Successful Organization of the Workshop 

“Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence for Circular Economy (DTACE): Bridging Vietnam and the United Kingdom Experiences”

On the morning of 6 January 2026, the University of Transport and Communications (UTC) successfully hosted the scientific workshop entitled “Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence for Circular Economy (DTACE): Bridging between Vietnam and the United Kingdom Experiences”. The event attracted wide participation from scientists, experts, representatives of management agencies and enterprises, as well as lecturers and students interested in digital transformation, artificial intelligence, and the circular economy.

The workshop was organized within the framework of the project “Developing the Talent Programme of Digital Transformation and AI for Circular Economy (DTACE): Bridging the Transport Infrastructure of Vietnam and the United Kingdom”, under the UK–Vietnam iTechPath Programme funded by the British Council. The project is co-led by Brunel University London and the University of Transport and Communications. The workshop aimed to strengthen academic connections, share research experiences, and promote collaboration between Vietnamese and UK scientists in the fields of digital transformation and circular economy.

Representing the University of Transport and Communications, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Hoang Tung, Head of the Project Management Department, Faculty of Construction Management, served as the academic coordinator of the workshop. He was also responsible for connecting research groups, lecturers, and students of UTC within the DTACE project framework. This coordinating role contributed significantly to ensuring coherence between academic content, research orientation, and the project’s objectives in education and high-quality human resource development.

In the opening remarks, on behalf of the management and coordination team of the UK–Vietnam iTechPath projects, Dr. Trinh Quang Khai, Director of the Department of International Cooperation and Development Studies, emphasized the importance of digital transformation and artificial intelligence in the development of the circular economy. He expressed his hope that the workshop would serve as an effective forum for scientists to exchange ideas on emerging models, technologies, and research directions to promote sustainable development.

Under the academic coordination of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Hoang Tung, the workshop took place in a dynamic and engaging atmosphere, featuring presentations and scholarly discussions delivered by experts and researchers from Brunel University London and the University of Transport and Communications.

Dr. Ruoyu Jin from Brunel University London, the project lead, shared insights into digital transformation and circular economy practices in the construction environment. This was followed by presentations from Dr. Lu Gan (Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Brunel University London); Dr. Bui Ngoc Dung, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Information Technology; Dr. Ngo Thanh Binh (Faculty of Electrical and Electronic Engineering); and Dr. Tran Ngoc Hoa (Faculty of Civil Engineering). The presentations focused on topics such as AI-based image generation for construction and demolition waste management, deep learning applications in transportation, UAV applications in construction monitoring and management in Vietnam, and intelligent bridge structural health monitoring using self-supervised learning (SSL) and big data processing architectures.

In addition to presentations by academic staff from both universities, the workshop also included a student research session for UTC students, showcasing research projects conducted under the supervision of UTC lecturers. Student presentations focused on topics such as a BIM-based infrastructure deterioration assessment tool for developing countries using a mobile image-based systematic approach, and integration of BIM and life cycle assessment (LCA) to analyze emissions throughout the project life cycle from the preliminary design stage. This session, also academically coordinated by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Hoang Tung, provided valuable opportunities for young researchers to exchange ideas and helped strengthen the linkage between education activities and the research orientation of the DTACE project.

The workshop was held in an open, constructive, and intellectually engaging atmosphere, opening up promising opportunities for future cooperation in scientific research, education, and technology transfer between the University of Transport and Communications, Brunel University London, and partner institutions.

Some photos from the workshop:

Overview of the workshop

Dr. Trinh Quang Khai - Director of International Cooperation and Development Studies, representing the UTC's Project Management Board delivering the speech.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Hoang Tung - Project coordinator at UTC moderating the presentation session.

Dr. Ruoyu Jin - Brunel University London, Project leader presenting at the workshop.

Participants at the workshop.

ICDS