On January 6, 2026, at Vietnam National University of Agriculture (VNUA), the Faculty of Economics and Management (Research Group on Economic Linkages and Market Development) collaborated with the University of Bonn (Germany) to organize a training workshop entitled “Decision Analysis Methods in Food Environment Research”
The workshop was one of the activities under the project “Nutrition Intervention Forecasting and Monitoring” (NIFAM). Vietnam National University of Agriculture is one of the key partners of the project in Vietnam. At VNUA, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Van Hung, Lecturer at the Faculty of Economics and Management, serves as the Project Leader.
Assoc. Prof. Dr Pham Van Hung delivering the opening remarks
Photo: Ninh Xuan Trung
Participants in the training workshop included lecturers and researchers from the University of Bonn (Germany), members of strong research groups, as well as lecturers and researchers from the Hanoi University of Public Health (HUPH), Hung Yen University of Technology and Education (UTEHY), the Fruit and Vegetable Research Institute (FAVRI), the Center for Organic Agriculture Development and Support (CODAS), the Social Policy Ecology Research Institute (SPERI), the Center for Children and Development (CCD), and the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI).
Assoc. Prof. Dr Nguyen Thi Minh Hien delivering the opening speech
Photo: Ninh Xuan Trung
In her opening remarks, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Minh Hien, Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Management, emphasized the fundamental and decisive role of nutrition in national human resource development, highlighted the interdisciplinary nature of research, and highly appreciated the theme and contents of the training workshop.
The program then continued with a presentation on qualitative Decision Analysis Methods in food environment research by Dr. Cory Whitney, NIFAM Co-Project Leader, and a presentation on the Impact Pathways of a Decision by Dr. Luu Thi Thu Giang (University of Bonn).
Dr Cory Whitney, Project Leader, introducing the objectives and contents of the training workshop
Photo: Ninh Xuan Trung
Dr. Luu Thi Thu Giang presenting on Impact Pathways of Decisions
Photo: Ninh Xuan Trung
On the second day of the training, Dr. Cory Whitney and Dr. Do Thi Hoa (University of Bonn) presented topics on quantitative model development and the quantification of uncertainty. On the third day, experts continued to guide participants on running models using R software and interpreting model results.
Participants of the training workshop
Photo: Ninh Xuan Trung
Decision Analysis Methods in food environment research represent a novel approach and attracted strong interest from all participants. Through this training workshop, lecturers and researchers were equipped with new knowledge on modeling techniques and enhanced skills in using R software for scientific research. Participants agreed that the workshop was highly beneficial, and that the knowledge and skills gained would be applied in future research activities.
Nguyen Thi Duong Nga, Pham Van Hung