Vietnam visit shows opportunities for UB

A visit to Southeast Asia by a delegation from UB this summer has opened some doors for the university in Vietnam.

President Satish K. Tripathi recently visited the capital Hanoi, where he met with the country’s minister of education and training, Nguyen Kim Son, as well as U.S. Embassy officials, and Ho Chi Minh City, where he signed a memorandum of understanding with Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (HCMUT) to explore opportunities for collaboration between the two universities.

The trip marked the first official visit to Vietnam by a UB president. The UB delegation also included Nojin Kwak, vice provost for international education, and Sherene Milizia, director of overseas and intercultural programs. It was planned in conjunction with the delegation’s trip to Singapore in mid-July for graduation ceremonies at the UB-SIM program in Singapore.

“During this historic visit, we had productive discussions with the ministry and higher education leaders in Vietnam to consider the many impactful ways we can build upon our shared strengths and foster partnerships in service of the greater good,” Tripathi said. “Our Vietnamese colleagues share our conviction in the transformative power of research and education, and we are enthusiastic about advancing our collective vision.”

UB has had an interest in forging ties in Vietnam, a rapidly developing country that is interested in expanding its university research and technology sector.

HCMUT, in particular, is interested in the potential of a “2+2” program, where students could spend the first two years studying in Vietnam and finish their undergraduate degrees in either management or engineering at UB, explained John Wood, senior associate vice provost for international education. More than 40 students from Vietnam are currently enrolled at UB, Wood said.

Besides exchanging students, HCMUT is also interested in collaborating on research opportunities, as the country seeks to build up its semiconductor industry, Wood said.

Tripathi also met with officials from VinUniversity, a private institution in Hanoi that teaches primarily in English, and from VNU University of Engineering and Technology.

“During our visit, it was thrilling to see the impressive higher education developments in Vietnam — the new campuses and research facilities, the academically talented students with strong English, the growth in international outreach,” Kwak said.

 “There are many opportunities for UB to collaborate in research and education, and to benefit through institutional partnerships with this young and dynamic country that will only become more important for the United States in the future.”