Undergraduate In the context of a rapidly evolving higher education landscape shaped by global challenges, Can Tho University (CTU) reaffirms its stature and strategic role as the host of the 7th ASEAN+3 Rectors’ Conference 2025. This high-level academic forum, recognized for its substantial regional influence, serves as a convergence point for the intellect, vision, and aspirations of leading educational executives who are committed to shaping new directions for the sustainable development of higher education in the 21st century.
Held on 19 - 20 November 2025, the 7th ASEAN+3 Rectors’ Conference - themed “Beyond Borders: Strengthening Networks, Sharing Excellence, and Advancing Sustainable ASEAN+3 Collaboration” - brings together more than 50 leaders from top universities across ASEAN, along with three strategic partners from Japan, Korea, and China who are members of the ASEAN+3 University Network (UNet). The event also welcomes representatives from government agencies, international organizations, and over 150 domestic and international delegates. All gather at CTU - a rising cultural, intellectual, scientific, and technological hub of the Mekong Delta that is steadily emerging as Vietnam’s gateway to regional and global academic connectivity.
Overview of the 7th ASEAN+3 Rectors’ Conference 2025
The conference welcomed the participation of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Thanapan Laiprakobsup – Executive Director of the ASEAN University Network (AUN); Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thu Thuy – Director General of the International Cooperation Department, Ministry of Education and Training of Vietnam; and Mr. Nguyen Van Khoi – Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Can Tho City. Representing CTU were Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Phuong – Chairman of the Board of Trustees; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Trung Tinh – Rector; together with members of the Board of Trustees and the Rectorate Board.
The ASEAN+3 Rectors’ Conference is a flagship high-level educational forum organized biennially by AUN, providing a platform for university leaders within the ASEAN+3 UNet to engage in policy dialogue and address shared regional challenges in the context of globalization and rapid digital transformation. The event not only marks a new milestone in CTU’s journey of international integration but also underscores the expanding role of Vietnamese higher education within the regional landscape.
In her opening remarks, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thu Thuy stated: “The Ministry of Education and Training of Viet Nam would like to emphasize several commitments and strategic directions for the coming years:
- First, Vietnam will continue to strengthen its engagement in ASEAN+3 and AUN frameworks, focusing on student and lecturer mobility, mutual credit recognition, and joint talent development programs. We encourage our universities to expand short-term and long-term exchanges, internships, and collaborative research opportunities with regional institutions.
- Second, we remain committed to advancing quality assurance, university autonomy, and digital governance. The Ministry is actively developing policies to empower universities with greater academic and financial autonomy, while ensuring accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement. These efforts are aligned with ASEAN benchmarks and contribute to the comparability of higher education systems across the region.
- Third, Vietnam will support initiatives that foster innovation, AI readiness, and digital transformation in higher education. We recognize that artificial intelligence, data platforms, and smart systems have the potential to significantly enhance teaching, learning, student support, and institutional management. The Ministry is working with universities and international partners to strengthen digital capacity, upgrade infrastructure, and promote an innovation-driven academic ecosystem.
- Fourth, we strongly encourage the formation of research clusters, joint-degree programs, and interdisciplinary collaboration among ASEAN+3 universities. Critical areas such as food security, health equity, climate adaptation, environmental sustainability, engineering innovation, and high-technologies are best addressed through long-term, multi-country partnerships. We look forward to the meaningful outcomes and initiatives that will emerge from this conference”.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thu Thuy, in her opening remarks
Speaking at the conference, Mr. Nguyen Van Khoi emphasized: “We are living in an era where artificial intelligence, digital transformation, the green economy, and science–technology have become both driving forces and foundational pillars of development. At the same time, cross-border challenges such as climate change, water security, demographic shifts, and geopolitical volatility require every nation and locality to adapt through enhanced knowledge, technological capability, and digital capacity. For the Mekong Delta - a region rich in potential yet facing some of the world’s most severe challenges in climate, water resources, and environmental sustainability-knowledge and science-technology are the decisive keys to ensuring long-term sustainable development. In the coming years, Can Tho City looks forward to strengthening cooperation with universities across the ASEAN+3 bloc through student, faculty, and scholar exchange programs; joint training initiatives and multinational research projects; the establishment of shared laboratories and research centers focusing on strategic technologies, climate resilience, water-agriculture systems, and food security; as well as collaborative projects in artificial intelligence, big data, robotics, automation, and smart city development."
