Workshop on "Results of the Research Project Component of Can Tho University Improvement Project"

On the morning of October 14th, 2022, Can Tho University (CTU) held a workshop on “Results of the Research Project Component of the CTU Improvement Project” to present the results and achievements of the research programs within the framework of the Project as well as introduce the Technical Cooperation Project (TC Project) - Phase 2. From this aim, the university is going to discuss new research directions and cooperation in the coming time.

Overview of the workshop at the Main Auditorium of CTU Hi-Tech Building

The workshop was held in face-to-face and online format with the participation of Mr. SHIMIZU Akira, Chief Representative of JICA Vietnam; Mr. MASUDA Chikahiro, Representative of JICA Vietnam in Ho Chi Minh City; representatives of departments, institutes and schools; JICA-CTU Project Office. On the CTU side, there were the participation of the Rectorate Board, the Project Management Unit of CTU Improvement Project (PMU), representatives of the leaders from the units within the university, and the research team implementing 36 research programs.

Prof. Dr. Ha Thanh Toan, Rector of CTU, delivering the opening speech at the workshop

The CTU’ Improvement Project using ODA loans from the Japanese Government through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has been implemented for 7 years (from October 2015 to October 2022) with a total investment budget of 2,250 billion VND (equivalent to 105.9 million USD). The overall objective of the Project is "Upgrading Can Tho University into an excellent institution that meets international standards in terms of training, scientific research, technology transfer and governance" focusing on three fields of Agriculture, Aquaculture/Fisheries, and Environment, contributing to socio-economic development, adapting to climate change, protecting the environment, adding value for agriculture and fisheries in the Mekong Delta region. This Project has five main components including Human Resource Development, Facility Construction, Research Equipment Procurement, Research Program Implementation and Consulting Services.

The research project component consists of 36 research programs, started from May 2017 and divided into 3 phases, in which each program lasts for 3 years with a total loan amount of 81.72 billion VND. Among 36 research programs, there are 16 programs from the field of Agriculture, 8 from the Aquaculture/Fisheries, and 12 from Environment. These research activities have established close linkage with 09 Japanese partner universities (Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Hokkaido University, Kyoto Institute of Technology, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, Kyushu University, Nagasaki University, Kagoshima University, and Osaka University) and Japanese enterprises. Up to now, 36 research programs under the ODA loan project have completed the acceptance procedures and achieved certain results.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Trung Tinh, Vice Rector and Director of CTU Improvement Project Management Unit (PMU), providing an overview of the Project

The results in implementation of 36 research programs include: 63 doctors trained in long-term training programs, 91 lecturers/researchers trained in short-term training courses, 664 international and domestic conferences and seminars organized with 1,900 people trained, 623 international articles published out of a total of 2,075 published articles, accounting for 30%; 86 books published, 44 new technologies developed, and 22 new technologies applied..

Coordinators in the field of Agriculture, Aquaculture and Fisheries, and Environment: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ly Nguyen Binh, Prof. Dr. Tran Ngoc Hai, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Cong, reporting on the implementation of research programs

Aside from the CTU Improvement Project using ODA loans, CTU was also sponsored by JICA with the Technical Cooperation Project (TC Project), named "Building capacity for Can Tho University to be an excellent institution of education, scientific research and technology transfer". This project is implemented within 5 years (from March 2016 to March 2021) with a total budget of 77.44 billion VND (equivalent to 400 million Japanese Yen), including 4 scientific research projects which were implemented within 2 years (from May 2016 to April 2018), with a budget of 1 billion VND for each research topic (equivalent to 5 million Japanese Yen). Based on the very positive results and development potential of the achievements from the Project in Phase 1, JICA continues to grant for the TC Project implementation in Phase 2, named “Enhancing Science-based Integrated Collaborations towards Sustainable Development of the Mekong Delta Region under Climate Change”.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Minh Duc, Deputy Head of Research Affairs Department and Deputy Director of CTU Improvement Project Management Unit, presenting the TC Project - Phase 2

Accordingly, the TC Project - Phase 2 will be implemented within 5 years (from April 2022 to March 2027) with a total budget of 2.6 million USD. The main components of the Project include: (1) Collaboration in education by continuing to deploy 3 master training programs, develop a new master program in English named "Smart Agriculture" and the short-term training courses; (2) Collaboration in research and technology transfer based on research outputs by conducting 12 research collaborative transfer models; and (3) Collaboration of data management and application as a “Knowledge (K) Center”..

Delegates discussing at the Workshop

From the results’ presentation of the CTU Improvement Project and scientific research programs under the Project, the workshop has created conditions to further strengthen in the cooperation between CTU, localities and businesses in the region. This is also an opportunity for the parties to discuss future research directions and approaches to apply to serve the community, contributing to the sustainable development of the Mekong Delta Region in response to climate change.

On behalf of CTU leaders, Prof. Dr. Ha Thanh Toan, Rector, expressed the gratitude to the close and effective support and cooperation from local leaders and businesses over the past time; especially the consensus and support for the formation process, as well as the willingness to cooperate in implementation of the TC Project - Phase 2 in the near future. The CTU Improvement Project as well as the TC Project have been contributing to change the face of the university's facilities and academics in many fields, to develop the sustainability and adaptability to the region climate change in the coming period. The discussions, contributions, suggestions and orders from localities and enterprises in this workshop help the university get more information for timely cooperation and effective support for the sustainable development of the Mekong Delta Region in particular and the country in general. CTU hopes that stakeholders and partners would continue to support and accompany with the sustainable development of CTU the Mekong Delta Region in the coming time.

Delegates taking souvenir photo at the Workshop

(Web Editorial Team)