On the morning of November 24, Assoc.Prof.Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Vu - President of the University of Danang (UD) chaired a meeting with Oregon State Legislature - House of Representatives (USA) including Rep. Paul Evans and Rep. Daniel Nguyen and Commissioner Katherine Lam - Head of Delegation (Port of Portland – Trade & Economic Development Task Force, President & CEO of Bambuza Hospitality Group) and Mr. Bobby Lee - Chief of Staff to the Mayor of City of Portland.

Panorama of the working session between UD and the Oregon State Delegation

Also attending were Dr. Dang Van Huan - Director of Support for Autonomous Higher Education Project (SAHEP) - Ministry of Education and Training; Prof.Dr. James Hook – Associate Dean of Mashee College of Engineering and Computer Science, Portland State University, and Ms. Julia Babcok - Representative of the Vietnam-Oregon Initiatives, Portland State University; Mr. Jess Paulson – Director of Market Access - Oregon State Department of Agriculture, and representatives of some of the Oregon State's corporations and businesses.

On the side of UD, there are representatives of leaders of UD’s member universities: UD-University of Science and Technology, UD-University of Economics, UD- VNUK Institute for Research and Executive Education and functional departments/centers (Science Technology and Environment, International Cooperation, Center for Learning Resources and Communication).

Assoc.Prof.Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Vu, President of UD (center) spoke

At the meeting, Assoc.Prof.Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Vu – President of UD respectfully welcomed the Oregon State Delegation (USA) and distinguished guests to visit and work with UD.

The presence of Oregon State Representatives and leaders of the State's universities and businesses showed deep concern and good feelings to promote, connect and cooperate in the future.

Rep. Paul Evans, Oregon State Legislature – House of Representatives, spoke

Introducing the overview and highlights of UD as a national key regional university, multi-field, multi-disciplinary, leading scientific research and training center in Vietnam (with 06 universities members and affiliated units), President of UD said that after nearly 50 years of construction and development, UD's member universities have trained and provided tens of thousands of engineers, officials, teachers, experts and businessmen for the country.

We are proud to contribute many generations of successful alumni/students holding key positions in agencies, organizations, businesses, schools and universities; presenting on most key national works and projects; actively contributing to the socio-economic development of the Central Highlands region and the whole country; the President of UD shared.

Rep. Daniel Nguyen, Oregon State Legislature – House of Representatives, spoke

UD receives attention from the Vietnamese Government and prioritizes development investment to strive to become a National University, one of the top 3 training and scientific research centers in Vietnam with the mission of providing high quality human resources, actively participates in research, contributes to the development and criticism of policies to develop the region and the country.

With 05 topics in the UD Development Strategy are: Connecting with ministries, branches and localities; Strengthening the cooperation with businesses; Connecting with high schools; Promoting international cooperation and innovation in university administration, one of the bright spots in international cooperation of UD with US partners is the Partnership for Higher Education Reform Project (PHER) (funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) for the period 2022-2026 with Indiana University as a partner) implemented with two National Universities in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City or the "Maker Innovation" Project (sponsored by Arizona State University), which has inspired creativity and fostered the entrepreneurial spirit for students of UD...

Ms. Katherine Lam - Head of the Delegation,

Port of Portland – Trade & Economic Development Task Force,

President & CEO of Bambuza Hospitality Group, spoke

Currently, UD has more than 60 staff and lecturers with PhD/Master's degrees from US universities/institutes who have made important contributions, created breakthroughs to improve the quality of training and scientific research, strived to realize aspirations/expectation to develop UD into a National University in the future.

The outstanding and very important mark when Vietnam and the United States have just upgraded their relationship to become a comprehensive strategic partnership is the opportunity to strengthen cooperation between the two countries in general, between Oregon State and Da Nang city, as well as between Oregon State Universities /Portland State University and UD in particular in the coming time.

