On October 10, 2026, Hai Duong Medical Technical University (HMTU), in collaboration with the Medisch Comité Nederland – Vietnam (MCNV), jointly organized a scientific conference celebrating the “10-Year Journey of Building and Developing Occupational Therapy Education.” The milestone event highlights HMTU’s continuous effort toward global integration and enhancing healthcare rehabilitation in Vietnam.
Representatives of MCNV and HMTU at the 10-year celebration event.
Remarkable Achievements Over a Decade of Partnership
Over the past decade, with dedicated technical and organizational support from MCNV, HMTU has achieved major milestones in capacity building for Occupational Therapy (OT). The university has completed training for 36 graduates from the work-study Bachelor’s program, 51 graduates from the full-time Bachelor’s program, and provided specialized OT training and certifications for 224 trainee-turns of healthcare staff across various provinces. In total, HMTU has contributed over 200 qualified OT professionals to Vietnam’s healthcare system, playing a critical role in addressing the growing national demand for rehabilitation services.
Ms.Dinh Ngoc Diep (center) works as an OT lecturer at the University of Public Health.
Among the program’s alumni is Ms. Dinh Ngoc Diep, a graduate of the inaugural full-time class for the Bachelor of Rehabilitation in OT in 2024. She currently serves as a lecturer in the Rehabilitation Division within the Faculty of Clinical Medicine at the University of Public Health.
“The curriculum at HMTU empowered me to identify my strengths, choose a suitable career path, and set personal development goals. Now as a lecturer, I continue to receive academic support from my former lecturer at HMTU, particularly regarding teaching methodologies and practical instruction,” said Diep.
International Recognition: Achieving WFOT Accreditation (2025–2032)
The crowning achievement of the 10-year journey occurred on February 25, 2026, when the Bachelor of Rehabilitation in OT program of HMTU was officially approved as meeting international standards by the World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT) for the 2025–2032 period.
The program satisfied rigorous global benchmarks, requiring 60% of the curriculum to be dedicated to specialized OT knowledge, a minimum of 1,000 clinical practice hours, and a well-balanced structure integrating international standards with local context. This accreditation significantly boosts HMTU’s educational standing while opening up enhanced career opportunities and global integration pathways for its students and alumni.
Vision for Future Development
Speaking at the 10th-anniversary celebration, Dr. Pham Thi Cam Hung (MD, PhD), Vice Rector of HMTU, highlighted the strategic roadmap: “The University will continue developing a doctoral-level teaching team and expanding specialized faculty; converting the University Hospital into our primary clinical practice base; and integrating digital technology and AI into OT education and intervention. We will also maintain regular curriculum reviews to ensure WFOT standards for the next period, strengthen international cooperation, and build tight connections with recruiting partners.”
Reaffirming MCNV’s commitment, Mr. Pham Dung (MD, MPH), Chief of MCNV Representative Office in Vietnam, stated: “Collaborating to improve training quality in rehabilitation in general and OT in particular has been and will continue to be a key priority of MCNV in the coming period.”
Formal Occupational Therapy Education in Vietnam was kick started in 2016 through the joint efforts of MCNV, HMTU, and the University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City, under a project funded by the U.S. Government through Humanity & Inclusion Vietnam (2016–2022). Since 2023, capacity-building activities for OT education have continued through the ongoing collaboration between MCNV and both universities, supported by funding from the Netherlands./.
