Phenikaa University is honored to welcome Mr. Marc Evans Knapper – U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam on an official working visit on August 2, 2024. This visit marks an important step forward in the development of international cooperation of Phenikaa University with U.S. partners with the support of the U.S. Government through the U.S. Embassy in Vietnam.
Education – Training as one of the focuses in the Vietnam – United States partnership
Diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the United States have undergone a remarkable journey since normalization in 1995. For nearly three decades, the two countries have continuously strengthened and developed their bilateral relationship, gradually overcoming differences to become a comprehensive partner in many fields, marked by upgrading the relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2023.
Regarding education and training cooperation, by 2023, Vietnam has had about 50 joint training programs with the United States.
The U.S. government has about 30 study exchange programs with Vietnam. Cooperation between the two sides does not only stop at creating conditions for Vietnamese students to study in the United States, but the United States also implements many programs to support the development of Vietnamese education through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
During the working visit, Mr. Marc Evans Knapper visited Phenikaa University’s facilities, Phenikaa Semiconductor Training Center (PSTC) and the Applied BioMedical Research Center (ABMC).
Phenikaa University cooperates with U.S. organizations/ businesses in many aspects
In recent years, Phenikaa University has gradually asserted its position on the domestic and international educational map with positive contributions to the development of education and scientific and technological research. In particular, close cooperation with U.S. partners has brought Phenikaa University significant achievements, contributing to improving the quality of training and research of the University. The details are as follows:
Regarding training, Phenikaa University signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Arizona State University (ASU) to implement the BUILD-IT Project in 2022. Accordingly, 162 lecturers have participated in advanced training courses for capacity improvement within the framework of the Project; 03 lecturers have obtained international certification; 05 training programs in the Technology and Engineering Disciplines Group are preparing to meet ABET accreditation standards; 18 leaders and lecturers have participated in the training on digital teaching methods in higher education; 200 have students participated in the BUILD-IT’s project-based learning (PBL) programs.
Regarding scientific research, Phenikaa scientists have collaborated with scientists from two U.S universities, i.e., the University of Georgia and the University of South Florida, to have publications in world-prestigious scientific journals such as: Advanced Optical Materials, Material Horizons, Scientific reports… In particular, the project “Application of vetiver grass at a practical scale to treat dioxin contaminated soil at Bien Hoa Airport” by Dr. Ngo Thi Thuy Huong has cooperated with United States Geological Survey (USGS). The project is funded by USAID with a total value of 332,000 USD.
One of the areas considered as Phenikaa’s strengths is the Phenikaa University Hospital Project with a system equipped with state-of-the-art equipment and machinery from U.S. manufacturers, with a total cost of more than USD 6 million.
In 2022 – 2023, Seeding Labs sponsored USD 500,000 in kind (nearly 200 devices) to build the Applied BioMedical Research Center (ABMC). The devices are currently being used for research and training.
In the health science disciplines group, in 2023, Phenikaa University signed an MoU with Michigan State University (MSU). Before that, Phenikaa University and the Institute for Global Health (MSU) had training cooperation within the framework of the Mekong One Health Innovation Program (MOHIP) Project.
Phenikaa University of representative said that the comprehensive partnership between the U.S. and Vietnam in education has brought positive contributions to the education sector in Vietnam, including Phenikaa University in recent years. Phenikaa University will continue to strengthen cooperation with U.S. universities in many fields, particularly in scientific research.
Phenikaa University and U.S. partners cooperating to develop high-quality human resources in microchips and semiconductors
Semiconductor microchip is considered the foundation of modern computing, playing an important role as the world enters a period of booming research, application and development of new technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), internet of things (IoT), big data… Vietnam currently has great potential to become a new semiconductor center of the world.
With high requirements for human resource training, the semiconductor industry should not just stop at the basic university training program, but needs many efforts to be developed to higher levels.
In May this year, the Semiconductor Research and Human Resources Training Alliance (VASA) was established by Phenikaa University (represented by Phenikaa Semiconductor Training Center – PSTC) and Da Nang City (represented by Da Nang Semiconductor and AI Center for Research and Training (DSAC) in the form of public-private partnership (PPP). At the same time, Phenikaa University also signed an MoU with Arizona State University (ASU) – the largest semiconductor chip industry training institution in the world to develop training programs, taking advantage of resources provided by the U.S. Government to support Vietnam to deliver training programs.
ASU is committed to collaborating in the field of semiconductors (integrated circuit design, ATP), Aerospace Engineering, Clean Energy Engineering; At the same time, ASU will cooperate with PSTC to provide semiconductor training courses for lecturers (advanced IC design, ATP), and promote cooperation in graduate training.
In particular, Phenikaa also signed an MoU with Synopsys – an electronic design automation (EDA) company, providing tools and services for the semiconductor design and manufacturing industry.
Sharing about this cooperative relationship, Mr. Marc Evans Knapper – U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam said: “We’re so pleased that you’ve taken steps with American companies like we mentioned, Synopsys, and these are the kinds of collaboration, these are the kinds of partnerships synergies that are going to lead the way to the US and Vietnam partnering even more closely, to help our two countries not just strengthen our economic relationship but also to help diversify and strengthen supply chains, to help ensure that Vietnam is a key center for semiconductor and other high tech manufacturing and to ensure that our two countries are two futures, are filled with prosperity, peace and stability.”
Synopsys has cooperated with and provided PSTC with hardware such as Zebu 5 and Zebu 4 devices – the world’s number 1 systems in virtualizing chips and all software tools for chip design. Synopsys also provides Synopsys textbooks and materials for trainers who continue to incubate to students, and sends experts together with PSCT’s lectures for training program.
The U.S. Ambassador’s visit is not only an important milestone in the partnership between the two countries but also an opportunity to consolidate and expand joint efforts in semiconductor chip technology.
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Source: Vietnam Insider