Undergraduate On October 8, 2026, Can Tho University (CTU) held a signing ceremony for a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Auckland University of Technology (New Zealand), formally establishing cooperation in education, research, and technology development, with a focus on engineering, science, and artificial intelligence (AI).
The meeting was chaired by Prof. Dr. Tran Ngoc Hai - Acting President of CTU, and attended by Prof. Damon Salesa - Vice-Chancellor of Auckland University of Technology, along with representatives of relevant units and members of both delegations.
The signing ceremony and working session took place at the CTU’s Administration Building
Under the MoU, CTU and Auckland University of Technology will promote academic exchange, including collaborative academic programs, recognition of academic programs, and expanded opportunities for exchanges of faculty members, staff, and students for teaching, research, and study. The two universities will also gradually implement joint research activities aligned with their respective strengths, needs, and development priorities, thereby broadening professional collaboration and leveraging each university’s strengths.
CTU and Auckland University of Technology signed the Memorandum of Understanding
In his remarks, Prof. Dr. Tran Ngoc Hai provided an overview of CTU’s academic scale, noting that the University comprises 16 schools, colleges, and institutes, with approximately 50,000 undergraduate students, master’s students, and doctoral candidates. Alongside its traditional strengths in agriculture and aquaculture, CTU is further developing its engineering and technology fields, particularly strategic technology areas such as semiconductor design and artificial intelligence (AI). In the context of digital transformation and climate change, CTU has identified the application of modern engineering techniques, information technology, and AI to high-tech agriculture and aquaculture as a key priority for promoting sustainable economic development in the region.
Prof. Dr. Tran Ngoc Hai highlighted CTU’s three core missions: education, scientific research and technology transfer, and community service
Representing Auckland University of Technology, Prof. Damon Salesa expressed his pleasure at visiting and meeting with CTU. He shared that, alongside the New Zealand staff and students at the University, Auckland University of Technology currently had dozens of Vietnamese staff members and more than 200 Vietnamese students enrolled, with these numbers expected to grow further in the coming year. Vice-Chancellor of Auckland University of Technology emphasized that both universities had high hopes for this new partnership, which he described as being of great significance to both sides.
Prof. Damon Salesa shared: “My first visit to Viet Nam was with the Prime Minister of New Zealand last year. During that visit, Vietnam and New Zealand signed the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, and I believe that was one of the reasons we can look forward to an incredibly bright future between our two countries”
Building on their respective strengths and areas of common ground, the two universities will focus on applying their expertise in engineering, technology, artificial intelligence (AI), and information technology to research and develop solutions that advance high-tech, climate-resilient agriculture and aquaculture. In addition, joint research activities, academic programs, scientific workshops, and academic exchanges will be implemented in response to practical needs and the development priorities of both universities.
Delegates from both universities exchanged views during the meeting
The MoU with Auckland University of Technology represented the third cooperation agreement between Can Tho University and a university in New Zealand, further expanding CTU’s international partnership network. Building on the agreements reached, the two universities expect to further deepen their partnership, effectively harnessing their respective knowledge, technologies, and resources to address practical challenges. Their cooperation is expected to create tangible value in education, research, and innovation, while also contributing to strengthening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Viet Nam and New Zealand.
Commemorative photo
(Website Editorial Board)
