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| VNU President Le Quan briefed the Belgian Ministers-Presidents about notable outcomes of VNU’s cooperation with Belgian partners and prospects for future collaboration in emerging technologies and innovation |
As part of the State visit to Vietnam by their Majesties the King and Queen of the Belgians, a delegation of Belgian ministers and regional governors, including Mrs. Elisabeth Degryse, Minister-President of the Government of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation; Mr. Adrien Dolimont, Minister-President of the Government of Wallonia; and Mrs. Cieltje Van Achter, Flemish Minister for Brussels and Media of the Government of Flanders, along with leaders from Belgian universities and research institutions, paid a visit to VNU.
On this occasion, VNU, in collaboration with the Wallonia-Brussels Delegation in Vietnam, KU Leuven University, and Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), organized a series of academic exchange events, including Academic seminar “Thirty years of strengthening sustainable development through research collaboration between Vietnam and Belgium” (in collaboration with the Wallonia-Brussels Delegation in Vietnam); High-level academic meeting “How can we strengthen the academic and R&I collaboration between Belgium and Vietnam?” (in collaboration with the Wallonia-Brussels Delegation in Vietnam); Academic seminar “Digital medicine for neurodegenerative disorders: a global perspective” (in collaboration with VUB).
During the events, Belgian institutions provided information on research funding sources and cooperation opportunities. In return, the Belgian delegation received updates from the Ministry of Education and Training of Vietnam on Scheme 89, Vietnam’s Education Development Strategy for the 2019-2030 period, and the potential for collaboration in training and student exchange with Belgian partners.
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Speaking at the event, VNU President Le Quan said that the series of academic and networking activities jointly organized by VNU and Belgian partners marked a significant milestone in the 30 years of successful and fruitful cooperation between the two countries in science, research and education, opening up new prospects for future collaboration. He particularly emphasized that the presence of the Belgian Ministers-Presidents at the events demonstrated the Belgian Government’s strong commitment and interest in fostering educational cooperation with Vietnam.
Over the past years, the collaboration between VNU and Belgian partners has been consistently maintained and developed through joint research projects and faculty/student exchange programs. Many of these joint research initiatives have been successfully implemented, making practical contributions to solving problems in environmental protection, sustainable agriculture, healthcare and community development, natural resource management, sustainable urban development, sustainable tourism, among others. He expressed his belief that with the joint efforts of the parties involved, the strong support from both governments, and assistance from relevant ministries and agencies, the cooperation between VNU and Belgian partners would further thrive, bringing tangible benefits to both nations, and contributing to sustainable development in the region and the world.
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President of KU Leuven Luc Sels emphasized that educational cooperation between Vietnam and Belgium has been sustainably maintained and developed through research collaborations between universities and research institutes of both countries. He noted that, in a world increasingly shaped by complex challenges such as climate change, public health, sustainable development, rising energy demands, and digital transformation, it is essential to further develop and expand academic cooperation.
According to Prof. Sels, institutions from Vietnam and Belgium have established a model partnership in which both sides equally contribute to and benefit from the collaboration. He highlighted three core pillars of this partnership: excellence, impact, and social engagement; Excellence ensures that research is highly competitive and meets global standards; Impact refers to the translation of research outcomes into tangible benefits for communities, businesses, and policymakers; and Social engagement guarantees that the partnership remains relevant, accessible, and contributes to human development.
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As part of the seminar “Thirty years of strengthening sustainable development through research collaboration between Vietnam and Belgium”, the participants were introduced to several outstanding collaborative projects between scientists from VNU and other Vietnamese institutions with Belgian partners. The seminar also featured discussions and exchanges of ideas on mechanisms and plans to further promote and expand research cooperation between Vietnam and Belgium.
Notably, during the visit by the Belgian Ministers-Presidents and the delegation of leaders and staff from Belgian universities to VNU, a total of six cooperation agreements were signed between VNU and its affiliated units with Belgian institutions. Specifically, VNU signed two framework cooperation agreements with KU Leuven and Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB); VNU School of Business and Management (HSB) signed two agreements: Student exchange agreement with UCLouvain and Framework agreement with ICHEC Brussels Management School; VNU University of Engineering and Technology signed a framework cooperation agreement with KU Leuven; and a joint agreement on training, research, and exchange in Digital medicine was signed by VNU University of Engineering and Technology, VNU University of Medicine and Pharmacy, VUB, and Bach Mai Hospital.
The cooperation agreements between VNU and its Belgian partners are expected to further strengthen ties and provide a solid legal framework for a wider range of collaborative activities.
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