Advancing the Research Grant Management Ecosystem through Collaboration under the GrantsHub Project

10 Aug, 2026

On 27-28 July 2026, the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH) welcomed and organized working sessions with delegates from the University of East London (UEL) and the University of Roehampton, United Kingdom, as part of the project “GrantsHub - An Integrated Research Grant Management System for Vietnamese Universities.” The programme focused on reviewing the project’s implementation progress, discussing the development direction of the GrantsHub system, and organising a workshop on building a research culture at UEH Mekong.

Representing the University of East London were Professor Shampa Roy-Mukherjee, Vice Dean and Director of Impact and Innovation, and Dr. Chau Duong, Lecturer at the Royal Docks School of Business and Law. UEH was represented by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Khanh Nam, Head of the Department of Research - Development and Global Engagement, together with members of the project team.

Funded by The British Academy, the GrantsHub project is jointly implemented by UEH, the University of East London, and the University of Roehampton. The project aims to develop Vietnam’s first integrated research grant management system. The system is being piloted at UEH and is expected to provide a foundation for wider adoption by higher education institutions across Vietnam.

The system is designed to support the full internal research grant management process, thereby improving transparency, efficiency, and coordination among researchers, academic units, and research management teams. At the broader community level, it aims to create a space connecting researchers, experts, and research groups working in the same or related fields. Through the platform, users will be able to identify suitable partners, form interdisciplinary and international research teams, exchange expertise, develop research ideas, and jointly pursue domestic and international funding opportunities.

Another important objective of the project is to promote the sharing of and access to common research resources. GrantsHub is expected to provide guidance materials, policy information, proposal development support, capacity-building resources, and research-related information that can be shared widely. The project will also identify and disseminate selected information on research funding opportunities to the research community, subject to the applicable access rights and terms of use.

At the meeting on 27 July 2026, representatives from UEH and UEL reviewed the progress made, discussed the needs of different user groups, and identified functions that require further development. The discussions focused on system design, operational procedures, data integration, user training programmes, and mechanisms for maintaining the system and assessing its impact after the project ends.

Representatives from UEH and UEL discuss collaboration orientations.

The delegates also discussed plans to pilot GrantsHub with different user groups, including lecturers, researchers, research administrators, and relevant support units. Feedback collected during the pilot phase will be used to refine the system’s functions, improve the user experience, and ensure that the platform is suited to the research management context of Vietnamese universities.

The GrantsHub system is expected to be completed and officially launched for the domestic and international research community in March 2027. Alongside the online platform, the project will develop guidance materials and capacity-building programmes to help higher education institutions improve research grant management and strengthen their access to international funding. Developing practical guidance and building capacity across Vietnam’s higher education community are also among the project’s core objectives.

Sharing Experience in Building a Research Culture at UEH Mekong

Following the working session, on 28 July 2026, UEH and UEL jointly organised the workshop “Building a Thriving Research Culture: Enabling Excellence, Collaboration and Research Impact” at UEH Mekong, presented by Professor Shampa Roy-Mukherjee.

Workshop “Building a Thriving Research Culture: Enabling Excellence, Collaboration and Research Impact”

The workshop examined the conditions required to establish and sustain a thriving research environment. It highlighted the role of institutional leadership, support mechanisms for researchers, interdisciplinary collaboration, international engagement, and the translation of research findings into meaningful impact for communities.

Through the presentations and discussions, participants gained practical perspectives on developing a strong research culture, improving research quality, promoting collaboration, and enhancing the academic, economic, and social impact of research. The workshop also helped connect lecturers and researchers at UEH Mekong with UEH’s wider network of international experts and partners.

The meeting and workshop represented important milestones in the implementation of the GrantsHub project while further strengthening the partnership between UEH and UEL. Building on the project’s outcomes, the two universities expect to expand their collaboration in research management, capacity building, education, academic exchange, innovation, and research community engagement in the coming years.

Pillars: Education, Research, Community

News, photos: UEH College of Business, UEH Mekong, Department of Communications and Partner Development.