Mr. Nguyen Van Khoi speaking at the conference
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Thanapan Laiprakobsup shared: “Higher education plays a pivotal role in building a strong and cohesive ASEAN community, particularly in the social and cultural dimensions. Established in 1995, the AUN today comprises 30 core universities across 10 countries, working collectively to advance quality education, research, and student mobility. This conference aims to achieve three main goals: (1) To strengthen institutional linkage that enables students to move more freely across the ASEAN+3 region; (2) To facilitate the sharing of ideas on critical themes such as digital transformation, crisis responsiveness, innovation, and sustainability; and (3) To foster long-term partnerships among universities and between academia and industry”.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Thanapan Laiprakobsup expressed his pride in the strong cohesion of the ASEAN+3 community and his honor in joining delegates to reflect on its remarkable achievements and to discuss ambitious expectations for the future of regional academic collaboration
Affirming CTU’s mission as the academic pillar of the Mekong Delta and a key contributor to regional sustainability, Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Phuong stated: “Today, more than ever, the challenges we face, such as climate change, health equity, food security, and technological disruption, demand that universities play a more proactive and interconnected role. The Mekong Delta of Vietnam is a prime example, as it is among the regions most severely affected by climate change worldwide. CTU remains firmly committed to research and innovation that strengthen the long-term resilience of this region. Through our flagship initiatives in climate-smart and sustainable agriculture and aquaculture, environmental management, and community-centered adaptation, we strive to generate knowledge that benefits not only Vietnam, but the entire ASEAN+3 community. Over the years, the ASEAN+3 universities have built a solid foundation of cooperation, advancing joint academic and research initiatives that drive innovation in critical fields such as environmental sustainability, digital technology, agriculture, and health. They have also developed student and staff mobility programs that foster global citizenship and intercultural competence, while establishing thematic networks and centres of excellence that enhance academic quality and deepen their regional impact.”
Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Phuong emphasized that “These collective achievements demonstrate that when our institutions excel together, our region becomes stronger, more resilient, and better prepared for the future”
The overarching objective of the conference is to enhance sustainable cooperation in higher education, strengthen institutional linkages, promote knowledge sharing, and develop collective strategies to address regional challenges in an increasingly competitive global environment. Discussions focus on proposing new mechanisms for collaboration in education, research, and technology transfer; sharing best practices in areas such as health equity, digital health, food security, and sustainable agriculture; and exploring innovative applications of digital technologies, artificial intelligence (AI), drones, and smart systems to address emerging issues. These topics exemplify a cross-disciplinary, cross-sectoral, and cross-regional approach that reflects the proactive, responsible, and aspirational spirit of the ASEAN+3 university community.
Mr. Kobayashi Yosuke - Chief Representative of the JICA Vietnam Office, delivered a presentation on “JICA's Global Cooperation in Higher Education and Collaboration with Can Tho University”
Session 1: Advancing Health Equity
Session 2: Securing ASEAN+3 Food Future
Session 3: Engineering the Future
The conference endorsed a series of strategic directions for the new phase of cooperation, including academic alliance programs, transnational research networks, digital transformation initiatives in higher education, sustainable development partnerships in agriculture, fisheries, and water resources, and student and faculty exchange programs across ASEAN+3. These directions pave the way for CTU and AUN member institutions to broaden collaboration, strengthen research capacity, internationalize curricula, and elevate the quality of regional human resources. At the same time, they generate a positive impact on Vietnamese higher education, supporting deeper integration and increased global competitiveness.
The President of Burapha University, Thailand, the host of the 8th ASEAN+3 Rectors’ Conference in 2027, shared his vision and expectations for the upcoming gathering
Dr. Mike Hasenmueller - Secretary General of the Worldwide Universities Network (WUN), presented an overview of the network and highlighted new opportunities for researchers
As the host institution, CTU - a university of international stature across multiple fields, clearly demonstrates its commitment to the ASEAN+3 education network. The university continues to cultivate sustainable academic values, promote regionally impactful initiatives, and contribute meaningfully to addressing global challenges, including digital transformation in education, food security, smart agriculture, climate change adaptation, and sustainable development.
The 7th ASEAN+3 Rectors’ Conference 2025 serves not only as a strategic policy dialogue in higher education but also as a powerful affirmation of CTU’s pivotal role in regional engagement. It reinforces the university’s capacity to lead, connect, and mobilize international knowledge resources; strengthens its position in global academic cooperation; and opens new strategic pathways for CTU to participate in multinational research programs, develop high-quality human resources with international competencies, and foster an innovation-driven ecosystem across ASEAN+3 - a space where knowledge, collaboration, and vision converge.
Commemorative photo of delegates at the 7th ASEAN+3 Rectors’ Conference, capturing the spirit of cooperation and solidarity
(Website Editorial Board)
