On December 18, 2020, VNU-IS hosted a meeting with Mr. Geoff Sokol, Vietnam Country Director, University of Arizona, USA.

Attended the meeting were Dr. Mai Nguyen Tuyet Hoa, Head of Office of Research and Partnership Development, together with Ms. Lam Thi Giang, official of VNU Cooperation and Development Department, as well as officials of Office of Research and Partnership Development.

At the meeting, representative from both sides gave a brief introduction of their institution and ongoing training programs. The parties discussed potential collaboration in developing joint training programs, student exchange programs, in various training models. Dr. Mai Nguyen Tuyet Hoa proposed the development of a dual degree program and pathway program and discussed about the scholarship and tuition fee affordability of such programs. This shows how VNU-IS cares about student’s financial condition with assurance of quality education.

Both sides also discussed potential collaboration in student exchange opportunities. The parties will soon implement a new pathway program to facilitate the transfer of students from both institutions to study and experience at USA and Vietnam. Lastly, Mr. Geoff Sokol invited Dr. Mai Nguyen Tuyet Hoa and her colleagues to visit the Office of University of Arizona at VNU to develop mutual understanding and discuss more about future prospects.

The University of Arizona (UA), a land-grant university with two independently accredited medical schools is one of the nation's top public universities, according to U.S. News & World Report Ranking. Established in 1885, the UA is widely recognized as a student-centric university and has been designated as a Hispanic Serving Institution by the U.S. Department of Education. The UA ranked in the top 25 in 2018 in research expenditures among all public universities, according to the National Science Foundation, and is a leading Research I institution with $687 million of annual research expenditures. The UA advances the frontiers of interdisciplinary scholarship and entrepreneurial partnerships as a member of the Association of American Universities, the 62 leading public and private research universities in the U.S. It benefits the state with an estimated economic impact of $4.1 billion annually.

It is hoped that in 2021, VNU-IS and University of Arizona, USA will initiate further meaningful collaboration in joint training programs as well as student exchange programs.