On October 9, 2024, the International School – Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU) and Nanyang Polytechnic, Singapore, co-organized a student exchange program under the theme of Science, Technology, and Sustainable Development, Culture, and Society in Vietnam. The program brought together 30 students from Singapore and 30 students from Vietnam. This is the first exchange program organized between VNU International School and Nanyang Polytechnic.
The event took place in a vibrant, warm, and friendly atmosphere.The students of VNU International School performed well as hosts, welcoming the Singaporean students warmly and thoughtfully from the moment the Singaporean students arrived at the school gate.
During the exchange program, the Singaporean students were introduced to VNU – Vietnam’s leading university and the International School, a unique and distinctive unit within VNU.
Nanyang Polytechnic students got the chance to meet up with VNU International School’s committed and skilled faculty members, who have attended prestigious universities overseas. Dr. Ha Manh Hung – lecturer at the Faculty of Applied Sciences, gave an introduction about AI and sustainable development. Dr. Ha Manh Hung made a brief overview of artificial intelligence (AI) and how it may be used to accomplish sustainable development goals in his session. Both Vietnamese and Singaporean students were attracted by his presentation, they actively shared ideas and had conversations with VNUIS teachers to get clarification on a number of points.
In the program, students from both institutions were divided into seven groups to create presentations on any subject they wanted. The selected subjects were varied and included popular topics among today’s youth as well as cultural and culinary themes, economics, cybersecurity, and social issues. These presentations showed the students’ deep understanding and interest in current social issues. Additionally, collaborative presentations also fostered closer connections among the students, helping them quickly overcome initial unfamiliarity and form strong relationships with one another.
The exchange program, though brief, left a positive impression on the lecturers and students of Nanyang Polytechnic. “I am truly impressed with today’s exchange program. I can feel the energy and youthfulness of the students, which makes me wish I could be young like them again,” shared Ms. Poo Chooi Iee, Head of the International Cooperation Office at Nanyang Polytechnic.
“I am very happy to have participated in today’s program. I had the chance to meet and connect with new friends and learned many interesting things,” said Thu Ha, an English Language Studies student.
With the strategic goal of becoming a prestigious international education hub at Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU), and in Vietnam as a whole, VNU International School has carried out numerous initiatives to collaborate and connect with universities worldwide. Student exchange programs are among the key tasks of the development cooperation sector. These programs significantly contribute to enhancing international integration indices, strengthening cooperative relationships not only in student and faculty exchanges but also in other areas of mutual interest between the School and its partner institutions.
