The programme was attended by VNU Vice President Dao Thanh Truong; Mr. Stefan Mentschel, Director of the Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung Southeast Asia Regional Office in Hanoi; members of the VNU-IS Board of Rectors; and outstanding staff, lecturers and students of the School.

Speaking at the event, VNU Vice President Dao Thanh Truong emphasized that higher education, scientific research and academic exchange have always played an important role in the relationship between the two countries. He noted that VNU highly values cooperation with international academic organizations, particularly partners with strengths in connecting research with practice and policy-making. According to him, cooperation between VNU-IS, the Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung and German partners not only contributes to improving the quality of education and research, but also opens up more opportunities for students, lecturers and young scientists to access an international academic environment.

During the dialogue, German Bundestag Vice President Bodo Ramelow spent considerable time discussing with students the rapid changes taking place in the world under the impact of digital technology and artificial intelligence. The key message he conveyed to students was the spirit of lifelong learning. He shared that in previous generations, many people could learn one profession and pursue it throughout their lives. In today’s context, however, knowledge and technology are changing rapidly, requiring each individual to continuously learn, update their knowledge and adapt.

Referring to the development of AI and tools such as ChatGPT, he humorously remarked that he belonged to an older generation, while today’s students are growing up with digital technology and will be the ones to directly shape the future of emerging technologies.

According to Mr. Ramelow, the most important thing for young people is not only to access technology, but also to know how to use it to solve practical social issues.

Discussing innovation and entrepreneurship, he encouraged universities to build environments that support students in testing new ideas, developing creative projects and gaining experience before entering the labour market.

He also stressed that cultural differences should not be seen as barriers, but as opportunities for countries to better understand one another. In his view, respect for differences, openness and frank dialogue are essential factors in building long-term and effective partnerships.

At the end of the programme, the Vice President of the German Bundestag conveyed to VNU-IS students a message about the spirit of learning, proactiveness and adaptability in the face of global changes.

The working visit of Mr. Bodo Ramelow to VNU not only demonstrated strong interest in higher education cooperation between the two countries, but also opened up substantive discussions on areas expected to become key pillars of Vietnam–Germany cooperation in the future. The topics exchanged during the visit show that Vietnam–Germany cooperation is expanding beyond traditional education programmes to new areas such as innovation, strategic technologies and the development of high-quality human resources. In this process, universities, scientists and young generations of students will continue to play an important role in promoting cooperation between the two countries in the time ahead.