Stopping the Vietnamese-German medical training program: Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine leaders apologize

In response to the sudden decision to stop the Vietnamese-German medical training program, Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine organized a dialogue with affected students.

Student Thai Tan Dat reads 'letter from the heart' during the dialogue

Photo: Ha Anh

On the afternoon of October 22, Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine held a meeting with parents and students of the Vietnamese-German medical program for the 2023-2024 term. Currently, this training program has 14 students enrolled in the 2025 term, 15 students in the 2024 term, and 50 students in the 2023 term.

Class of 2025 students get tuition refund

Sharing with parents and students of the Vietnam-Germany medical program, Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Dang Thoai, Vice Principal in charge of leadership, management and operation of Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine, said that this is a medical doctor training cooperation program between Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine and Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU, Germany) implemented since 2013. To date, the program has 99 doctors graduated in Germany. Most of the students after graduation stay in Germany, with 8 doctors returning to Vietnam.

At the same time, Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Dang Thoai also stated the reason why the school had to stop the Vietnam-Germany medical training program from the 2024 school year. Accordingly, the decision to terminate the cooperation was issued by Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) and Universitätsmedizin Mainz from June 2024, according to the internal proposal of the German side, stemming from factors such as the IMPP Institute (German Medical and Pharmaceutical Examination Institute) stopping providing the national M2 exam after 2027. This is due to changes in the policy of providing exam questions and recognizing international medical programs by the German National Medical Examination Institute. "This is a systematic change from the German side, not stemming from any violation or disagreement between the two training institutions," Associate Professor Thoai emphasized.

Faced with this situation, Mr. Thoai said that on October 8, the school received a notice that the Vietnamese-German medical training program had to be stopped. Therefore, for the 2025 class, all students enrolled in the 2025 class of the Vietnamese-German Medical Faculty will be transferred to the regular medical doctor training program of Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine, starting from October 20, 2025. The tuition fees that students have paid to the school will be refunded to the students.

Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Dang Thoai, Vice Principal in charge of leadership, management and operation of Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine, shared in the dialogue session.

Photo: Ha Anh

3 solutions for students of classes 2023 and 2024

For students of the 2023 and 2024 classes, Mr. Thoai said the school is focusing on finding solutions to help students complete their training program properly. To achieve this goal, Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine has proposed 3 solutions.

Firstly, Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine continues to negotiate with the German side to find and build a new training program to suit the German transition. This solution not only solves the problem of students studying the program but also helps open up new cooperation for the program in the future.

Second, the school will continue to negotiate with the German National Institute for Medical Examinations (IMPP) to continue to allow the provision of exam papers outside of Germany after 2027 so that students of the 2023 and 2024 courses can complete their studies.

The third solution is implemented if the above two solutions are not successful. Accordingly, the school will organize for students of the 2023 and 2024 courses to take the M2 exam in Germany. However, if this solution is implemented, students must have a C1 German certificate. This exam is held twice a year in Germany. If the first exam is not passed, students can take the second exam. In case the student does not pass the M2 exam in Germany and is within 12 years from the date of admission, the student can return to Vietnam to complete the medical training program in the country.

Parents share in the program

Photo: Ha Anh

"Our child gave up many opportunities to come to this program."

Student Thai Chanh Dat of the Vietnam-Germany medical program class of 2023, on behalf of the program's students, read a 'letter of the heart' expressing his wishes at the dialogue session.

This student said: "We are very committed to this program. The dream of studying in Mainz means a lot to us. And we are completely serious about this path – this is proven by our very good results in the M1 transition exam. Not only that, some of us even achieved the TestDaF 4 foreign language certificate in the second year despite the huge academic pressure from both the university program and the preparation for the M1 exam. This also proves our seriousness in preparing for the clinical phase and for future internship opportunities in Germany."

The student added: "Our families are very worried about the changes in the program. Our parents have invested a lot of time and effort in our studies. Therefore, they wrote a very sincere letter to Mainz University and the IMPP Examination Institute. Every word in the letter shows the respect and trust that our parents and we have for the program. We would be very grateful and appreciative if we could receive the professor's help by forwarding this letter to Mainz University and the IMPP Examination Institute. With all our hearts, we hope that you will give us the opportunity to continue and complete the path we have chosen. Studying in Mainz, graduating according to German standards and later contributing to medicine - that is not only our dream, but also all the hope and trust of our family."

Students of the Vietnamese-German medical program at Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine participated in the dialogue.

Photo: Ha Anh

Ms. Phan Thi Diem, a parent whose child participated in the program, also expressed her hope that the school would find a solution so that students could complete the program. "If it is canceled for any reason, the people who will be most affected are our children because they have given up many opportunities to come to this program," this parent said. Another parent expressed her indignation, saying that she has "lost sleep and appetite" after receiving the information in the past 4 days.

In response to the concerns of students and parents of the Vietnamese-German medical program, the leaders of Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine said that the school is trying to find solutions to best ensure the rights of students. At the same time, the school representative also directly apologized to students and parents for the incident that occurred beyond the school's control.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/dung-chuong-trinh-dao-tao-y-viet-duc-lanh-dao-truong-dh-y-khoa-pham-ngoc-thach-xin-loi-185251022150336734.htm