On December 17, at its Saigon campus, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Viet Nam National University Ho Chi Minh City (USSH-VNUHCM), in collaboration with Dong-A University from South Korea, organized the USSH – Dong-A Presidents’ Forum.
The event took place as part of the official visit of Dong-A University’s leadership delegation to Vietnam and served as a high-level dialogue platform to concretize strategic cooperation initiatives between the two institutions in a new phase of development.
An overview of the USSH VNUHCM – Dong-A Presidents’ Forum held at the Saigon campus of USSH VNUHCM
Prof. Dr. Ngo Thi Phuong Lan, President of USSH VNUHCM delivered remarks at the forum
Speaking at the forum, Prof. Dr. Ngo Thi Phuong Lan, shared her perspective on the importance of strengthening the University’s presence and reinforcing its academic reputation within the global higher education landscape. According to her, in an era of increasingly deep international integration, the academic identity of a university is not defined solely by the scale of its academic programs. Rather, it is shaped by multiple factors, including networks of students and alumni studying and working at universities worldwide, a faculty actively engaged in international teaching, research, and scholarly publications, as well as leadership that promotes and expands global partnerships.
Building on this foundation, she noted that the initiative to organize the USSH VNUHCM – Dong-A Presidents’ Forum represents a concrete step toward deepening the partnership between the two universities in a substantive and sustainable manner. The forum not only provides a space for direct dialogue between university leaders but also enables both sides to jointly develop practical cooperation initiatives that benefit students, faculty members, and long-term goals for high-quality human resource development. Within the program, the two sides also discussed expanding connections between universities, local governments, and related partners, thereby contributing to educational, cultural, and urban development cooperation between Ho Chi Minh City and Busan.
Prof. Lee Hae Woo, President of Dong-A University, shared the university’s cooperation vision at the forum
Representing Dong-A University, Prof. Lee Hae Woo, expressed appreciation for the warm welcome extended by USSH VNUHCM and acknowledged the institution’s academic reputation and role within Vietnam’s higher education system. He noted that Dong-A University is actively promoting its internationalization strategy and participating in several key initiatives supported by the South Korean government. The university is therefore eager to further expand cooperation with higher education institutions in Vietnam, with USSH VNUHCM regarded as a key strategic partner.
In addition to the leadership dialogue, the forum program included an overview presentation of Dong-A University and a Q&A session with students and participants. These activities helped attendees gain a clearer understanding of the academic environment, study opportunities, and international exchange programs available in South Korea.
Faculty members and students from both universities engaged in discussions during the USSH VNUHCM – Dong-A Presidents’ Forum, aiming to implement strategic cooperation initiatives
Notably, during the visit and working sessions, Dong-A University awarded 10 scholarships to students of USSH VNUHCM, demonstrating its strong commitment to supporting learners and promoting social responsibility in educational cooperation between the two institutions.
Dong-A University also provided 10 financial grants for students from central Vietnam affected by recent floods, reflecting a spirit of solidarity, social responsibility, and support for students overcoming post-disaster challenges
Built on a foundation of trust, dialogue, and shared vision, the USSH VNUHCM – Dong-A Presidents’ Forum is expected to become an effective cooperation mechanism. It aims to foster exemplary partnership models in education, scientific research, and academic exchange, thereby contributing positively to the development of Vietnam–South Korea higher education cooperation in the coming period.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Huynh Ngoc Thu, Head of the Office of External Relations and Research Management, read the joint statement on strengthening cooperation in education, research, and international collaboration
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JOINT STATEMENT BETWEEN THE USSH VNUHCM AND DONG-A UNIVERSITY On June 20, 2025, in Busan, South Korea, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City, and Dong-A University signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), marking an important milestone in the internationalization process of both institutions, particularly in the fields of social sciences and humanities. Based on the signed MoU, the two universities agreed to establish and maintain the USSH VNUHCM – Dong-A Presidents’ Forum as an annual strategic dialogue mechanism, to be held alternately in Vietnam and South Korea. The forum aims to concretize priority cooperation orientations and promote deeper, more effective, and sustainable bilateral collaboration. Key areas of cooperation include:
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Highlights from the program:
Story & Photo by LÝ NGUYÊN
Translation by THÁI TƯỜNG
