On the afternoon of August 26, 2024, representatives from the VNU University of Science held a meeting and working session with representatives from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, USA.
Representative of the University of Tennessee discussing at the meeting
During the working session, the two sides discussed plans and initiatives for upcoming collaborative activities in training and scientific research. The discussions particularly focused on developing a short-term exchange program for students from the VNU University of Science to attend the University of Tennessee during the summer; collaboration on creating international online study programs; cooperation in establishing joint training programs through credit recognition models such as 2+2 or 3+1+x; and collaboration in scientific research.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pho Duc Tai discussing the development of a student exchange program with UT
Regarding the development and implementation of the short-term exchange program for students to attend the University of Tennessee during the summer, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ngac An Bang and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pho Duc Tai agreed that both sides should soon finalize and clearly define the specific content for this plan. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pho Duc Tai suggested that some courses related to Artificial Intelligence could be included in the exchange program.
Dr. Rachel Rui, Director of the Office of Research, Innovation, and Global Partnerships, University of Tennessee, sharing about the summer exchange program for students
The UT representatives fully agreed and will collaborate with the university in developing and finalizing a detailed plan for the program. According to UT, students participating in the summer exchange program will be divided into small groups to work with international students on completing scientific projects. Through this group work, UT aims to help students build and enhance teamwork, problem-solving skills, and social communication abilities. At the end of the course, students will present their projects to faculty members and representatives from businesses, which are seeking potential candidates for their positions.
Prof. Dr. Gretchen Neisler, Vice Chancellor for International Affairs, University of Tennessee, introducing the international joint program
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ngac An Bang highly appreciated and showed great interest in UT's proposal to collaborate on developing joint training programs through 2+2 or 3+1+x models. He shared that 15 years ago, with government support, the VNU University of Science, Hanoi, successfully implemented several joint training programs with prestigious U.S. universities such as Brown University, Tufts University, and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. These international collaborative programs were established in fields like Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. Students enrolled in these programs had the opportunity to directly study and interact with foreign experts and professors who taught and conducted research at the university. With 80% of the courses taught in English, students in these international programs have always been confident in their language skills, alongside the professional knowledge they gained. Currently, the university continues to maintain and develop its joint training programs with NYCU, Taiwan (China), in the field of semiconductor technology at the master’s level and plans to expand the program to the undergraduate level in the near future.
Building on the success of its existing international joint training programs and the innovations in new disciplines that meet societal trends and demands, such as Information Technology, Data Science, and Semiconductor Technology, the VNU University of Science, is eager to continue developing high-quality and attractive international joint programs. The university aims to establish integrated international programs that link undergraduate and postgraduate education. This model would provide significant benefits for students, facilitating their academic and research development paths.
Representatives of the two universities taking a commemorative photo after the meeting
In addition to promoting the development of collaborative training programs, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ngac An Bang emphasized that scientific research collaboration is also a crucial and key activity to help strengthen and solidify the relationship between the two sides. Therefore, both parties should promote and establish future collaborative scientific research projects.