On September 25, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Viet Nam National University Ho Chi Minh City (USSH-VNUHCM) hosted a delegation from Guangdong University of Foreign Studies (GDUFS), China. The working session aimed to forge new partnerships in academic training, scientific research, and cross-cultural exchange.
Professor Luu Van Quyet, Vice President of USSH-VNUHCM, warmly welcomed the GDUFS representatives, recounting his fond memories of previously visiting their campus. Highlighting the immense popularity of the university's Chinese Linguistics and Literature and Japanese Studies programs among learners, he emphasized USSH-VNUHCM's robust global network of over 250 partners. “Through this meeting, we aim to practically and effectively expand our international collaborative initiatives, aligning perfectly with the core strengths of both institutions,” he stated.
In response, Professor Chen Duoyou, Honorary Dean of the Faculty of Japanese Language and Culture at GDUFS, expressed gratitude for the hospitality. He outlined GDUFS’s expansive academic scale, featuring 47 bachelor's and 37 master's and doctoral programs. Furthermore, he underscored their institutional prowess in East Asian studies, area studies, and the integration of artificial intelligence into teaching, translation, and interpretation.
Discussing concrete collaborative avenues, Dr. Truong Gia Quyen, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Chinese Linguistics and Literature at USSH-VNUHCM, proposed joint initiatives in translating and publishing academic textbooks. He also advocated for launching joint research projects exploring the culture, history, and Chinese community in Ho Chi Minh City, alongside organizing joint seminars, cultural exchanges, and comprehensive faculty and student mobility programs.
Professor Cheng Liang, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Japanese Language and Culture at the Institute of Oriental Studies (GDUFS), introduced the "CAMPUS Asia" model. Currently a trilateral educational alliance among GDUFS, Japan’s Ritsumeikan University, and South Korea’s Dongseo University, he proposed upgrading this framework into a quadrilateral mechanism by integrating Vietnam through USSH-VNUHCM.
Representing the Faculty of Vietnamese Studies, Vice Dean Dr. Nguyen Hoang Phuong reflected on the faculty’s nearly 30-year legacy. He laid out a six-point collaboration strategy: conducting joint research on Vietnamese language and culture; hosting Vietnamese proficiency certification exams at GDUFS; establishing 2+2 and 3+1 joint training models; organizing short-term courses and summer camps; delivering specialized classes on business Vietnamese, economic law, and investment; and providing practical corporate experience programs.
Dr. Nguyen Tuan Khanh, Lecturer at the Faculty of History and International Relations, suggested implementing semester-long student exchanges, faculty rotation programs, and collaborative research projects targeting international publication. Both delegations further explored avenues to deepen multilateral cooperation, particularly leveraging the "CAMPUS Asia" platform.
Concluding the productive session, both institutions agreed to task their respective specialized departments with finalizing these collaborative blueprints. These discussions lay the crucial groundwork for an upcoming Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), poised to significantly expand their joint efforts in education, scientific research, and student mobility.
Additional photos at the event:
| Guangdong University of Foreign Studies (GDUFS) is a premier higher education institution in China, renowned for its expertise in foreign languages, international economics, and global studies. The university drives diverse linguistic and interdisciplinary programs while actively championing international cooperation and area studies, with a strong emphasis on Asia. |
