Vietnam/USTH: cooperation agreement signed with Laos

On Monday, May 29, during a visit by the Minister of Technology and Communications of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, Boviengkham Vongdara, the USTH and the Lao Institute of Information and Communication Technology pledged to work together to offer master's or doctoral level ICT scholarships to Lao students, as well as assistance in improving their training pathways.

In addition to scholarships, this agreement will promote exchanges between the USTH and the Institut de technologie pour l'information et la communication (IICT), welcome colleagues from Laos to the USTH, forge links between research teams and build bridges with France.

Jean Marc Lavest, Principal Rector of the USTH, told the Laotian delegation that "the IT sector in the broadest sense, as well as data sciences and cyber security, are highly strategic elements for Laos.curity are highly strategic elements for every country, and global competition is very tough in this sector. We need to be convinced within each government that it is essential for countries to train their IT specialists to the highest level, and to offer them the conditions they need to stay and support their country's growth. In the USTH, Laos will find a welcoming, open and tolerant home, but one that is also demanding in terms of the scientific excellence that guides it".

He also pointed out that, in creating the USTH, Vietnam has opted for a university organization in line with the Bologna process, with a 3-year bachelor's degree, a 2-year master's degree and a 3-year doctorate.It has also opted for high-level teaching programs, with high standards for its teaching staff - 90% of whom have completed a doctorate abroad - its technological facilities and its research. Likewise, USTH is located at the heart of the Academy, which promotes excellence in science and technology research in Vietnam.D. programs with close links to France and more than 30 academic establishments in the USTH Consortium, more than 2.500 hours of teaching by French and foreign collaborators.

The Chief Rector also mentions "growth rates in excess of 10% and the fact that, in just a few years, we have become the VAST's second most-published institution in terms of top-ranking international publications".

The Minister of Technology and Communications of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, Boviengkham Vongdara, is delighted with this agreement between the two establishments, and has declared that "we are delighted to have been able to sign this agreement.He said that "the USTH had an excellent reputation, praised the growth of its enrolment and presumed the future". He also recalled that the signing of the MoU was part of the^2nd session of the bilateral meeting between the Vietnamese Academy of Science and Technology and the Lao Ministry of Technology and Communications on May 28, 2023.

Source: lecourrier.vn/