In the context of the global shift into the digital age, digital transformation and artificial intelligence (AI) have become cutting-edge scientific and economic fields with strategic importance, profoundly impacting the development of nations. As the leading university in Vietnam, steadily affirming its academic reputation on the international stage, Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU) has recently been invited to join top international alliances and networks in AI and digital transformation. This is both an opportunity and a clear testament to VNU's stature and its ability to integrate into the global community.
 |
During the business trip of VNU President, Prof. Le Quan, to China in August 2024, Peking University President, Prof. Gong Qihuang, extended an invitation to VNU to participate in the Beijing Forum 2024 with the theme "The Era of Innovation and the Progress of Humanity" and invited VNU to join the International Alliance for the Development of Digital Intelligence in Education (DI-IDEA).
DI-IDEA was initiated by Peking University and officially launched on November 3, 2023, with the participation of 22 global partners. The alliance aims to achieve tangible results in digital education transformation, harnessing the opportunities created by these transformations and proposing solutions to the challenges that higher education institutions face in the era of digital intelligence. Its goal is to promote high-quality education, research, and the improvement of university governance by facilitating the use of information technology for the benefit of humanity.
During the state visit to Vietnam by General Secretary and President of China, Xi Jinping, from April 14-15, 2025, VNU and Tsinghua University (China) signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish the "Vietnam-China University Network" and a MoU committing to enhance cooperation in the field of Digital Education, as well as addressing the opportunities and challenges brought about by Artificial Intelligence (AI) and online education. On this occasion, Tsinghua University extended an invitation for VNU to join the Global MOOC and Online Education Alliance, initiated by Tsinghua in 2020. Currently, the Alliance has 23 members from 16 countries.
 |
Joining the Alliance will strengthen cooperation between the two universities in digital education, particularly focusing on the application of AI and online education. Currently, Tsinghua University is providing comprehensive support to VNU in joining the Global MOOC and Online Education Alliance, while also helping to expand the international education network. Through the Alliance, VNU will have the opportunity to collaborate with top universities worldwide and international educational platforms, participate in joint teaching activities, enhance capabilities, share knowledge, and promote public education initiatives. This partnership will create conditions for sustainable development and enhance international educational exchange within the framework of the Alliance.
Most recently, the Russian Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA), directly under the President of the Russian Federation, officially extended an invitation to VNU to join the AI Alliance Network. This is a significant milestone, as RANEPA is not only a prestigious training center in Russia but also closely associated with many high-ranking Vietnamese leaders-where the late General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong defended his doctoral thesis and General Secretary To Lam was recently honored with an honorary professorship.
The AI Alliance Network brings together 17 international AI associations from 14 countries, with over 7,000 members and partners, including universities, research institutes, technology corporations, and AI solution providers. This strategic forum allows members to: Share 60 AI training programs to meet global educational, research, and AI workforce development needs; Participate in the development of harmonized, effective, and responsible AI governance policies and models; Collaborate on the AI Horizons initiative—focusing on addressing medium and long-term global challenges in AI, ranging from climate change, healthcare to cybersecurity; Promote the development of open, trustworthy, and community-benefiting AI solutions.
 |
Becoming a member of the AI Alliance Network will not only place VNU in a global AI research and policy ecosystem but also open up opportunities for substantive collaboration with leading organizations in this cutting-edge technology field.
Over the past year, VNU’s successive membership in three prestigious international alliances on digital transformation and AI has solidified its prominence on the global education and research map. These activities clearly demonstrate VNU’s proactive, selective, and effective international integration strategy. They also serve as evidence of VNU’s pioneering role in the strategic fields of Vietnamese higher education: digital transformation, artificial intelligence, interdisciplinary research, and sustainable development.
By joining international alliances, VNU is recognized as an equal partner in the global scientific community. This affirms VNU's research, training, and innovation capabilities, helping to enhance its reputation and standing in international academic rankings. VNU's participation opens up opportunities for multidimensional, interdisciplinary research collaboration, leading to the creation of high-value scientific works published in top-tier journals.
 |
Being part of these alliances allows VNU to access a vast knowledge base from partners, including research databases, advanced technologies, and modern teaching and university governance methods. VNU’s faculty, scientists, and researchers have the opportunity to exchange ideas, learn, and stay updated on global scientific trends. Joining prestigious international alliances helps VNU standardize, internationalize, and modernize its training programs while creating an environment for students, faculty, and researchers to develop holistically and meet the demands of international integration.
