On October 2, 2026, Prof. Anthony SO, Dean of the Graduate School, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), China, paid a working visit to the International School – Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU-IS). The two sides discussed a range of potential collaborations in education and research.
Working session between the leadership of VNU-IS and the delegation from CUHK Graduate School.
Dr. Dao Tung – Vice Rector of VNU-IS, received and worked with the delegation. Also in attendance were representatives from the leadership of the Faculty of Applied Sciences and the Department of Research and Partnership Development.
Representatives from both institutions engaged in meaningful dialogue to strengthen educational ties.
Speaking at the meeting, Dr. Dao Tung gave an overview of VNU-IS, a multidisciplinary member school of VNU with a strong commitment to comprehensive internationalization. All programs at VNU-IS are taught in English, and many are delivered in partnership with prestigious institutions around the world. The Vice Rector also shared information on the School’s current academic programs, international cooperation activities and scientific research. He noted that VNU-IS seeks to expand partnerships with leading Asian universities to enhance the quality of its education and its research capacity.
Prof. Anthony SO highlighting the academic excellence and global scope of CUHK Graduate School.
For his part, Prof. Anthony SO introduced CUHK, with a particular focus on its Graduate School. CUHK currently has more than 17,900 postgraduate students, a significant proportion of whom are international students from over 50 countries and regions. In the 2026–2027 academic year, the Graduate School offers more than 240 programs through 62 Graduate Divisions across eight faculties: Arts, Business Administration, Education, Engineering, Law, Medicine, Science and Social Science. Prof. SO expressed his appreciation for VNU-IS’s development strategy and highlighted the strong potential for cooperation between the two institutions, particularly in technology and health sciences.
Group photo of delegates and faculty members commemorating the working visit.
On joint programs, the two sides discussed initiatives at all three levels of study. At the undergraduate level, VNU-IS plans to launch a new Bachelor’s program in Biomedical Engineering (BME), which will serve as the foundation for a doctoral program in the same field. At the master’s level, both sides proposed a joint program in Financial Technology (Fintech), a field with high workforce demand in Vietnam. The two institutions will also explore a dual-degree or joint program in Digital Communication. At the doctoral level, a PhD program in Biomedical Engineering is expected to be launched in 2028, once the undergraduate BME program has begun enrolling students. The program will follow a 2+2 model, with two years of study in Vietnam and two years in Hong Kong.
About The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK)
The Chinese University of Hong Kong is one of the leading higher education institutions in China and Asia. In the QS World University Rankings 2026, CUHK ranked 32nd globally, up four places from the previous year. According to the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026, the university has 21 subjects in the global top 50 and 10 subjects ranked first in Hong Kong. Notably, its Nethersole School of Nursing ranked first in Asia and sixth in the world. CUHK also boasts a strong research community, with 17 scholars named on Clarivate’s Highly Cited Researchers 2025 list and 431 academics featured among the world’s top 2% scientists compiled by Stanford University.
The meeting between VNU-IS and CUHK marks an important first step, opening up prospects for substantive and long-term cooperation between the two institutions. It also contributes to VNU-IS’s ongoing efforts to advance the internationalization of higher education.
