Viet Nam – Austria is going to deepen cooperation between the two countries on university education and scientific technology, this is the heart of the University Education, Science and Research Forum between Vietnam – Austria, held at Sai Gon University, Ho Chi Minh city on May 31st. Participants of the event comprised of Austrian President Heinz Fischer, the Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan, Department heads of many ministries of the two countries, as well as many representatives for universities, research departments, scientists for both countries. This is considered to be an important connection between education and science-technology of the two countries.
Giving the speech at the forum, President Heinz Fischer wholeheartedly believed that cooperation within science and technology plays an essential part in mutual beneficial relationship between any two countries. Mr President expressed optimism for the rich and diversified relationship between Viet Nam – Austria in science and technology, both on the base of cooperative agreements between universities, research departments and within the academic network of ASEA-UNINET proposed by Austrian universities.
The Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan determined that the forum is a message showing highly developed political will of the two countries in advancing university education and science – technology into top priority in the mutual relationship of Viet Nam- Austria. The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized, Viet Nam considers science and technology as a breakthrough for sustainable development of the country; in addition to economic integration, education and science – technology integration is one of the most significant solutions for the country development until 2020.
The Deputy Prime Minister said that, the university education strategy of Viet Nam will further improve the quality, build more highly standardized facilities, promote international cooperation in university education, motivate scientific research in universities, innovate management procedures in universities to nurture highly educated manpower for the country development.
According to the Ministry of Science and Technology Nguyen Quan, Viet Nam has placed much importance on scientific cooperation with Austria, partly expressed by the memorandum signed between the Viet Nam Ministry of Science and Technology and Austrian Ministry of Science and Research at the end of 2011. This valuable memorandum has positively expressed the efforts of the two Ministries to establish mechanism for encouraging collaboration among scientific communities of the two countries, especially among universities, research institutes of Viet Nam and Austria.
the Viet Nam Ministry of Science and Technology and the Austrian Ministry of Science and Research has officially announced to launch “The program supporting bilateral research cooperation between Vietnam - Austrian for the period 2012-2015”. Accordingly, scientific communities of the two countries will be financially supported to promote bilateral research and education on the 3 prioritized fields: cyber security, intelligent traffic and renewable energy. Within the scope of the forum, 6 other memorandums of cooperation between top universities of Viet Nam and Austria were also signed.
On the same day, at the meeting with the Austrian President, Chairman of the People committee of Ho Chi Minh city Le Hoang Quan said that: Besides being a noticeably political and economic center, Ho Chi Minh city is also the key city of culture, education, science and technology of Viet Nam. There are roughly 100 universities, colleges and tens of research institutes in the city, contributing to the education of manpower for the city and the Southern region of the country, actively devoting to the development and integration of Viet Nam to global market. Mr Le Hoang Quan strongly believed that this visit of President Heinz Fischer will further promote cooperation between Viet Nam and Austria, especially economic cooperation and cultural, educational, scientific and technological exchange between the two countries in general and with Ho Chi Minh city in particular.
Vietnam News Agencies
