Taking UBC’s Vietnam connection to the next level

UBC made major strides towards deepening its Vietnam partnerships recently at a UBC gathering in Hanoi.

In honour of Canada’s 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations with Vietnam, representatives from the UBC Office of the Vice-Provost International (OVPI) hosted a reception May 23 at the Grand Mercure Hanoi hotel to thank partners for their continued commitment, discuss new research and exchange opportunities, and reflect on past successes. Some 70 attendees included The Ambassador of Canada to Vietnam Shawn Steil, UBC students and faculty, Vietnamese university representatives, local business leaders and dignitaries.

“I take this opportunity to express our most sincere gratitude to our partner institutions for your hospitality, generosity and friendship,” said UBC Interim President and Vice-Chancellor Deborah Buszard in a virtual address. “We hope the institutional cooperation and, most importantly, the people-to-people ties we are fostering can contribute to the well-being of the people in Vietnam, Canada and the world.”

The OVPI’s Global Partnerships team has been actively expanding its engagement with Indo-Pacific partners since the launch of the federal government’s new Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy, said OVPI Managing Director Cheryl Dumaresq. In particular, the team is exploring ways for UBC scholars and students to enhance their knowledge of, and network in, this fast-growing region while positioning UBC as a world-leading centre of teaching, learning and research excellence.

Ambassador Steil thanked UBC for its efforts in linking Canada and Vietnam: With Vancouver as the gateway of Canada to the Asia-Pacific region, “(this event) is an indicator of the contribution you are making to our commitment to doing more, and better, for Canada in Asia.”

Toasting 50 years of educational partnership and friendship, from left: Dr. Yves Tiberghien, Dr. Nguyen Ha, Tran Diep Tuan, Dr. Pham Quang Hung, Shawn Steil, Dr. Hoang Van Sam, Leigh McCumber, Cheryl Dumaresq (photo: HNE Asia Media & Technology Company Ltd.)

The team timed the event with the experiential learning research forum on human development in the age of globalization, created in partnership with VinUniversity. The newly established university is created by VinGroup, Vietnam's largest conglomerate running businesses in technology, car manufacturing, real estate, retail, healthcare and hospitality. During the 10-day forum, students from UBC and VinUni conducted original research on how to advance human development while protecting cultural identity and the planet in today’s environment.

After opening remarks from President Buszard, Dumaresq explained how partnerships with Vietnamese institutions have evolved over the years, beginning with the capacity-building efforts by UBC’s law faculty to share knowledge on international law with Vietnamese counterparts. The collaborations have extended to medical and dental rotations at Vietnamese hospitals, and research collaborations on public health, natural conservation and global governance. And this research has significantly enhanced Canada’s understanding of Vietnam, and contributed to the welfare of citizens of both countries, she said.

UBC Political Science Professor Yves Tiberghien discussed the growing momentum to engage with Vietnam. “There’s so much to learn from Vietnam and for us to do together,” he said. “Vietnam is seen as very important to Canada and that is backed by strong commitments. UBC is part of this movement.”

Dr. Pham Quang Hung, Director General of the International Department of the Vietnam Ministry of Education and Training, praised UBC’s educational partnerships with Vietnamese universities, hospitals and research institutions, and encouraged building more such mutually beneficial alliances.

The ambassador lingered for two hours, engaged in animated conversations with students, noted, Haochen Li, who manages UBC’s partnership with Asian institutions. He said the UBC delegation surpassed its goals of thanking partners and rekindling relationships in a convivial ambiance marked by touching personal anecdotes, fond recollections and inspiring energy. The event was also the first time UBC has gathered its alumni together in Vietnam.

“It was a great opportunity for us to reconnect with our Vietnamese friends and raise UBC’s image as Canada’s top academic resource on Asia,” Li said.

Organizations represented at the reception include the Embassy of Canada to Vietnam; Ministry of Education and Training of Vietnam; the University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Ho Chi Minh City; Vietnam National University of Forestry; Foreign Trade University; Centre for Nature Conservation and Development; Foreign Trade University; Embassy of France to Vietnam; Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada; and Queens University in Canada.

Students in this year’s UBC-VinUni research forum at the reception (photo: HNE Asia Media & Technology Company Ltd)

Read more about UBC’s global partnership opportunities.