From May 25 to 29, 2026, Quy Nhon University (QNU) warmly welcomed the Flemish delegation for the Fourth Joint Steering Committee (JSC) Week of the IUC-QNU Phase 1, funded by VLIR-UOS. The event marked an important milestone in reviewing the implementation progress of the project, strengthening academic cooperation, and discussing orientations for the phase 2. 

Throughout the JSC week, a wide range of meetings, scientific seminars, field trips, and networking activities were organized. The activities brought together QNU leaders, Flemish partner universities, project coordinators, lecturers, students, and external stakeholders.

A major focus of the JSC week was the discussion of self-assessment reports at both sub-project level and project level, as well as the preparation of Phase 2 proposal across the seven sub-projects. Sub-project teams also reviewed action plans for Years 4 and 5, defined the strategies and identified future research directions, as well as strengthened coordination mechanisms between Vietnamese and Flemish partners.

Several scientific seminars were organized during the week, reflecting the interdisciplinary and sustainable development orientation of the IUC-QNU Project. These included seminars on advanced materials and sustainable energy technologies, flooding trends and climate change impacts, and dragon fruit supply chains in Lam Dong Province. The discussions highlighted both current achievements and future research challenges in the context of regional and global sustainable development.

Vibrant discussions at the poster session

Field trips and community engagement activities were also conducted in Gia Lai and Dak Lak provinces, enabling subproject teams to connect academic research with local environmental, agricultural, and socio-economic issues. In addition, sub-project 7 organized a working visit to Hau Sanh Trading and Environment Co., Ltd., strengthening university-enterprise collaboration and promoting practical applications of research outcomes.

The official launch of QNU Green Club

One of the highlights of the week was the Poster Session held on May 27, 2026. The event gathered members of QNU leadership, the Flemish delegation, invited exteranal stakeholders, lecturers, PhD students, internship students from HOGENT University and interested people. The poster session provided an opportunity for sub-project teams and PhD students to showcase research results, exchange academic ideas, and foster interdisciplinary collaboration within an international environment.

The JSC week also featured several meaningful activities aimed at promoting sustainability, student engagement, and digital transformation. Subproject 7 organized a First Aid Training session for QNU staff and students, while the QNU Green Club was officially launched with the participation of HOGENT internship students and Flemish team members. In parallel, subproject 6 held meetings and discussions on digital resource development, library collaboration, and the sharing of experiences in digital learning materials among universities.

In the framework of the JSC week, Flemish and QNU experts also conducted laboratory tours and discussions on research collaboration and laboratory development. These efforts contribute to enhancing research capacity and ensuring sustainable operation of research infrastructure at QNU.

A group photo of the JSC members with a representative of VLIRUOS - Peter De Lannoy 

The Gala Dinner held at the ICISE Center on the evening of May 27 created a warm and friendly atmosphere for networking and strengthening the long-standing partnership between QNU and Flemish HEIs.

Through this series of activities, the IUC-QNU project continues to affirm its important role as a bridge for promoting scientific research, innovation, high-quality human resource development, and international cooperation at QNU. The JSC week not only provided an opportunity to reflect on the achievements of Phase 1, but also identified strategic orientations and new collaboration opportunities for Phase 2, contributing to the enhancement of QNU’s research, training, and international integration capacity in the coming years.

Nguyen Van Thang

Vo Thien An