VINUNIVERSITY SIGNS MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
New York City, USA – September 23, 2024 – VinUniversity (Vietnam) and Columbia University (USA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to establish a foundation for bilateral cooperation in academic and research fields. This MOU marks the next step in VinUni’s journey towards achieving world-class academic standard, aiming to elevate Vietnam’s intellectual standing on the global stage and attract global scientific talent to Vietnam.
The MOU signing and handover ceremony took place under the witness of Vietnam’s Party General Secretary and President Tô Lâm, along with senior government officials as part of their official visit to attend the “Summit of the Future” of the United Nations General Assembly from September 21 to 24, 2024. This event reaffirms the commitment of the Party and State to advancing international cooperation in education, science, and technology.
General Secretary and President Tô Lâm witnessed the exchange of cooperation documents between VinUniversity and Columbia University (USA). Photo: Lâm Khánh/VNA
According to the MOU, both institutions will foster scientific innovation, research, Vietnamese studies, promoting cross-departmental faculty and student research, co-sponsoring panel discussions, hosting visiting scholars, co-organizing a series of academic symposia, and other areas of common interest.
During the ceremony, the Provost of Columbia University, Professor Angela V. Olinto stated: “First and foremost, we extend our congratulations to VinUni for recently attaining the prestigious QS 5-Star overall rating. This is a remarkable achievement for such a young university, still under five years old. Through this partnership, Columbia University looks forward to collaborating with VinUni to advance scientific innovation and research, creating valuable opportunities for students, faculty, and researchers from both universities to engage in exchange and cooperation.”
Dr. Lê Mai Lan, Vice Chairwoman of Vingroup and President of VinUniversity, remarked: “Signing the MOU with Columbia University is not only a significant event but also a testament to VinUni’s commitment to international collaboration, innovation and entrepreneurship providing our students and faculty with the best learning and research opportunities. VinUni is passionate about working with renowned partners to create outstanding value and contribute to building an advanced, sustainable education system in Vietnam with international standards, continuing our journey to become a University of Excellence.”
Founded in 1754, Columbia University is one of the universities with the longest history in the United States and is part of the prestigious Ivy League. According to QS standards, Columbia ranks as the 22nd best university in the world and is home to more Nobel laureates among its faculty and students than any other institution globally.
As the only Ivy League university located in a vibrant, major city like New York, Columbia excels in innovation and entrepreneurship. New York’s diverse and dynamic economy provides a favorable ground for startup ideas, offering Columbia students vast opportunities to connect with
leading businesses, tech companies, international organizations, and other career advancement options.
VinUniversity, established in 2020, is a private, non-profit university in Vietnam founded by Vingroup, with a mission to educate future talents and an aspiration to become a university of excellence by international standards. In September 2024, VinUni has become the youngest university globally to receive the QS 5-star overall rating under the latest standards of QS – Quacquarelli Symonds (UK), one of the world’s most reputable educational ranking organizations.
The university focuses on talent development and academic excellence, with projects aimed at addressing green transformation, sustainable growth, and public health. VinUni is particularly committed to promoting innovation by building strong infrastructure, including startup labs and research centers in artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, smart healthcare, and environmental intelligence.
To achieve excellence, VinUni has proactively partnered with world- renowned universities over the past five years, including Cornell University, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the National University of Singapore, and the Singapore Management University to name just a few. The collaboration with Columbia University is part of VinUni’s continued strategy to enhance research and training quality, contributing to the elevation of Vietnam’s academic standing./.
