Signing Ceremony of the Joint Appointment Agreement between Dong-A University (Korea) and Prof. Dr. Ngo Thi Phuong Lan
On the afternoon of August 27, Dong-A University (Korea) and Prof. Dr. Ngo Thi Phuong Lan, President of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City (USSH-VNUHCM), signed a Joint Appointment Agreement at Dong-A University’s Seung Hak Campus in Busan, Korea. Under this agreement, Prof. Ngo Thi Phuong Lan will serve as an academic advisor to Dong-A University, while USSH-VNUHCM will jointly carry out projects within the framework of the Glocal University 30 Initiative.
Representing Dong-A University at the signing ceremony was Prof. Lee Hae Woo, President, joined by leaders and staff from the Office of International Cooperation.
The representatives from the two parties signed a Joint Appointment Agreement
Following the signing, both universities engaged in in-depth discussions on the implementation of upcoming programs for the next academic year.
Prof. Hyuntae Park, Head of the International Cooperation Office, outlined Dong-A’s proposals, which include joint projects for Vietnamese and international students, initiatives for academic internationalization, student exchanges—particularly in fields related to Korean language and culture, communication, tourism management, and artificial intelligence, etc. He emphasized that Dong-A’s extensive alumni network of over 300,000 members, leading experts, and research funds are well-positioned to support and collaborate with USSH, VNUHCM.
Dong-A University has made specific and detailed proposals regarding the coordination plan following the signing of the JA
In response, Prof. Dr. Ngo Thi Phuong Lan welomed the proposals and stressed that collaboration should highlight the strengths of both institutions, foster interdisciplinary approaches, and align with the strategic development priorities of Vietnam and Korea. She suggested potential areas of cooperation, such as heritage law, cultural and arts legislation, private sector development, applications of artificial intelligence in social sciences and humanities research, support for the Digital Humanities Program, and the exploration of joint programs (2+2, 3+1 models).
In the field of communication, Prof. Dr. Ngo Thi Phuong Lan proposed co-organizing an International Student Film Festival in Busan or Ho Chi Minh City, noting that communication is also a strong suit of USSH, VNUHCM students. She also highlighted the possibility of USSH, VNUHCM offering short-term training courses for Dong-A students before studying abroad, as well as career guidance and job placement support for students returning to Vietnam after graduation.
USSH-VNUHCM fully supports and is ready to collaborate in organizing programs for Vietnamese and Korean students, including exchange students
The discussions took place in an open and cooperative atmosphere, with specific proposals exchanged, paving the way for strong and promising future collaboration between the two institutions.
The Glocal University 30 Initiative, supported by the Korean Ministry of Education with a budget of approximately USD 75 million over five years, aims to:
- Implement specialized educational programs aligned with local industries;
- Strengthen international cooperation to cultivate globally competitive human resources;
- Promote joint academic research and organize international conferences;
- Host global academic forums to foster cross-border knowledge exchange;
- Establish a Faculty Program with the participation of outstanding international scholars;
- Enhance international academic exchanges and student learning experiences;
- Develop university-industry partnerships to support regional and global competitiveness;
- Expand student exchange programs through international collaboration.
Thao Hy
Translation by Khanh Linh
