VinUni becomes Vietnam’s first UNESCO Chair

VinUniversity has been appointed by UNESCO as a UNESCO Chair under the model of a Research and Training Center, with a focus on Environmental Leadership, Cultural Heritage, and Biodiversity.

The UNESCO Chair is part of the UNITWIN/UNESCO Chairs Programme, established by UNESCO in 1992 to promote collaboration between universities and research centers worldwide. This initiative strengthens global intellectual exchange and cooperation, contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals in education, science, culture, and communication.

The appointment was announced during the official visit of General Secretary and President Tô Lâm to UNESCO’s headquarters in Paris. This is the first UNESCO Chair established in Vietnam, marking an important milestone in developing research capacity and training experts and leaders in the areas of environment, cultural heritage, and biodiversity in the country.

During the 2024-2028 term, VinUniversity will focus on research aimed at conserving and restoring cultural heritage, including UNESCO-recognized intangible cultural heritage. Additionally, documenting Vietnam’s biodiversity, particularly native flora and fauna in world heritage sites such as Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, will be a top priority. Biodiversity will be supported by cultural diversity, especially the knowledge encoded in over 100 ethnic languages of Vietnam.

VinUniversity adopts an integrated approach, combining research, teaching, and community engagement. The university works closely with ethnic communities to harness local knowledge and promote proactive leadership in conservation efforts. Simultaneously, VinUniversity digitizes this knowledge through digital archives and the Metaverse platform (virtual reality), transforming it into online learning resources that can be widely shared with communities in Vietnam and globally.

Dr. Le Mai Lan, Vice Chairwoman of Vingroup and Chairwoman of VinUniversity, emphasized that the establishment of the UNESCO Chair is both an honor and a responsibility. The university is committed to dedicating the necessary resources to fulfilling this mission effectively.

“We aim to promote activities that connect science with life and spread the uniqueness of Vietnam’s culture and biodiversity to the international community,” she added.

Professor David Harrison, Vice Provost of VinUniversity and head of the project, also noted that the UNESCO Chair represents the university and serves as a vital bridge between the Vietnamese and international academic communities. The success of the initiative is the result of collaborative efforts between VinUniversity and its partner institutions, including Can Tho University, Thuy Loi University, and the Center for Nature Conservation and Development.

“This event will create positive impacts and contribute to the sustainable development of the global community,” he affirmed.

Furthermore, the establishment of the UNESCO Chair at VinUniversity opens up numerous opportunities for research collaboration and academic exchanges, building a network of scientists both in Vietnam and internationally. This contributes to positioning Vietnam as a leading research and innovation hub in the areas of environment, culture, and biology in the region.