On the afternoon of May 6, 2026, as part of its strategy to promote internationalization and expand its global academic partnership network, Vietnam-Korea University of Information and Communication Technology (VKU), The University of Danang, welcomed and worked with Gokstad Akademiet under the Gokstad Akademiet Education Group (Norway). The meeting marked the beginning of several promising international cooperation initiatives between the two institutions in the coming years.

Overview of the meeting

Attending the meeting on behalf of Gokstad Akademiet were Mr. Simon Elvestad, Chairman of the Board, and Mr. Atle Bjurstedt, Principal and CEO of the Academy. Representing VKU were Dr. Tran The Son, Vice Rector of the University, along with leaders from various departments and offices of both institutions.

Dr. Tran The Son, Vice Rector of VKU, delivering his remarks

In his welcoming remarks, Dr. Tran The Son expressed his pleasure in receiving the representatives of Gokstad Akademiet at VKU. He introduced VKU as a public university under The University of Danang, one of Vietnam’s key regional universities, which has been actively expanding its international partnership network to enhance the quality of human resource training for the global labor market. Established in 2020 through the merger of prestigious information technology training units, VKU aims to become a leading digital university in Vietnam.

The university currently provides high-quality education in key areas such as Information Technology, Artificial Intelligence, Semiconductor Integrated Circuit Design, and Financial Technology. With more than 8,000 students, a modern learning environment, and bilingual training programs in English–Vietnamese, Japanese–Vietnamese, and Korean–Vietnamese, VKU places strong emphasis on improving students’ global integration skills. The university currently cooperates with nearly 200 partner universities and enterprises both domestically and internationally, especially in South Korea, Japan, the United States, and Europe.

Mr. Simon Elvestad, Chairman of the Board of Gokstad Akademiet, delivering his remarks

 Representing Gokstad Akademiet, Mr. Simon Elvestad highly appreciated VKU’s international development orientation and modern educational environment. He introduced Gokstad Akademiet as a modern vocational college located in Sandefjord, Norway, offering flexible and practice-oriented education programs in Information Technology, Digital Technology, Business Administration, Digital Marketing, and Project Management. The Academy places strong emphasis on collaboration with businesses to enhance students’ practical skills and career opportunities. Mr. Elvestad also noted that The University of Danang and VKU are promising partners for developing long-term cooperation programs in Vietnam.

During the meeting, both sides discussed several practical cooperation opportunities. In the immediate future, VKU and Gokstad Akademiet plan to jointly organize soft-skills workshops for students in 2026. At the same time, the two institutions will explore the possibility of implementing joint training programs in their respective areas of strength, developing scholarship policies for VKU students to study in Norway, and establishing long-term undergraduate cooperation programs. In addition, Gokstad Akademiet expressed its desire to connect VKU with its international business network to expand internship, practical experience, and global employment opportunities for VKU students.

The meeting took place in an open and friendly atmosphere and achieved many positive cooperation orientations. This event is considered an important first step in strengthening international cooperation between VKU and Gokstad Akademiet, contributing to improving training quality and expanding international study and career development opportunities for VKU students in the new stage of development.

Center for Learning Resource and Communication

About Gokstad Akademiet:

Gokstad Akademiet is a modern vocational college headquartered in Sandefjord, Norway. The institution was established in 2020 by educators and entrepreneurs Atle Bjurstedt and Simon Hansen Elvestad. With the philosophy that “education is the driving force for opportunity and development”, the Academy has rapidly grown into one of Norway’s leading providers of vocational education, with an expanded educational network in Oslo and campuses across Trøndelag, Telemark, and Rogaland. The Academy offers flexible, practice-based, and labor market-oriented programs in Information Technology, Digital Technology, Project Management, Business Administration, Digital Marketing, and Design. It also provides various short-term skills training courses for businesses and working professionals. All academic programs of Gokstad Akademiet are approved and accredited by NOKUT — the Norwegian Agency for Quality Assurance in Education — and are officially recognized within Norway’s Higher Vocational Education (HVE) system.

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