The University of Transport and Communications is the leading training institution for the network of advanced and smart transport technology and infrastructure

On August 1, 2025, Ministry of Education and Training, in collaboration with University of Transport and Communications, organized the conference announcing the networks of centers of excellence and talent training in Industry 4.0 technology for the Northern region.

Delegates attending the conference

Attending the conference were Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Phuc – Deputy Minister of Education and Training; representatives from the Ministry of Science and Technology; representatives from various units of the Ministry of Education and Training; seven higher education institutions leading seven networks; and over 100 representatives from universities and enterprises participating as members of the networks.

According to the Ministry of Education and Training, the Northern region has seven higher education institutions leading and managing seven networks in fields such as artificial intelligence, semiconductor industry, biotechnology, transport technology, and advanced materials. The Central and Southern regions have six higher education institutions leading six networks. In February 2025, the Prime Minister approved the project to develop a system of centers of excellence and talent training in Industry 4.0 technology by 2030.

Among the list of seven networks, the University of Transport and Communications is the leading training institution for the network of advanced and smart transport technology and infrastructure.

List of the 7 higher education institutions in the Northern region leading 7 networks 

Overview of the conference

In his speech at the launch of the seven networks in the Northern region, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Phuc – Deputy Minister of Education and Training – affirmed that the announcement of these centers of excellence and talent training networks in Industry 4.0 technology is a concrete step to implement the major policies and directives into higher education practice. “Instead of developing individual universities separately, we are shifting to a collaborative and shared network approach. We believe that with these networks of centers of excellence, the quality of high-tech human resources will make a breakthrough”.

Through excellent training programs and joint research projects between universities and enterprises, students and researchers will acquire the most up-to-date knowledge, develop interdisciplinary skills, and gain experience in solving practical technological challenges. Experience from countries around the world shows that only when universities, businesses, and the government collaborate closely can an open innovation ecosystem be built—where every idea and initiative has the opportunity to be nurtured and applied.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Phuc – Deputy Minister of Education and Training – delivered the keynote speech directing the conference

At the conference, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Hung – President of the University of Transport and Communications – expressed his sincere thanks to Deputy Minister Nguyen Van Phuc for his presence and valuable guidance. He also warmly welcomed and sincerely thanked all the leaders, distinguished guests from ministries and agencies, university faculty, leaders of corporations and enterprises, as well as representatives of the press who attended this special event—an event of strategic significance in the process of realizing the fundamental and comprehensive renewal of higher education and the development of science and technology in Vietnam.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Hung affirmed that Prime Minister’s Decision No. 374/QD-TTg is a clear demonstration of the determination of the Party and Government, as well as the proactive and decisive involvement of the Ministry of Education and Training in promoting the “three-party” cooperation model: State – University – Enterprise, to effectively implement Politburo Resolution 57-NQ/TW and Government Resolution 71/NQ-CP on the development of science, technology, innovation, and national digital transformation.

As a university with a long-standing tradition and a close cooperation network of over 200 state management agencies, training institutions, research organizations, and enterprises both domestically and internationally, the University of Transport and Communications has been affirming its pioneering role in training, research, and technology transfer in the field of advanced and smart transport technology and infrastructure. This is precisely the field for which UTC, as a key national technical university specializing in transportation, has been honored with the leadership responsibility.

Over the past decade, the university has collaborated with the country’s leading technical universities to establish and operate a cooperative linkage model among seven major technical universities (G7) — an important pilot step aimed at sharing resources, enhancing training quality, and boosting research capacity to meet the increasing demands of society.

That pioneering model has today been formally institutionalized through a government resolution, coordinated by the Ministry of Education and Training, and supported by enterprises and social organizations, to establish centers of excellence—intellectual leaders in the country’s vigorous era of advancement.

In a world that is increasingly hot, flat, crowded, and uncertain—where breakthrough developments in science and technology, alongside global geopolitical upheavals, are restructuring social systems at both micro and macro levels—no single entity, whether a research institution, business, or regulatory agency, can alone respond comprehensively and sustainably to the complex, interdisciplinary challenges of our time.

Sharing resources, sincere cooperation, and substantive collaboration are essential conditions for higher education and science and technology to truly become breakthrough forces that propel Vietnam to take off and achieve the goal of becoming a high-income developed country by 2045. This is precisely the spirit set forth for all of us in Prime Minister’s Decision No. 374/QĐ-TTg.

The selection of the University of Transport and Communications as the focal institution for the network of centers of excellence in advanced and smart transport technology and infrastructure is not only a recognition but also a reflection of the trust and expectation from the Party, the Government, and directly from the Ministry of Education and Training. With the highest sense of responsibility, the university commits to concretizing its leadership role through strategic directions: developing an ecosystem of training, research, and technology transfer in smart cities, digital infrastructure, and green transport; expanding cooperative networks with priority given to co-development, co-funding, and joint intellectual ownership programs; building platforms for sharing data, equipment, learning materials, and experts among universities, research institutes, enterprises, and regulatory agencies; and promoting science communication to raise community awareness about transport technology and advanced smart infrastructure.

In this spirit, the University of Transport and Communications has formulated a five-year development plan for the network and a ten-year vision with specific tasks for each stage. We commit to acting with sincerity, practicality, and creativity so that the network is not merely an initiative but truly becomes a driving force for development—a center for disseminating knowledge and fostering innovation in Vietnam’s future infrastructure and transport sector.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Hung – President of the University of Transport and Communications – delivered a speech

At the conference, the lead units of the networks presented reports sharing their plans, development orientations, strategic goals, and implementation solutions for centers of excellence and talent training in key technology fields of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Presentation by Hanoi University of Science and Technology

Presentation by Vietnam National University, Hanoi

Following the presentations, the official announcement of the networks of centers of excellence and talent training in Industry 4.0 technology took place—strategic collaborative structures among higher education institutions, research institutes, enterprises, and the government, contributing to the development of the national innovation ecosystem. The announcement of these networks is a significant milestone in promoting enhanced cooperation between educational institutions and businesses, with support and accompaniment from the State, contributing to the successful implementation of Politburo Resolution 57 on breakthrough development in science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation.

Launch of the network in the field of advanced and smart transport technology and infrastructure

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