A college in Vietnam has chosen a textbook written by a local author as the first to translate into Vietnamese.

The ‘Public Relations Strategic Toolkit’, by Kingsbridge author Alison Theaker and her co-author Heather Yaxley, has been launched in a new Vietnamese translation.

Alison was invited to go to the Academy of Journalism and Communication in Hanoi for the launch on Thursday, April 12. The college runs the only Public Relations degree in Vietnam taught in English, and chose the textbook as the first to be translated into Vietnamese for their students.

The translation was managed by the school’s course director, Dr Vu Van.

Alison was also invited to a celebratory dinner with the Rector of AJC, Dr Truong Ngoc Nam, and the rest of the board of the college. The Rector wrote the foreword to the Vietnamese edition.

Alison said: “I was delighted to be invited.”

“It was such an honour that my book was chosen. I also got to lecture to students at the college, and have a discussion with the staff about the issues of teaching public relations.

“The course has only been running for a year and it was a pleasure to meet such enthusiastic students who are looking forward to their careers, as well as the committed staff.”

After her book launch, she was asked to be a guest speaker at an event for ‘Lean in Vietnam’, an organisation which was set up to inspire women in Vietnam to set up their own businesses. This event took place on Tuesday, and had a turnout of 30 women and two men.

Alison was also asked to deliver a half day course on ‘Transforming Your Business’ to local entrepreneurs and small business owners in Hanoi for training company, ‘Talentpool’, which took place on Wednesday. About 35 people from a variety of different businesses showed up to the Pan Pacific Hotel in Hanoi to take the course.

Alison is accompanied by her daughter Ella, with whom she is able to take a few days holiday in Halong Bay and Hoi Ann during their visit.