Prof.Dr. James Hook, Associate Dean of Mashee College of Engineering and Computer Science at Portland State University (PSU), spoke

The President of UD expressed his wish and hope that the Oregon State Delegation led by  the State Government Representatives and representatives of universities and businesses will help as a connection, support UD to connect more partners from the US in order to cooperate together to train high-tech human resources, especially in the key semiconductor industry, in which the Governments of the two countries have agreed on a direction to strengthen cooperation.

Delegates attending the working session exchanged and discussed

Speaking to UD leaders, Rep. Paul Evans from Oregon State Legislature – House of Representatives (USA) expressed his joy to visit and work with UD; sincerely thanked the President of UD for giving the delegation a warm and respectful welcome; agreed with the assessment of the role of universities as an important driving force, promoting innovation and contributing to socio-economic development for localities, regional and national development.

President of UD (on the left side) exchanged souvenirs with partners from Oregon State, USA

According to Ms. Katherine Lam, Head of the Oregon State Delegation, the Delegation to Vietnam this time included two Congressmen who play important roles in the Oregon State Government, especially in education, science and economic cooperation together with representatives of universities and businesses was a valuable opportunity for the parties to enhance mutual understanding, promote connection and effective cooperation with UD.

Oregon State of the United States has just signed an MOU with the Ministry of Education and Training and the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Vietnam, creating a legal framework for relevant partners, including UD, to actively participate in its role and mission; implementing the cooperation with the oriented content to meet common needs and interests, Dr. Dang Van Huan - Director of SAHEP Project - Ministry of Education and Training, said.

President of UD exchanged souvenirs

with representatives of the Oregon State Delegation

According to Prof.Dr. James Hook – Associate Dean of Mashee College of Engineering and Computer Science - PSU, PSU  is a traditional and prestigious university with strengths in high-tech industries and fields, especially semiconductor chips (currently the second partner providing the largest number of human resources to Intel Corporation globally).

Portland State University wishes to learn and grasp the needs and potentials of UD and Vietnamese localities and businesses, thereby opening up more opportunities to increase cooperation and share experiences in training, researching semiconductor chips as well as advanced engineering and technology fields.

Representatives of PSU exchanged souvenirs with UD leaders

In a sincere and open atmosphere, representatives of UD's member universities and institutes and the Oregon State Delegation discussed and shared common concerns; introduced potential, strengths and need for cooperation; jointly expressed the desire of the parties to strengthen "triangular connection" (government-university-business), especially in training, research and development of potential industries and fields such as: High technology/ Semiconductor chips, Hotel tourism or Fintech financial technology, Logistics, etc.

Unifying the direction of cooperation focusing on training,

research and development in the semiconductor industry

President of UD Nguyen Ngoc Vu proposed that partners from the Oregon State, USA, including Oregon State University and PSU, coordinate with UD to unify and announce a Letter of Intent for cooperation with the authorities of Danang city and the Oregon State as well as the ministries and branches of the two countries about 03 key cooperation directions, which are:

 (1) Promoting cooperation in training high quality human resources, with a focus on supporting UD in training human resources to develop the Semiconductor Industry (UD has great potential when 03/06 member universities are training, research in the fields of engineering and technology);

(2) Cooperating in scientific research and technology transfer in accordance with the strengths and needs of the parties;

 (3) Enhancing the exchange of experts/ lecturers and students by universities with similar interests and potential to promote and connect.

The universities jointly proposed to the Government of Oregon State and Da Nang City and other ministries and branches to continue to pay attention and support to help realize these cooperative orientations.

The working visit of the Oregon State Delegation, USA

showed deep concern and promoted cooperation with UD

The representative of the Oregon State Delegation, Ms. Katherine Lam acknowledged, appreciated and expressed agreement with the cooperative orientations that UD leaders discussed and suggested as appropriate and coincident ideas with the needs and relationships common thoughts of the Oregon State Delegation members; hope and believe that through this visit and working with UD, the two sides will continue to concretize and promote to realize wishes with good will to jointly promote further cooperation for sustainable development.

UD - Center for Learning Resources and Communication