UTC participates in the 130^th Anniversary Celebration of Southwest Jiaotong University and agrees to establish the Vietnam–China Tianyou Institute for Excellence in Railway Engineering

On May 15–16, 2026, a delegation from the University of Transport and Communications (UTC), led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Chuong, Secretary of the University Party Committee, participated in a series of events celebrating the 130^th anniversary of Southwest Jiaotong University (SWJTU), China. During the visit, the UTC delegation also held working sessions with the leadership of the partner university, where both sides agreed to move forward with the establishment of the Vietnam–China Tianyou Institute for Excellence in Railway Engineering.

Participation in the 130^th Anniversary Celebration of SWJTU

On the morning of May 15, the 130^th Anniversary Celebration of Southwest Jiaotong University (SWJTU) was solemnly held at the University’s Xipu Campus in Chengdu, Sichuan Province. The event was attended by leaders of the Ministry of Education of China, leaders of Sichuan Province, representatives of railway regulatory and administrative agencies, numerous academicians and international scholars, representatives of universities, as well as thousands of the University’s faculty members, staff, students, and alumni.

Established in 1896, Southwest Jiaotong University (SWJTU) is one of China’s oldest and most prestigious engineering universities, holding a leading position in the fields of railway engineering and transportation. The University is widely known as the “cradle of China’s railway engineers” and has made significant contributions to the establishment and development of China’s modern railway system, particularly its high-speed railway network, which is currently the largest in the world.

The UTC delegation takes a commemorative photo with Professor Chu Benkuan, former President of SWJTU.

The cooperative relationship between the University of Transport and Communications (UTC) and Southwest Jiaotong University (SWJTU) was officially established in 2002, building upon the longstanding historical ties between the two institutions. These ties date back to the period from 1950 to 1964, when several generations of Vietnamese officials, engineers, and lecturers studied at Tangshan Railway Institute, the predecessor of SWJTU. This historical connection has provided a strong foundation for sustained cooperation between the two universities in education and training, scientific research, and human resource development for the transport sector over many years.

During the series of anniversary events, on the afternoon of May 15, the UTC delegation attended the Forum on “International Development of New Quality Productivity in Transportation.” The Forum brought together leading scholars and university leaders from around the world to discuss topics such as artificial intelligence, intelligent transportation, green energy, transnational education, and the development of modern railway technologies.

The UTC delegation with Professor Yan Xuedong, President of SWJTU.

Agreement to establish the Vietnam–China Tianyou Institute of Excellence in Railway Engineering

On the morning of May 16, Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Thanh Chuong held an official meeting with Professor Yan Xuedong, President of Southwest Jiaotong University (SWJTU), to discuss the joint establishment and implementation of the Vietnam–China Tianyou Institute for Excellence in Railway Engineering, to be hosted at the University of Transport and Communications (UTC).

During the meeting, the leaders of the two universities exchanged views on coordination mechanisms and discussed the development of joint academic programs, scientific research, and cooperation in developing high-quality human resources in the railway sector. These efforts are expected to contribute to Vietnam’s strategy for developing a modern railway system in the coming years.

On this occasion, on behalf of UTC, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Chuong presented a commemorative gift to SWJTU, extending congratulations to the University on the occasion of its 130^th anniversary.

Exploring a University Model Integrated with TOD and Innovation

On the afternoon of May 16, the UTC delegation visited SWJTU’s new campus in northeastern Chengdu. The campus is an integrated education and research complex developed within a high-tech zone and associated with the Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) model. Construction has been carried out during the 2021–2026 period, with a total investment of approximately RMB 3 billion (equivalent to around VND 12 trillion).

Covering an area of approximately 7 hectares, the campus is designed to accommodate around 6,000 undergraduate students and focuses on emerging technology programs, including the application of artificial intelligence in engineering. During the visit, the UTC delegation had the opportunity to learn about SWJTU’s university development and management model, which is closely integrated with an innovation ecosystem.

The visit contributed to further strengthening cooperation between the University of Transport and Communications (UTC) and Southwest Jiaotong University (SWJTU), while also opening up new opportunities for collaboration in education, scientific research, and railway technology development between Vietnam and China.

ICDS