On the afternoon of December 11, 2024, the delegation from Vietnam – Korea University of Information and Communication Technology (VKU), the University of Danang, led by Assoc.Prof.Dr. Huynh Cong Phap, Rector, visited and worked with KOICA Office in Vietnam. Joining the delegation were Assoc.Prof.Dr. Nguyen Thanh Binh, Chair of the University Council; Dr. Tran The Son, Vice Rector; and Heads of the Planning – Finance Department, and the Science, Technology, and International Cooperation Department.

Overview of the Working Session

Mr. Lee Buyng Hwa – country director, and Ms. Kim NaRae – deputy country director, hosted the reception at the KOICA Vietnam Country Office.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Huynh Cong Phap, the Rector, on behalf of the university, extended his gratitude to KOICA Vietnam

Speaking at the meeting, Assoc.Prof.Dr. Huynh Cong Phap – VKU’s Rector, on behalf of VKU’s leaders, staff, lecturers, and students, expressed sincere gratitude to the Korean Embassy in Vietnam for their continuous support and favorable conditions for implementing the project for strengthening academic development of Vietnam – Korea University of Information and Communication Technology with regard to ICT education, research and governance, period 2022-2027. This project, funded by 7.7 million USD from the non-refundable ODA provided by the Korean Government through KOICA, is referred to as the “Korean ODA Project.”

Thereby, Assoc.Prof.Dr. Huynh Cong Phap highlighted VKU’s achievements in 2024. This year, VKU has affirmed its position as one of Vietnam’s leading public universities while making progress toward meeting international standards. In education, VKU achieved remarkable results, with admission scores ranking among the top in the Central region and nationwide. The average entrance score was 24/30 (8 points per subject) for 16 majors and minors, including high-demand fields like Information Technology, Artificial Intelligence, Semiconductor Design, and Information Security. VKU’s student population reached nearly 7,000, with a projection of 8,000–10,000 students by 2027.

Several events have been supported and accompanied by KOICA Vietnam

Notably, with the support and collaboration of KOICA Vietnam, VKU has made a strong mark in scientific research. The university successfully organized the 13th International Conference on Information Technology and its Applications (CITA), attracting leading researchers and experts from both Vietnam and abroad. This marks an important milestone as CITA 2025 will, for the first time, be hosted in Cambodia, signifying the expansion of the conference’s scale and influence in the region. VKU also pioneered establishing the ASEAN Community on Information Research (ACIR), fostering research collaboration across Southeast Asia.

Furthermore, KOICA Vietnam has served as a vital bridge, enabling VKU to expand its business partnerships with strategic partners, creating more opportunities for students and lecturers. In collaboration with Hanwha Life and CFK, VKU successfully organized the 5th Informatics Olympiad in the Central and Central highlands, attracting over 2,000 students, including many outstanding candidates who joined Vietnam’s International Informatics Olympiad teams. VKU also launched its first Fintech Hub in Da Nang, equipped with modern facilities to meet the training needs in the financial technology (Fintech) field. Additionally, VKU successfully hosted the 2024 Korean Invitational Program, with 20 students participating in Korea. VKU has also advanced partnerships and cooperation with strategic partners such as the Korea SMEs and Startups Agency (KOSME), the Korea Semiconductor Industry Association (KFIA), Kyunghee University, Soongsil University, and L.LINE Company (Korea), and actively participated in the K-Unicorn Global Conference 2024. Moreover, VKU has established the Semiconductor and Smart Technology Hub (SSTH) in collaboration with its partners, successfully organizing a training course for faculty on semiconductor design for Da Nang City. The program also included training 15 third- and fourth-year students in related fields transitioning to semiconductor design and sending 40 staff and lecturers to Korea for practical study and research programs. VKU has further partnered with Visang Vietnam to support the establishment of a modern Korean language classroom, KLASS, enhancing smart learning opportunities for students.

During the meeting, Assoc.Prof.Dr. Huynh Cong Phap shared several strategic directions for 2025 and the upcoming years, expressing a strong desire for KOICA Vietnam to continue its support and partnership:

+ Supporting the implementation of projects to enhance infrastructure, including the construction of new, modern lecture halls to accommodate the projected enrollment of 10,000 students by 2030. Notably, the Vietnam-Korea Cultural Park project will showcase the distinctive cultural features of both nations, creating a unique cultural exchange space and serving as an ideal destination for the Korean community in Da Nang and Vietnam.

+ VKU hopes that KOICA Vietnam will continue to accompany and act as a bridge, introducing Korean businesses and organizations to collaborate with the university. These partnerships will provide opportunities to implement research and practical application projects, as well as expand international cooperative training programs, thereby enhancing VKU’s training quality and reputation.

On behalf of KOICA Vietnam, Mr. Lee Byung Hwa, Country Director of the KOICA Office in Vietnam, congratulated VKU on the successful organization of its recent events and activities. He acknowledged that over the past year, KOICA Vietnam and VKU have collaborated effectively and successfully to implement the ODA project. Representing KOICA Vietnam, he extended his best wishes to VKU and expressed his belief that the university will achieve even greater success, becoming a lasting symbol of the strong friendship between the two nations. KOICA Vietnam is committed to accompanying, supporting, and providing the best possible conditions for VKU to grow into a high-quality, reputable, and internationally recognized institution.

The VKU delegation and KOICA Vietnam took a commemorative photo

Before concluding the working session, Assoc.Prof.Dr. Huynh Cong Phap respectfully thanked KOICA Vietnam for the warm welcome. He emphasized that VKU’s recent successes are a clear demonstration of the deep cooperation and strong friendship between Vietnam and Korea. With special respect for the affection and support of the Korean people, the leadership, staff, and lecturers at VKU are fully aware of their significant responsibility, while also being determined to continuously improve the university’s position to become a prestigious, top-quality institution, not only in Vietnam but also internationally. On this occasion, Assoc.Prof.Dr. Huynh Cong Phap respectfully invited the Director of KOICA Vietnam to arrange a time to attend the program celebrating the university’s 5th anniversary, scheduled to be held in early January 2025, marking a milestone in the meaningful journey of cooperation and development between the two sides.

Center for Learning Resource and Communication

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