI in Higher Education." The event attracted over 150 participants from universities across the country. This event not only demonstrated the growing importance of technology in education but also provided a unique platform for knowledge exchange and networking among academic leaders and experts in the field.

These diverse experiences have greatly enhanced her expertise in organizing high-quality, large-scale workshops and training courses, both in local and international settings.

Le Phuong Truong is the Head of the Educational Testing and Quality Assurance Department at Lac Hong University. He is an experienced trainer specializing in digital pedagogy and the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in teaching and learning for college and university lecturers. Over the past two years, he has conducted numerous training programs on AI applications in education for vocational and higher education institutions in Vietnam.

He has extensive experience in organizing quality assessments according to international standards such as AUN-QA and ABET, having successfully facilitated five international quality assurance evaluations to date. Furthermore, he has provided training for Vietnam's higher education and vocational education systems, ranging from courses on outcome-based education to digital pedagogy workshops.

In addition, he serves as a consultant for GIZ Vietnam, advising on the development of digital transformation handbooks, designing online courses, and creating AI training programs for educators. His role focuses on supporting strategic initiatives, providing technical solutions, and promoting the implementation of modern educational innovations.

In the project, he will take on the role of a subject matter expert, contributing to the technical and professional aspects of training program design. He will also serve as a trainer, participating in advisory, supervision, and evaluation activities to support participants—the direct beneficiaries of the project—in achieving successful outcomes.

Nguyen Thi Huyen has played a key role as an organizer, co-organizer, and lead trainer for over 130 intellectual property (IP) and educational training programs including train-the-trainer initiatives, as well as more than 50 workshops, contests, and local and international events, such as Risk Management and Media Crisis Management for Higher Education in Vietnam, Active Teaching and Learning Methods for HE Credit-Based Systems in Vietnam, Curriculum and Syllabus Design in Outcome-Based Education (OBE), Alignment of Active Teaching Strategies and Assessments to Learning Outcomes, Effective Use of ICTs to Support Student Learning, Active Learning for STEAM Students in Digital Contexts, AI Applications for Fostering Student Digital Competencies in the Context of Internationalization and Digital Transformation in Vietnam, Project-Based Learning, Active Learning for STEAM Students in the CDIO Approach, ICT Integration in Active Teaching Strategies, Service-Learning Methods, and Active Learning for Adult Learners, etc. These programs were conducted under various initiatives, including the VNU-HCM CDIO projects funded by Temasek, Fulbright projects, the USAID Strengthening Provincial Capacity Project, and the OTBSS project. 

Her contributions have directly benefited university students, professors, scientists, investors, and other stakeholders in Vietnam since 2013.

Nguyen Thi Thanh Thuy is currently the Head of the Business Administration Department under the Faculty of Economics and is responsible for ensuring the quality of the Industrial Management program. Performing these duties has provided her with extensive experience in quality assurance during the implementation of educational programs. Additionally, participating in the UNILEAD 2024 program equips her with valuable knowledge, experience, and skills for project implementation. She will take on the responsibility of supporting the mentoring process for participants, ensuring they receive the necessary guidance to achieve their objectives. Additionally, she will assist the team leader in effectively coordinating and managing the project, ensuring its successful execution.

Project Expert                                                                                         

Professor Paul McAfee teaches strategic management, entrepreneurship, and project management, courses for the State University of New York, University at Buffalo, School of Management, in Singapore. He taught entrepreneurship in Weihai, China, for Rochester Institute of Technology in 2024. Paul taught during the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 academic years as a Visiting Lecturer of Strategy and Management for the University of North Carolina Asheville.

During his 30 years as an international executive, Paul has helped Fortune 500 as well as start-up companies improve their brands and their marketing campaigns. He was a turn-around & growth specialist with a focus on profitable growth. His global senior executive experiences included international consumer and business-to-business sales and marketing leadership roles at Ciba-Geigy, Danaher, Kodak, and Sprint. As Entrepreneur-in-Residence at the University at Buffalo from 2001-2010, Paul has helped early-stage companies develop and implement their new business strategies.

In 2022, Paul earned his PhD at the State University of New York, University at Buffalo, in the Graduate School of Education. Paul’s PhD degree is in the Curriculum, Instruction, and the Science of Learning program. He researched applied and experiential learning pedagogies at an American university campus in Singapore. Paul’s first academic teaching experience was in Hanoi, Vietnam. From 2012-2017, Paul taught undergraduate business degree courses in Vietnam and China for Keuka College, a small liberal arts college located in central New York. He taught graduate marketing courses for the University of Science – Vietnam National University in Ho Chi Minh City, and an international business course for the International School – Vietnam National University, in Hanoi.

Paul earned his MBA in 1995 from the University of Rochester Simon Graduate School of Business. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree with honors in 1974, with dual majors, from the University of Maryland; Radio, Television & Film Production, and Philosophy, specializing in mathematical linguistics.

Paul is a member of Phi Beta Kappa. Founded in 1776, Phi Beta Kappa is the USA’s oldest and most prestigious honor society. He is a member of the business honor society Beta Gamma Sigma.

Paul is an active member of Rotary International. He co-founded the first online Rotary Club in Southern Ontario, Canada, and Western New York, USA, serving as its Charter President. He currently is a board member of the Rotary Club of Lockport, NY.