On the morning of 10th December, in Hanoi, the VNUHCM-University of Science held a working session with the VNU University of Science, chaired by Assoc. Prof. Trần Lê Quan, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and President of the VNUHCM-University of Science, and Prof. Vũ Hoàng Linh, President of the VNU University of Science, along with leaders from various functional departments and representatives from the faculties.

Based on the cooperation agreement signed on 9th December 2023, and in an open and constructive atmosphere, the two universities exchanged views and reached agreements on numerous collaborative areas. These included student and doctoral researcher exchanges through the provision of joint research scholarships, the implementation of education in key fields such as semiconductor materials, microelectronics, and artificial intelligence, as well as aiming for credit recognition education between the two institutions, beginning with a pilot programme in the Faculty of Chemistry. They also coordinated the organisation of scientific workshops and career orientation seminars for students, provided scholarships for students participating in summer camps, and strengthened exchanges and cooperation to enhance the capacity of staff and faculty, which received considerable attention from both parties.

During the meeting, Assoc. Prof. Trần Lê Quan emphasised the advantages and strengths of both universities in educating and researching fundamental scientific disciplines within the realm of natural sciences. He noted that basic sciences served as a foundational and essential sector for the development of science, technology, and socio-economic growth in every country. He further recognised the critical role of cooperation in accreditation and quality assurance between the two institutions. Assoc. Prof. Trần Lê Quan proposed that both universities enhance information sharing and conduct thorough annual comparisons of quality assurance systems. Additionally, he supported the idea of strengthening cooperation between faculties and functional departments.

To effectively implement the agreed-upon initiatives, both sides suggested maintaining and further fostering the relationship between the two universities, ensuring accountability and professionalism. The working methods would be flexible, alternating between in-person and online formats, tailored to meet the requirements and progress of the work.

Prof. Vũ Hoàng Linh praised the significant advancements made by the VNU University of Science and the VNUHCM-University of Science in recent years, particularly regarding the implementation of autonomous mechanisms, increasing training scale, and boosting the number of international scientific publications. He affirmed the importance of cooperation and endorsed the proposed working content, expressing his desire to strengthen the existing collaboration further.

Moreover, the delegation from the VNUHCM-University of Science visited the current laboratories at the VNU University of Science, including the Nano and Energy Clean Room, the Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials Applied in Green Development, the Key Laboratory for Analytical Technology, and the Accelerator Laboratory. The visit left a profound impression regarding the scale and quality of research.

The meeting marked a positive new step in the strategic cooperative relationship between the two leading institutions in the field of natural sciences, opening up collaborative opportunities in areas such as nanomaterials, environmental analysis, artificial intelligence, and sustainable development.