KOREA INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY WELCOMES VNUHCM STUDENTS FOR STUDIES

On the afternoon of December 8, at VNUHCM Headquarters, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vu Hai Quan, VNUHCM Chancellor, welcomed Dr. Yoon Seok-jin, President of the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), and his delegation. They met to explore potential collaboration opportunities between KIST and VNUHCM in the upcoming period.

Mr. Yoon Seok-jin, KIST President, commits to training VNUHCM’s MA and doctoral students to become excellent scientists.

Established in 1966, KIST stands as South Korea’s pioneer multidisciplinary science and technology research institute, playing a crucial role in national economic development. President Yoon Seok-jin highlighted the significant contribution of 25 research institutes to South Korea’s economic growth, with 15 emerging as spin-offs from KIST.
KIST’s main goal is to engage in sustainable research and advance studies in areas such as climate change response, health sciences, and human development. Mr. Yoon Seok-jin emphasized the shared roles of VNUHCM and KIST in advancing science and technology and conducting research in these fields within their respective countries.
He proposed a cooperative orientation where VNUHCM sends MA and doctoral students to KIST. While over 100 Vietnamese MA and doctoral students have studied at KIST, with 30 currently pursuing their studies there, only one student is from VNUHCM. Therefore, Mr. Yoon Seok-jin expressed hope that VNUHCM would send more students to KIST, assuring that the institute is committed to training them into outstanding scientists who can contribute to Vietnam upon their return.
KIST currently offers financial support to foreign students, aiding them in partly covering their study and living expenses, and particularly fostering their direct involvement in research. The KIST President emphasized the advantages of pursuing master’s and PhD degrees at KIST over South Korean universities, highlighting its distinctive role as a research-focused institution.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vu Hai Quan stated that the meeting with President Yoon Seok-jin provided an opportunity for KIST and VNUHCM to collaboratively work out solutions to enhance their partnership for anticipated outcomes. VNUHCM has identified several research directions for collaboration with KIST, including new energy, health sciences, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and sustainable development in the Mekong Delta region.