VNU Vice President Dao Thanh Truong stated that, positioning itself as the leading and cornerstone institution of the Vietnamese education system, VNU continued to demonstrate its national responsibility in carrying out national missions and serving the community through the transfer of scientific and technological knowledge, as well as the development of health sciences. With a view to becoming the leading healthcare and digital health centre in Vietnam and gaining international prestige, VNU has recently launched its University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital establishment in Linh Dam. At the hospital establishment, advanced global medical techniques are applied for high-quality healthcare services to the public. The hospital’s modern, well-equipped infrastructure will also serve as a practical training site for VNU students in health sciences, while offering high-quality medical care and health services to the community, with the participation of top scientists and medical experts from Vietnam and the region.

In addition, VNU University of Medicine and Pharmacy has a team of leading experts in Medicine and Pharmacy, many of whom are currently working at major hospitals across Vietnam. This will open up potential collaboration opportunities with domestic and international partners in health sciences. VNU Vice President Dao Thanh Truong remarked that the signing of the cooperation agreement between VNU University of Medicine and Pharmacy and Paris-Saclay University would be the basis for both parties to implement collaborative activities in Medicine and Pharmacy, namely exchanging students; developing short-term and long-term undergraduate and postgraduate training programs; organizing international conferences, seminars, and workshops to share experiences in health sciences; and considering the establishing of joint research groups or laboratory/centre facilities.

He hoped that in the future, Paris-Saclay University would support VNU's staff and young scientists to participate in exchange programs to enhance their professional qualifications, knowledge, teaching skills, and research capabilities. This will help to form a high-level teaching and research workforce, serving the country’s economic development, social progress, and international integration.

Prof. Elias Fattal expressed his appreciation for the cooperative relationship between Paris-Saclay University and VNU as well VNU University of Medicine and Pharmacy. He said that, in order to develop the interdisciplinary field of health sciences, Paris-Saclay University seeks close cooperation and collaboration with top higher education institutions like VNU. He hoped that both parties would promote cooperation in training and research across various fields to leverage their strengths and demonstrate their roles of leading educational institutions in each country.

On December 16, in the presence of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dao Thanh Truong - VNU Vice President and Mr. Denis Fourmeau - Scientific and Higher Education Attaché at the French Embassy in Hanoi, VNU University of Medicine and Pharmacy and Paris-Saclay University signed a memorandum of understanding.

Addressing the signing ceremony, Prof.Dr. Le Ngoc Thanh- Rector of VNU Univeristy of Medicine and Pharmacy, emphasized that the memorandum signing was not only a significant milestone in the cooperation between the two institutions but also the beginning of a new chapter in improving education quality, expanding learning opportunities, and fostering international exchange for students and graduates in general.

With this exchange agreement, medical and pharmaceutical students from both universities will have the opportunity to participate in exchange programs and joint research activities. These initiatives will help students gain deeper insights into different healthcare systems and provide opportunities for internships with and learning from international doctors, pharmacists, and medical experts. In addition to short-term exchanges, the University of Medicine and Pharmacy hopes to receive support from Paris-Saclay University in developing undergraduate and postgraduate training programs, joint programs, and making initial steps toward mutual credit recognition first, and mutual degree recognition in the long run.

Mr. Denis Fourmeau, Scientific and Higher Education Attaché at the French Embassy in Hanoi, emphasized that the cooperation between Vietnam and France has been continuously strengthened and developed over the years. In addition to the cooperation in economics, culture, and education, healthcare collaboration is also one of the important and effective areas, becoming a highlight in the relationship between the two countries. Mr. Denis Fourmeau expressed his delight in witnessing the signing ceremony of the cooperation agreement between VNU University of Medicine and Pharmacy and Paris-Saclay University, and believed that these leading higher education institutions would make significant contributions to the development of medical training cooperation between the two countries. The French Embassy is committed to supporting and facilitating these specific cooperation projects.