On September 5, 2023, Prof. Dr. Pascal Leroy, the first person who established the Vietnam - Belgium Project at Vietnam National University of Agriculture (VNUA) and former leader of the University of Liège, Belgium, visited and worked at VNUA. Also at this meeting, VNUA held the ceremony to recognize the contributions of Prof. Dr. Pascal Leroy for the Vietnam - Belgium project at the university.
Overview of the ceremony
Attending the program were Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Lan, Party Committee Secretary, VNUA’s President; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Minh Hien, Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Rural Development, VNUA; Dr. Nguyen Thanh Hai, Director of the Training Management Office, VNUA; Prof. Dr. Vu Dinh Ton, Project Manager of the Vietnam - Belgium project, VNUA; Prof. Dr. Pascal Leroy, former leader of the University of Liège; Prof. Dr. Lebailly Philippe, Project Coordinator of the Vietnam - Belgium project, University of Liège; and representatives of the Vietnam - Belgium project members and leaders of faculties and offices from VNUA.
Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Lan, Party Committee Secretary, VNUA’s President delivers a speech
Speaking at the program, Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Lan, Party Committee Secretary, VNUA’s President, expressed her joy when welcoming Prof. Dr. Pascal Leroy, former leader of the University of Liège, Belgium, and said that VNUA was extremely thankful for his presence. Prof. Dr. Pascal Leroy had been with VNUA since 2000 as the Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège; and then, as the Vice Rector in charge of International Cooperation of the University of Liège. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Lan emphasized that the two universities had a long-standing, close and very special relationship. Thanks to the Vietnam - Belgium Project, many VNUA’s staff and lecturers had had the opportunity to study in the Kingdom of Belgium. In addition, VNUA had been also receiving a lot of support in terms of equipment for the laboratories of the faculties to serve the university training and scientific research, as well as useful documents for the library, lecturers and research students. On that basis, in December 2022, VNUA signed a memorandum of understanding with the University of Liège in the presence of the Belgian Princess and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh in Brussels.
Prof. Dr. Pascal Leroy, former leader of the University of Liège speaks at the ceremony
Prof. Dr. Pascal Leroy, former leader of the University of Liège thanked the thoughtful and warm welcome from VNUA and Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Lan, Party Committee Secretary, VNUA’s President; hereby Prof. Dr. Pascal Leroy also hoped that VNUA would create favorable conditions and coordinate with the University of Liège, Belgium more closely in research cooperation, exchange of staff, students and other forms of scientific and educational cooperation between the two sides. Prof. Dr. Pascal Leroy also emphasized that the Kingdom of Belgium and Vietnam had an increasingly positive and comprehensive cooperative relationship which had been developed into a solid partnership in the fields of politics, economics, security and communication between the peoples of the two countries. The Kingdom of Belgium was a country with the world's leading, flexible and diverse education system and advanced teaching methods. Prof. Dr. Pascal Leroy hoped that the University of Liège would continue to accept many students from VNUA to study and work at the university in the future.
Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Lan, Party Committee Secretary, VNUA’s President, gives a souvenir present to Prof. Dr. Pascal Leroy, the first person to establish the Vietnam - Belgium Project at VNUA, former leader of the University of Liège, Belgium
Also at the program, the two sides discussed and agreed to continue to cooperate closely to successfully implement the Vietnam - Belgium project for the period 2022-2027, build joint programs on veterinary medicine, and support the development of VNUA’s Veterinary Hospital, animal nutrition, aquatic diseases and cooperation in training, research and commercialization of scientific and technological products. VNUA also hoped to receive support from Prof. Dr. Pascal Leroy in giving VNUA’s excellent staff, lecturers and students the opportunities to practice, do internships and research at the University of Liège.