Workshop "Enhancing Strategic Forecasting and Planning Capacities for Vietnamese Government Officials"

On the morning of November 26, 2024, at the Library Hall of the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam, the opening ceremony of the workshop "Enhancing Strategic Forecasting and Planning Capacities for Vietnamese Government Officials" was held. The event was jointly organized by the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam (DAV) and the Vietnam-Australia Center (VAC), with the Faculty of International Politics and Diplomacy (FIPAD) in charge.

Ambassador Dr. Phạm Lan Dung, Acting President of the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam, attended and delivered the opening speech. Also in attendance were leaders from the Faculty of International Politics and Diplomacy, including Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ha Anh Tuan, Acting Dean of the Faculty; Dr. Le Thi Ngoc Han, Vice Dean of the Faculty. Representatives from partner organizations included Ms. Carol Holmes, Political Counselor of the Australian Embassy in Vietnam; Ms. Dinh Thi Viet Anh, Senior Program Manager of the Australian Embassy; and Mr. Quentin Derrick, International Director of the VAC.

The workshop featured contributions from top experts from Vietnam and Australia, including Prof. Nguyen Vu Tung, former President of the DAV and former Vietnamese Ambassador to the Republic of Korea; Prof. Adam Graycar from the Institute for Public Policy, University of Queensland; and Prof. Ken Smith, former Director General of Queensland Department of the Premier and Cabinet.

Focused on the practical theme of strategic forecasting and planning, the workshop attracted over 50 officials and civil servants from various central ministries and agencies, such as the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Public Security, Home Affairs, Finance, Industry and Trade, Science and Technology, Education and Training, the Party Central Committee's External Relations Commission, and the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences.

In her opening remarks, Ambassador Dr. Pham Lan Dung emphasized the importance of the workshop in helping public officials enhance their capacities to address one of the greatest challenges in public administration—strategic forecasting and effective policymaking. She noted that this collaboration not only reflected the shared vision of the two organizing entities regarding public administration but also marked a milestone in strengthening Vietnam-Australia relations.

Over three full workshop days (December 26-28, 2024), participants gained substantial knowledge from leading Vietnamese and Australian experts on forecasting, strategy development, public policy, and analytical skills for understanding global and regional dynamics. Specific topics covered included:

1. Strategic planning for public administration in a VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous) world.
2. Forecasting changes in factors impacting the public administration environment.
3. Developing strategic planning and forecasting skills for officials.

At the closing ceremony on December 28, 2024, Dr. Le Thi Ngoc Han, Vice Dean of the Faculty of International Politics and Diplomacy, commended the active and enthusiastic participation of the attendees throughout the workshop. She remarked that their engagement inspired the lecturers to deliver exceptional sessions. Dr. Han also extended her gratitude to the Australian Embassy in Vietnam and the VAC for their effective collaboration with the DAV in organizing the workshop. She expressed hope that this would be the beginning of more joint training programs in the future.

At the conclusion of the workshop, most participants received completion certificates issued by the DAV, the Australian Embassy in Vietnam, and the VAC./.

Other images at the workshop: