I. History of development:

International relations have been paid special attention and prioritized by the leader of Academy of Managers for Construction and Cities for many years. During its operation, the Academy is always interested in seeking more foreign partners to diversify the training forms. In 2004, the Academy in cooperation with Nanyang Polytechnic Academy in Singapore held an English training course for Vietnamese construction cadres for 4 weeks. In 2005, the Academy signed a training joint contracts with Training Center of City Construction Leader, Shanghai, China... However, international relations have been not yet operated systematically, demanding a professional unit to cover this activity. Thus, in August 2006, Institute of Training Research and International Relations  was established on the basic of a part of office of Science and International Relations.

II. Functions and responsibility:

Institute of Training Research and International Relations works as a clue for international cooperation activities of  the Academy as follows:

- Organizing working visits to foreign countries for construction cadres and receiving international visitors to the Academy.

- Co-organizing in cooperation with internal and external partners and organizing training courses and seminars abroad and at home.

- Cooperating internationally in scientific research and providing consultancy on international training programs.

III. The Centers  International cooperation activities:

Despite of over 1- year history, the Institute of Training Research and International Relations has been working with numerous foreign agencies  such as Asia Technology Institute AITC;  World Bank; Manchester Academy of Technology, Construction Environment School of Northumbria University ( UK), Technology Institute of Isarael;  C-nam Academy, TSEP University of Republic of France;  Training Institute of Construction and Transportation ( Republic of Korea),  Training Center of  City Construction Leaders (Tongji University), Personnel Training Institute, National Training Center for Mayors under Ministry of Construction of China; Trade Commission of Italia, Milan Institute (Italia) .... and universities, Academys, institutes, training centers of many countries of Newzealand, Malaysia, Germany, Thailand, Singapore..... Initially, the Center has acted as an advisor for the Academy to establish cooperative relations with many international partners and successfully held many international training courses domestically and abroad as follows:

- In 2006, the Academy signed the trilateral contract with World Bank and Association of Cities of Vietnam to organize the short- term training courses and seminars on Environmental Management and Urban Development for Vietnamese cadres with sponsor from WB. Beside, the Academy and Ministry of Construction in partnership with WB has been seeking  additional capital to implement long-term capacity building program in 2008-2012 period.

- Having built the project Asking for Japanese expert" in fiscal year of 2007 within framework of Vietnam -  Japan cooperation program.

- Having signed Memorandum of Understanding on training cooperation with Construction Environment School of Northumbria University (UK) in January 2007; with C-nam Academy (Republic of France) in November 2007 and with Training Institute of Construction and Transportation (Republic of Korea) on 4 December 2007. Especially, the Academy and Construction Environment School of Northumbria University has discussed  Master Program of Project Management under distance learning mode in detail and this is possibly implemented in 2008.

- Having worked with Embassy of Korea to discuss  KOICA fund program for training.

- Having worked with Italia to discuss shortterm courses for Vietnamese construction cadres.

- Having worked with National Administrative Institute of Vietnam and InWent (Germany) to discuss Practical  Master Program.

1. International training courses organized in 2006 - 2007:

1.1. In 2006:

1.1.1. International training course on Urban Design and Planning, 1^st course.

Number of participants: 19

Participants: The officials working in construction industry

Co-operators:  Training Center of City Construction Leaders, Tongji University, China; Beijing Urban planning Institute

Course Location: Shanghai and Beijing, China

Duration: 07 days, from 1 to 7 December 2006

1.1.2. International training course on Environmental Management and Urban Development, 1^st course

Number of participants: 47

Participants: head and vice- head of department in construction sector

Co-operators:  World Bank Institute and Association of Cities of Vietnam

Course Location: Furama Resort, Danang City

Duration: 04 days, 11-14 December 2006

1.1.3. International Seminar  on Environmental Management and Urban Development Number of participants: 17

Participants: chairman and vice-chairman of Peoples Committee

Co-operators:  World Bank Institute and Association of Cities of Vietnam

Course Location: Furama Resort, Danang City

Duration: 01 day, 15 December 2006.

1.1.4. English training course on International Communication

Number of participants: 21

Co-operator:  Language Link Vietnam

Course Location: Academy of Managers for Construction and Cities.

