Chairman of the UTC's Council delivered a presentation at the "Promoting Innovation and Strategic Technology in Vietnam" Forum.

On the morning of August 20, 2025, in Hanoi, the National Innovation Center (NIC), in collaboration with the French-based Dassault Systèmes Group, organized the "Promoting Innovation and Strategic Technology in Vietnam" Forum”. This was a significant event as Vietnam strives to transform its industrial development model, promote the digital and green economy, and gradually participate more deeply in the global value chain.

Scenic view at the Forum

The forum attracted more than 50 delegates, including leaders from ministries and government agencies, experts, business leaders, and representatives from several key technical and technological universities in Vietnam. One of the highlights was a presentation by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Chuong, Chairman of the University Council of the University of Transport and Communications (UTC). His presentation was titled "From Research University to Innovation Ecosystem: Development Orientation for High-Quality Technical Human Resources in the New Technology Era.".

           Human Resources – The Bottleneck and the Key to Development

According to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Chuong, the process of global supply chain restructuring, along with the rise of green-circular technology and digital transformation, is creating a sudden surge in demand for high-quality technical human resources. This presents both a pressure and an opportunity for Vietnam. Assoc. Prof. Chuong emphasized: "Only when we can solve the human resources problem can we effectively leverage capital investment flows, receive advanced technology, and assert our position on the global competitive map."

In this context, key technical and technological universities like UTC, which also leads the Network of Excellence and Talent Training Centers in 4.0 Technology, are considered the hub of the human resources supply process. They are fulfilling the mission of training, cultivating, and developing a team of engineers, experts, and researchers to serve strategic technological industries.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Chuong, Chairman of the UTC's Council, delivered a presentation at the Business Leaders Forum.

          Solutions for the development of high-quality technical human resources

          In his presentation, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Chuong clearly outlined a series of key solutions that the University of Transport and Communications is implementing and will implement to enhance training quality and meet the requirements of international integration and sustainable development.

          First, standardizing training programs and learning outcomes. The programs are developed based on a comprehensive competency framework, including core technical knowledge, data and artificial intelligence technologies, risk management, safety, and innovation skills. The university also emphasizes incorporating compulsory interdisciplinary courses into the curriculum, such as Data for Engineers, Systems and Safety, Cybersecurity, Sustainable Development, and Product Lifecycle-based Analysis.

         Second, fostering project-based learning in collaboration with businesses. Businesses and the university co-design the curriculum and jointly evaluate students using a transparent set of criteria. This ensures that students have direct exposure to real-world problems in production and management.

          Third, developing short-term certificates and enhancing international recognition. The University of Transport and Communications (UTC) develops short-term training courses (4–8 weeks) in strategic fields such as high-speed rail, urban railway, semiconductor technology, and system security and safety. The university also strengthens cooperation with international organizations like UIC, TU Dresden, SWJTU, and UPM to implement dual-degree programs, joint certificates, and international standard recognition.

         Fourth, investing in modern laboratory and simulation infrastructure. The university is building an integrated laboratory with a simulated operation control center (OCC), ETCS/CBTC systems, digital twin models, and an open data repository for AI and big data research. This is considered a foundation for students to both learn theory and practice in an advanced technological environment.

          Fifth, promoting technology transfer and innovation startups. The university has organized annual innovation competitions and is aiming to establish a fund to support technology startup projects. This helps students not only learn but also have the opportunity to turn their ideas into reality and develop technology-based startups.

Forging a Strategic Partnership Between the University of Transport and Communications and the French-based Dassault Systèmes Group

          In his concluding remarks, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Chuong emphasized: "Training high-quality technical human resources, fostering a strong link between businesses and universities, investing in modern infrastructure, and internationalizing learning materials are the only ways for Vietnam to build a sustainable innovation ecosystem and meet the demands of the new technology era."

ICDS