On the morning of May 28, 2026, the University of Danang – Vietnam-Korea University of Information and Communication Technology (VKU) welcomed and worked with a delegation from Republic Polytechnic (Singapore) to discuss potential cooperation opportunities in education, research, innovation, and the development of a startup ecosystem for students.

Overview of the meeting

Attending the meeting on behalf of VKU were Dr. Tran The Son, Vice Rector, along with representatives from relevant departments and faculties. Representing Republic Polytechnic were Ms. Azizah Zakaria, Assistant Director, Enterprise Development Office, and Ms. Loh Wan Yee, Deputy Manager, Enterprise Development Office. The delegation was also accompanied by Mr. Vince Chew, CEO of Evvo Labs Singapore.

Dr. Tran The Son – Vice Rector of VKU speaking at the meeting

Following the welcome remarks, Dr. Tran The Son introduced VKU’s organizational structure, educational orientation, and development strategy. Currently, VKU has three main faculties focusing on modern technology and economic fields. In 2026, the university offers 22 undergraduate majors and minors in key areas such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Cybersecurity, Computer Engineering, Fintech, and Digital Marketing.

In particular, VKU pursues a modern educational philosophy emphasizing application-oriented learning, hands-on practice, and real-world experiences through practical projects for students. In addition, entrepreneurial thinking is considered a core competency and is integrated into the curriculum to equip students with innovation and startup skills from an early stage. Another distinctive feature of VKU is its interdisciplinary training orientation, combining information technology with modern business and management fields.

Ms. Azizah Zakaria – Assistant Director of the Enterprise Development Office, Republic Polytechnic, delivering remarks

Representing Republic Polytechnic, Ms. Azizah Zakaria expressed her appreciation for VKU’s warm hospitality and introduced Republic Polytechnic’s system of seven member schools and its network of Centers of Innovation (COIs) specializing in areas such as food technology, agriculture, logistics, and supply chain management, supported by Enterprise Singapore. She also shared information about the EPIC startup community model, which connects founders, mentors, and students through co-working spaces and Maker Spaces dedicated to research and prototype development.

Republic Polytechnic currently implements various practical startup support policies, including seed funding of SGD 3,000 for students and up to SGD 20,000 for startups without requiring equity sharing. In addition, Entrepreneurship Bootcamps, Fireside Chats, and five-month startup internship programs are regularly organized to foster innovation and entrepreneurship among students.

During the meeting, both sides actively discussed several concrete cooperation initiatives for the near future. One notable proposal is the plan to send 10–12 Republic Polytechnic students to participate in the 2026 Digital Dragon Competition (DDC) hosted by VKU, where they can engage in exchanges, competitions, and business idea pitching activities with VKU students.

The two institutions also discussed the possibility of organizing startup and innovation projects jointly carried out by students under the co-supervision of lecturers from both universities, with support from Evvo Labs Singapore. Furthermore, Republic Polytechnic expressed its interest in sending students to VKU for internships and academic exchanges, thereby expanding the international learning environment and enhancing multicultural experiences for students of both institutions.

At the end of the meeting, VKU and Republic Polytechnic agreed to begin with small-scale collaborative projects, effectively leveraging existing cooperation platforms while strengthening connections with Singapore’s national startup organizations to promote innovation, research, and academic exchange activities in the future.

The meeting marked an important milestone in VKU’s journey to expand its international cooperation network, while further affirming the university’s orientation toward becoming a digital university, an innovation-driven university, and a globally integrated institution in the new development stage.

Center for Learning Resource and Communication

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