Vietnam National University of Agriculture expands cooperation in training and scientific research

Since 1997, Vietnam National University of Agriculture (VNUA) has established cooperation with many universities in the Kingdom of Belgium.

Overview of the meeting

On April 2nd, VNUA welcomed Mrs. Elisabeth DEGRYSE, Minister-President of the Wallonie-Bruxelles region, along with a delegation of university representatives from the Kingdom of Belgium.

Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Lan, VNUA president, acknowledged the long-standing friendship and excellent cooperation across various fields since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1973.

Cooperation with Belgium partners represents a special relationship for VNUA. Since 1997, the university has established partnerships with universities in the Kingdom of Belgium through the Institutional Cooperation Program with the Community of French-Speaking Universities.

This program, which has lasted for nearly 30 years and includes four phases, aims to strengthen the teaching and research capacity of staff and students through short-term training courses, research projects, sandwich doctoral training, and the improvement of library systems.

Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Lan, VNUA president, addresses at the meeting

Emphasizing the importance of training and improving the quality of human resources, Mr. Tanguy Goethals, Director of ARES Cooperation (the Federation of Public Higher Education Institutions in the Wallonia-Brussels Federation of Belgium), stated that the exchange of scientific and technological advancements will promote cooperation and provide solutions to global challenges such as climate change, healthcare, and food security.

“Academic cooperation no longer has borders between countries in general, or higher education institutions in particular. It has become a bridge to address common issues and work towards sustainable development,” Mr. Tanguy Goethals remarked.

Mrs. Annick CASTIAUX, President of the University of Namur

Mrs. Annick CASTIAUX, president of the University of Namur, emphasized the goal of research and training collaboration. She affirmed that the university will support the training of human resources at the undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral levels in the field of aquaculture. The training will be closely linked to practical experience including hands-on application in order to achieve sustainable development goals.

Mr. Philippe DUBOIS, President of the University of Mons (Belgium)

Mr. Philippe DUBOIS expressed his desire to cooperate with VNUA in the field of waste recycling. He stated "We can send a team of experts in recycling waste into new, environmentally-friendly materials. Additionally, we also have strengths in the field of medicine and pharmacy, so we could collaborate with Vietnamese universities in this area if needed"

Mrs. Elisabeth DEGRYSE, Minister-President of the Wallonie-Bruxelles Government (French-speaking Community of Belgium) confirmed that the collaboration with VNUA is an opportunity for both sides to reflect on the future and emphasized that this visit could serve as a way to explore how we can cooperate more effectively, especially in certain challenging fields.

Mrs. Elisabeth DEGRYSE speaks at the meeting

"Belgian experts can provide technical support in areas such as livestock management training, especially in dairy production and cattle farming (including the Belgian Blue Bull breed - BBB). The Wallonie region has significant expertise in this field." said Mrs. Elisabeth DEGRYSE.

She also mentioned that this meeting is an opportunity to discuss how we can improve to ensure that existing cooperation continues to contribute to the further development of Vietnam's agricultural sector. This can be achieved by bringing new research methods, training a new generation of researchers, and facilitating the application of more sustainable and resilient agricultural practices.

Source: https://giaoducthoidai.vn/