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The graduation of the second cohort of Bachelor of Speech and Language Therapy students at Da Nang University of Medical Technology and Pharmacy in late May 2026 marks a sustainable advancement in building a high-quality workforce for this emerging field in Vietnam.

Developing Human Resources to Meet Real-World Needs

Speech and Language Therapy (SALT) is an applied health science that encompasses the assessment, diagnosis, habilitation, rehabilitation, consultation, and prevention of disorders related to speech, language, voice, fluency, cognition, and swallowing. These challenges often stem from developmental delays, injuries, stroke, cancer, or progressive neurological conditions. While SALT has been an established profession globally for nearly a century, it has only been formally recognized and developed in Vietnam over the past 15 years.

According to the 2023 National Survey on Persons with Disabilities conducted by the General Statistics Office, 6.11% of the Vietnamese population aged two and older—approximately 6.2 million people—live with at least one form of disability. An aging demographic alongside a rise in non-communicable diseases (such as stroke, dementia, and neurodegenerative conditions) has fueled a sharp increase in the demand for SALT services nationwide.
However, severe workforce shortages keep public access to these services significantly low. A survey conducted by the Medical Committee Netherlands – Vietnam (MCNV) in 2018 revealed that by late 2017, Vietnam had only around 65 trained professionals equipped with adequate knowledge and skills to provide SALT services.

Representatives of DUMTP, MCNV, TFA and AVI and the second cohort of Bachelor in SALT during the graduation ceremony on May 30, 2026.

To establish a formal academic pathway to train qualified SALT professionals, the “Developing Speech and Language Therapy Education in Vietnam” project was launched in 2017 by MCNV, with technical support from Trinh Foundation Australia (TFA), University of Medicine and Pharmacy (UMP) at HCM City, Hai Duong Medical Technical University, and Da Nang University of Medical Technology and Pharmacy. The project is funded by the U.S. Government and MCNV.
Since 2017, the project has supported the establishment of major degree code and completed two Master’s cohorts at UMP at HCM City, while also launching official Bachelor’s programs across all three partner universities. At Da Nang University of Medical Technology and Pharmacy (DUMTP), the Bachelor’s program began in 2019.
In May 2026, the second cohort of 16 students graduated. This milestone represents more than a growing workforce; it demonstrates the university’s expanding training capacity, standardized curriculum, and enhanced faculty expertise.

Ms.Luong Thi Cam Van (front row, third from right) and colleagues at the Evidence-based Swallowing Disorder Workshop Moving Toward Self-Reliance in Educator Workforce

While the first Bachelor’s cohort of DUMTP relied almost entirely on international specialists and external local educators, dependency on outside support has steadily decreased during the training of the second cohort.
The university has stepped toward instructional autonomy: four faculty members in the SALT Department (under the Faculty of Rehabilitation) who completed the project-sponsored Master’s degrees have returned to handle the majority of the teaching load. International and local experts now primarily step in to assist with advanced theoretical topics and specialized clinical placements.
Throughout the second cohort, the project continued to build faculty capacity through clinical mentoring, academic workshops with international experts, domestic and overseas conference travel grants, and specialized clinical supervision training.
“Through these initiatives, our faculty members have gained access to modern educational standards and continuous knowledge updates. The support of MCNV, TFA, and the Australian Volunteers Program (AVI) has been vital to refining our training program,” affirmed Ms. Luong Thi Cam Van (MSALT), Head of the SALT Department at DUMTP.
In addition to strengthening theoretical instruction, the project builds faculty independence and confidence in clinical supervision, hands-on teaching, and curriculum development.
Drawing on lessons from earlier cohorts, the curriculum was updated to emphasize practical application. The program increased clinical placement and expanded internships across diverse healthcare, educational, and rehabilitation facilities to give students broader exposure to various patient groups.

Students from the second BSALT cohort during a clinical practice session at the Da Nang Orthopedic and Rehabilitation Hospital, guided by Ms.Louise Fearon Brown – Australian SALT expert.

Clinical competency assessments have also been standardized to better reflect real-world professional requirements—more accurately evaluating clinical decision-making, communication skills, and graduate readiness.
“Our partners always respect the local context in Vietnam. They work closely with us to tailor the content to real-world needs rather than applying overseas models without adaptation. This ensures our program meets international standards while remaining directly applicable within Vietnam’s healthcare and education systems,” noted Ms. Cao Bich Thuy (Head of the Office of Science-Technology & International Cooperation, DUMTP).

Inspiring the Next Generation

An upgraded learning environment extensively empowers students to become dynamic, independent, and passionate in learning:
“The second cohort demonstrated impressive adaptability and a strong drive to learn. Many excel at self-study and sourcing recent scientific evidence—a crucial skill in a fast-evolving field like Speech and Language Therapy,” said Ms. Luong Thi Cam Van.
Reflecting on her journey, Ms.Huynh Thanh Nga (BSALT) shared: “What I valued most was the rich and realistic clinical exposure. Blending theoretical knowledge seamlessly with hands-on application gave me a solid skill set and sparked a true passion for this career.”
To Ms. Tran Van Thu (BSALT), direct patient interaction reinforced the core value of her chosen field: “Witnessing even small milestones—a child speaking his first word or an adult regaining communication skills—helps me feel the deep human value of SALT. That gives me endless motivation to keep growing in this profession.”

(From left) Ms.Huynh Thanh Nga and Ms.Tran Van Thu

Investing in People: The Foundation for Sustainable Development

According to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Thi Thuy, Rector of Da Nang University of Medical Technology and Pharmacy, the project has granted the institution access to advanced curricula and international best practices in teaching, student evaluation, clinical placements, and career development. Faculty members receive continuing training to advance their expertise and move toward complete autonomy in training future cohorts.
“DUMTP expects to expand its enrollment, elevate program quality, drive scientific research, and strengthen international partnerships to develop a top-tier SALT workforce for the nation,” Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Thi Thuy emphasized.
“The train-the-trainer approach has been particularly important, ensuring that knowledge and skills are embedded within Vietnam rather than dependent on external input. Most importantly, we hope Vietnamese speech and language therapists continue to lead the future direction of the profession in ways that best meet the needs of their communities,” said Ms.Katie Walker-Smith, representative of TFA Board of Director.