On the evening of November 27, 2023, Assoc. Prof. Pham Xuan Anh, Vice-Rector represented the Hanoi University of Civil Engineering (HUCE) to join the Gala Dinner “Singapore – Vietnam Future School Festival 2023”. In the Gala Dinner, HUCE represented the 7 technological universities alliance in Vietnam to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Singapore partners to implement the project for promoting entrepreneurship in science, engineering and technology. This is one of the events on the occasion of celebrating 50 years of diplomatic relationship, and 10 years of strategic partnership between Vietnam and Singapore. Joining the dinner, there was the presence of H.E. Jaya Ratnam – Ambassador of Singapore to Vietnam; Mr. Nguyen Duc Hung – Vice-President of the Vietnam – Singapore Friendship Association.

In the Gala Dinner, the participants were introduced with the results of the “Future School Festival” program throughout 2023. The program connected more than 2,000 students, parents, teachers – lecturers from various high schools, and universities such as VinUniversity, Fullbright University, Foreign Trade University… with startups of both countries. The program was supported by the Singapore Global Network (SGN), and the Vietnam National Innovation Center (NIC).

In the near future, Singapore and Vietnam will continue to expand and strengthen their partnership, especially in the area where Singapore is very strong – which is innovation and entrepreneurship. For Vietnamese students, the concept of entrepreneurship is not new, especially for students majoring in finance and business. However, for students majoring in science, engineering and technology, entrepreneurial thinking and entrepreneurial skills are points that need to be improved.

Assoc. Prof. Pham Xuan Anh, Vice-Rector of HUCE gave speech at the event

Therefore, HUCE connected with two Singapore partners to implement the project for promoting entrepreneurship in science, engineering and technology. Outsider is a startup that operates in Singapore and Vietnam, pioneering in bridging the educational and employment sectors innovatively using the Open Work Simulation. Reactor School is a young Singaporean enterprise being presented in 17 Asian countries, and delivering courses on entrepreneurship to the youths. Within the context of the project, HUCE would represent the  7 technological universities alliance in Vietnam including: Hanoi University of Science and Technology (HUST); University of Science and Technology, The University of Danang (DUT); Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, Vietnam National University – Ho Chi Minh City (HCMUT); University of Transport and Communications (UTC); Hanoi University of Mining and Geology (HUMG); Thuy Loi University (TLU); and HUCE to implement contests of entrepreneurship, as well as to design special courses on entrepreneurship for students majoring in science, engineering and technology with the support of organizations in the Singapore government, together with innovation funds of enterprises.

MOU Signing Ceremony

The MOU Signing Ceremony between HUCE, Outsider, and Reactor School was proceeded with the witness of H.E. Jaya Ratnam – Ambassador of Singapore to Vietnam; Mr. Nguyen Duc Hung – Vice-President of the Vietnam – Singapore Friendship Association. Representatives of the 7 technological universities alliance in Vietnam that are based in Hanoi including: HUST; UTC; HUMG; and TLU also joined the Gala Dinner.

Representatives of the 7 technological universities alliance in Vietnam with bases in Hanoi

The project is expected to spread the entrepreneurial spirit to more than 150,000 lecturers and students majoring in science, engineering and technology of the 7 technological universities alliance in Vietnam. In addition, the project also attracted the attention of a number of partner universities in Laos and Cambodia, thereby having the potential for development throughout the Indochina peninsula.

Nghiem Ha Tan, International Cooperation Department