Duration: 8 months

1.2. In 2007

1.2.1 Training course on Risk assessment and Management in Construction

Number of participants: 75

Co-operator:  Northumbria University - UK

Course Location: Academy of Managers for Construction and Cities

Duration: 02 days, 19-20 March 2007

1.2.2. International training course on Urban Planning

Number of participants: 30

Co-operators:  Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore and Hanns Seidel Foundation of Germany

Course Location: Vietnam - Singapore Training Center

Duration: 05 days, 16-20 April 2007

1.2.3. International training course on Environmental Management and Urban Development, 2 nd course

Number of participants: 55

Participants: head and vice- head of department in construction sector

Co-operators:  World Bank Institute and Association of Cities of Vietnam

Course Location: Academy of Managers for Construction and Cities

Duration: 04 days, 7-10 May 2007

1.2.4. International training workshop on Environmental Management and Urban Development

Number of participants: 50

Participants: chairman and vice-chairman of Peoples Committee

Co-operators:  World Bank Institute and Association of cities of Vietnam

Course Location: Opera Hilton Hotel, Hanoi

Duration: 01 days, 11 May 2007

1.2.5. International training course on Improving competitive capacity of Construction sector  in the globalization era

Number of participants: 45

Co-operator:  Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Construction

Course Location: Academy of Managers for Construction and Cities.

Duration: 01 day, 20 June 2007

1.2.6. International training course on Improving competitive capacity of Construction sector  in the globalization era

Number of participants: 35

Co-operator:  Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Construction

Course Location: Ho Chi Minh City

Duration: 01 day, 22 June 2007

1.2.7. International training course on Urban Design and Planning, 2nd course.

Number of participants: 26

Co-operators:  Training Center of City Construction Leaders, Tongji University, China; Beijing Urban planning Institute

Course Location: Shanghai and Beijing, China

Duration: 07 days, 23-29 June 2007

1.2.8. International training course on Urban Design and Planning, 3rd course

Number of participants: 14

Co-operators:  Training Center of City Construction Leaders, Tongji University, China; Beijing Urban planning Institute

Course Location: Shanghai and Beijing, China

Duration: 07 days, 21-27 September 2007

1.2.9. International training course on State Management in Construction

Number of participants: 29

Co-operator:  National Training Center for Mayors of China

Course Location: Beijing, China

Duration: 10 days

1.2.10. English training course on International Communication, 3^rd course

Number of participants: 21

Co-operator:  Language Link Organization

Course Location: Academy of Managers for Construction and Cities.

Duration: 6 months

2. Activities in organizing Vietnamese cadres working visit to foreign countries and receiving international visitors to the Academy:

The Center has received various international delegations visiting and working at  the Academy such as the delegation from Construction Environment School of Northumbria University (UK), Training Institute of Construction and Transportation (Republic of Korea), Training Center of  City Construction Leaders under Tongji University; Personnel Training Institute under Ministry of Construction of China, and numerous delegations from Italia, Singapore .... Additionally, the Center has successfully organized many Vietnamese cadres working visits to foreign countries as following:

- The center sent the cadre delegation of the Academy and Vietnam Ministry of Construction  to Public Administrative Institute of Thailand and Training Center of Thailand Ministry of Transportation during 17-21 December 2006 to learning about experience of civil service training. This trip belongs to the Ministerial - level Project Investigating, evaluating capacity of construction industry's civil servants and building training program for civil servants.

- The center sent the delegation of leaders of the Academy and Ministry of Construction to China to work with relevant department and institutions under China Ministry of Construction from 14-18 July 2007.

IV. International cooperation course will be implemented in 2008:

- International training course on Environmental Management and Urban Development, 3rd and 4^th course in Vungtau city in January 2008 and Hanoi in March 2008, respectively.

- International training course on Urban Design and Planning, 4th course at Training Center of City Construction Leaders, Tongji University, Shanghai, China in  May 2008

- International training course on Urban Design and Planning, 5th course at  National Training Center for Mayors, Ministry of Construction, Beijing,  China in August 2008.

- International training course on State Management in Construction, 2nd course at  National Training Center for Mayors, Beijing, China in November 2008.

- International training course on Project Finance, 1st course,  in cooperation with Italia partner institution held  at Academy of Managers for Construction and Cities in Hanoi in May 2008.

- International training course on Project Finance, 2nd course,  in cooperation with Italia partner institution  in Hochiminh City in June 2008.

- English training course on International Communication, 4th course.

- Enrolling students for Master Program of Project Management in September 2008.