On the afternoon of October 10, 2024, Vietnam – Korea University of Information and Communication Technology (VKU), the University of Danang, hosted and worked with Passerelles Numériques Vietnam (PNV).

Overview of the meeting

Attending the meeting, from Passerelles Numériques, were Ms. Phuong Do – CEO of Passerelles Numériques, Mrs. Trang Võ – National Director of PNV, along with other members of the delegation. On the side of VKU, there were Assoc.Prof.PhD. Huynh Cong Phap – Rector, Dr. Huynh Ngoc Tho – Vice Rector, and leaders of departments and centers.

Remarks by Assoc.Prof.PhD. Huynh Cong Phap – Rector

During the meeting, Assoc.Prof.PhD. Huynh Cong Phap expressed his pleasure in welcoming and working with PVN. He noted that VKU, established in 2020, has an annual enrollment target of 1,500 students, with an average entrance score of 24 points for its 16 majors in information technology, communications, and digital economy. As of now, VKU has nearly 6,000 students and aims to reach 10,000 students in undergraduate and postgraduate programs by 2030. The university has close to 300 faculty members, nearly 70 of whom are doctors or associate professors. Additionally, VKU has focused on building a network of over 200 strategic partners, including domestic and international organizations and businesses, to participate in training, recruitment, and funding, as well as to implement bilingual training programs in English-Vietnamese, Japanese-Vietnamese and Korean-Vietnamese. Many international academic and cultural exchange programs, real-world projects, internships, and corporate partnerships have been implemented, with an emphasis on teaching in foreign languages. Notably, 100% of VKU students’ graduation theses are written or presented in English.

Moreover, VKU is implementing a $7.7 million ODA project funded by the South Korean government and is supported by major companies, the University of Danang, the city of Danang, and the government of Vietnam.

For the 2023-2024 academic year, VKU pioneered admissions, training, and research in strategic fields such as semiconductor design, artificial intelligence, fintech, and logistics. These fields are key to Danang’s development vision for 2030 and 2045, aiming to become a regional hub for semiconductors, AI, and international finance. VKU has achieved notable successes, such as enrolling top national students for its semiconductor design program (with a 27-point entrance score), launching the Fintech Hub center, offering international-standard IT master’s programs, and organizing international student exchanges, with over 70 students funded for internships in Thailand, South Korea, and Japan.

Despite challenges, VKU is dedicated to community programs, social activities such as offering affordable tuition rates between 6-8 million VND per semester for three years, providing dormitory support of around 100,000 VND per student per month, and offering various scholarships to support incoming and current students. VKU also hosts numerous academic competitions, start-up programs, and innovation challenges to enhance students’ skills and training quality, giving them the opportunity to implement creative ideas. Moreover, VKU runs scholarship programs to support high school students in Central Vietnam.

Through this, VKU hopes to expand cooperation opportunities with domestic and international organizations and investment funds to further support students in Central Vietnam, the Central Highlands, and the nation as a whole, in line with VKU’s educational philosophy: “Humanity – Dedication – Liberation.”

Remarks by Ms. Phuong Do, CEO of Passerelles Numériques

On behalf of PN, Ms. Phuong Do, CEO of Passerelles Numériques, expressed her appreciation for VKU’s warm welcome. She introduced PN as a French non-governmental organization established in 2005, currently operating in three Asian countries: Cambodia, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Madagascar. PN’s mission is to provide disadvantaged youth with education, vocational training, and digital skills development, empowering them to maximize their potential and willpower. PN aims to help these young people secure employment, enabling them and their families to sustainably escape poverty and contribute to the country’s socio-economic development. PN supports young people in very difficult circumstances, in dire need of help. Depending on the characteristics of each country where PN operates training centers, the admission criteria will be adjusted accordingly.

In Vietnam, since 2010, PNV has changed the lives of nearly 700 young people through practical IT education and training over a three-year program. This also includes personal development programs that help students become independent and self-sufficient, aligned with PN’s values: Trust – Responsibility – Solidarity – Respect and Continuous Innovation.

Through discussions, the representatives of both sides found common ground between VKU’s activities and PN’s ongoing activities. Both parties hope that this connection will lead to positive outcomes and practical activities for the community and society in the future.

At the end of the meeting, the PN delegation visited the Japan-Vietnam bilingual education model of NIX Education, toured the lecture halls, dormitories, student housing and the canteens.

Center for Learning Resources and Communication

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