On the morning of January 30, 2026, the Vietnam-Korea University of Information and Communication Technology (VKU), the University of Da Nang, formally welcomed and held a working session with a delegation from Hongik University (South Korea) to discuss cooperation and implement joint research directions in digital technology. Key areas of focus included digital content copyright technologies, postgraduate training, and faculty and student exchange. The collaboration aims to contribute to the implementation of Resolution 57-NQ/TW, Resolution 71-NQ/TW, and especially Conclusion 45-TB/TGV of the Central Steering Committee on science, technology and innovation development, as well as the Decision of Da Nang University’s Director on assigning tasks to implement Conclusion 45.

Overview of the working session

Attending the working session, the Korean side was represented by Mr. Kang Bo Sung, former Consul General of the Republic of Korea in Da Nang, who played a key role in connecting and introducing Hongik University to VKU. The Hongik University delegation also included Professor Kim Hye-Young, Director of the GCT Center, and Mr. Park Jung-Min, Assistant Professor. Representing VKU were Assoc. Prof. Dr. Huynh Cong Phap – Rector of the university, Dr. Tran The Son – Vice Rector, along with leaders of departments, faculties, and centers across the university.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Huynh Cong Phap – Rector of VKU delivered a speech at the working session

In his welcome remarks, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Huynh Cong Phap expressed his sincere appreciation to Mr. Kang Bo Sung, former Consul General of the Republic of Korea in Da Nang, for his continued interest, support, and for connecting VKU with prestigious Korean universities, including Hongik University. He noted that VKU is a public university with a strong applied orientation, specializing in education and research in digital technology and digital economy. In recent years, VKU has become one of the most sought-after universities for applicants, with entrance scores ranging from 24 to 27 points, reflecting the steadily improving quality of intakes. The university offers bilingual and multilingual training programs such as English-Vietnamese, Korean-Vietnamese, and Japanese-Vietnamese, providing students with a competitive advantage in international working environments. Currently, VKU enrolls nearly 8,000 students and has developed a well-integrated education – research – innovation ecosystem to meet the growing demand for high-quality human resources in both domestic and global markets. VKU is actively implementing a comprehensive internationalization strategy across all areas of operation, with a focus on breakthroughs in scientific research, innovation, and entrepreneurship, while strengthening faculty capacity in research, teaching, and foreign languages in line with the directives of the Central Government and The University of Da Nang.

Professor Kim Hye-Young, Director of GCT Center shared her insights

During the meeting, Professor Kim Hye-Young expressed her sincere appreciation for the warm reception from VKU. She introduced Hongik University as one of South Korea’s leading multidisciplinary institutions, operating four campuses in Seoul, Sejong, Daehak-ro, and Hwaseong. With approximately 21,000 students, the university comprises 12 colleges and 11 specialized graduate schools, and is nationally recognized as a top institution in Arts and Design. Beyond its strengths in the arts, Hongik University is also home to the GCT Lab, a research center specializing in digital content copyright technologies and active international collaboration, contributing to a modern and innovative academic environment in the vibrant Hongdae cultural district. The GCT Lab is a global research laboratory focused on game content copyright technologies. Its research centers on advanced copyright management models, applying blockchain, smart contracts, digital watermarking, and cybersecurity solutions to protect intellectual property in the digital environment. The lab also plays an important role in training highly qualified researchers for the game content industry.

Based on the discussions, the two sides agreed on several key areas of cooperation for the coming period. A notable initiative is an exchange program under which approximately five master’s and doctoral students from Hongik University will conduct research at VKU for six months. VKU will host the participants and collaborate in co-supervising research, teaching, and providing administrative support. In addition, the two universities will promote joint research projects and co-author scientific papers for publication in international journals indexed in the SCIE database. Cooperation will also extend to discussions on funding mechanisms, research funding allocation, and related interdisciplinary research in digital technology. Both sides further discussed implementing agreements to strengthen faculty and student exchange, including inviting distinguished professors from Hongik University to teach in VKU’s global and postgraduate programs, as well as arranging short-term research internships at Hongik University for VKU faculty members and postgraduate students.

The delegation visited VKU’s training and research areas

As part of the program, the Hongik University delegation visited the Institute of Digital Science and Technology (eSTI) and the training and research infrastructure of VKU. These are important prerequisites for signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two universities and implementing substantive cooperation activities, expected to begin in April 2026.

The meeting not only opened up opportunities for extensive cooperation between VKU and Hongik University, South Korea, but also contributed to affirming VKU’s internationalization orientation and improving the quality of training and scientific research in the context of regional and international higher education integration.

Center for Learning Resource and Communication

Some pictures:

199 Views