On the morning of July 28, 2023, within the framework of the CITA 2023 – 12th Conference, at the Vietnam – Korea University of Information and Communication Technology (VKU), the University of Da Nang took place the “Asean Consortium for Innovation and Research – ACIR” which was held for the first time in Da Nang – Vietnam, in order to connect the community of leaders and scholars of Southeast Asian universities to promote innovation and scientific research activities. This will be an annual event of higher education institutions in Southeast Asia.

Overview of the ASEAN Consortium for Innovation and Research – ACIR forum held for the first time in Da Nang – Vietnam

Attending the forum, on the side of the organizer, Assoc. Prof. Ph.D. Huynh Cong Phap – VKU Rector – Chairman of the Organizing Committee, Prof. Ph.D. Nguyen Thanh Thuy-Chairman of FISU Vietnam-Co-Chairman of the Organizing Committee; On the guests side, there was Prof. Ph.D. Nguyen Ngoc Thanh (Poland), Assoc. Prof. Ph.D. Le Minh Hoa (UK), Prof. Ph.D. Kanghyun Jo (Korea), Assoc. Prof. Ph.D. Le Khac Nhien An (Ireland); Assoc. Prof. Ph.D. Le Thanh Bac – Vice Director of the University of Da Nang; Representatives of research institutes and universities leaders from Southeast Asia including King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok (Thailand), Yatanarpon University of Technology (Myanmar), Academy of Digital Technology (Cambodia), associations and higher education institutions of Vietnam such as: Vietnam ICT Club of Faculties-Institutes-Schools-Universities (FISU Vietnam), Institute of Information Technology – Hanoi National University, University of Information and Communication Technology – Thai Nguyen University, School of Computer Science – Can Tho University, Phenikaa University, Quang Binh University, Quy Nhon University, Da Lat University and some universities of Da Nang University, Hue University.

Assoc.Prof.Dr. Huynh Cong Phap – Chairman of the Organizing Committee – VKU President – giving the opening speech of the ACIR . forum

Opening speech of ACIR forum, Assoc. Prof. Ph.D. Huynh Cong Phap – Chairman of the Organizing Committee – Rector is pleased to say that VKU is a leading public university training in information technology, communication and digital economy with research and innovation activities in Vietnam. As a member university of the University of Da Nang, there are more than 2,000 staff and 50,000 students in 200 undergraduate and postgraduate majors, of which VKU has 250 staff and more than 6,000 students. Recognizing the importance of cooperation, connectivity and internationalization, VKU has come up with ideas and discussed with some ASEAN universities, with the support of the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and FISU Vietnam on the establishment of the ASEAN Consortium for Innovation and Research (ACIR).

The “ASEAN Consortium for Innovation and Research – ACIR” Forum was initiated by VKU and highly appreciated by the community of scientists and universities in Southeast Asia, along with the active support of KOICA-Korea and scientists from Korea, the UK, Poland, and Ireland… The establishment of the ACIR community will bring together and connect the community of scholars and researchers and create many opportunities for cooperation and implementation of projects between universities and research institutes in the region. The ACIR Forum will focus on 4 important points with activities including:

1. Create a sustainable ACIR community with effective, practical activities, enrolling new members each year.

2. Research together on innovation activities, exchange and discuss ideas to jointly organize conferences, specialized academic seminars in training,… Thereby, ACIR will participate as a co-host of CITA 2024 and the following years together with VKU and FISU Vietnam.

3. Propose and implement joint international projects under international funds such as Europe Horizon, Errasmus +, ASEAN IVO, US-Korea, Korea-Asea,… to apply funding for innovation, research and mobility activities for ACIR.

4. Organize joint training activities by exchange, inviting professors from Europe, America, Korea,…ACIR enhances the exchange of lecturers and students between universities in the ASEAN region to jointly improve their capacity and qualifications in many forms such as organizing online joint teaching, teaching in pairs, internship programs in pairs, etc. These activities will be very feasible because of low cost and attract the attention of researchers, lecturers and students in the region.

Presentations from higher education institutions in Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar, Korea and sharing statements on the orientation of community connection in innovation and research by leading professors branch

At the forum, 5 presentations from higher education institutions in Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar, Korea were reported and sharing speech on the direction of community connection in innovation and research of leading professors such as Prof. Ph.D. Nguyen Ngoc Thanh (Poland), Prof. Ph.D. Nguyen Thanh Thuy (Vietnam), Prof. Ph.D. Le Minh Hoa (UK), Prof. Ph.D. Kanghyun Jo (Korea), Assoc. Prof. Ph.D. Le Khac Nhien An (Ireland),…

Memorandum of Understanding signing ceremony between the first 07 member units participating in the establishment of the ASEAN Research and Innovation Community

Within the framework of ACIR, there was also a signing ceremony of a memorandum of understanding between the first 07 member units participating in the establishment of the Asean Consortium for Innovation and Research. Leadership representatives of these first 7 member units will also be members of the ACIR Executive Board. ACIR members agreed to implement joint activities such as co-chairing scientific research activities, such as the CITA Conference, proposing and implementing international cooperation projects, supporting strengthening capacity and quality training through the exchange of lecturers, students, and other innovation and entrepreneurship activities.

Hopefully with a new beginning, ACIR is a convergence and an effective bridge between scientists and researchers in order to strengthen cooperation and contribute to sustainable development in training and development of high-quality technological human resources for the Asean region. ACIR will develop the number of members over the years and will be a scholars community with good capacity to be ready to connect and cooperate with the scholars community of Japan, Korea, Europe, America… in order to promote development and international integration in science, innovation, and human resource training for Southeast Asian universities.

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