Within the framework of the Erasmus+ KA171 staff mobility programme and the series of activities under the SOHO Project, the University of Danang (UD) has organised co-taught classes on the application of machinery, information technology, the Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence (AI) to the development of the tourism sector. The classes are led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vladimir Tanasiev – Coordinator of the SOHO Project, Faculty of Energy, the National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest (UNSTPB, Romania) – in co-teaching with lecturers from the SOHO specialist team at UD.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vladimir Tanasiev is an expert in artificial intelligence, smart buildings, energy efficiency, and the Internet of Things. He is currently the Coordinator of the SOHO Project funded by the European Commission. During his working visit to UD, he co-teaches with Vietnamese lecturers at the University of Science and Technology and the University of Economics – UD, enabling students to engage directly with international knowledge, teaching methods, and professional experience in the lecture halls of Danang.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vladimir Tanasiev and
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Duong Minh Quan taught students
at UD-University of Science and Technology

The co-taught classes are delivered together with the UD’s SOHO specialist team, comprising Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Phuc Nguyen, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Duong Minh Quan, Dr. Nguyen Thi Anh Thu and Dr. Vo Thi Quynh Nga, along with relevant lecturers from the Faculty of Tourism and International Business (University of Economics – UD) and UD - University of Science and Technology participating in the SOHO Project.

The co-teaching sessions focus on applying machinery, information technology, and digital solutions to tourism development: IoT in hotel and destination operations; smart buildings and energy saving; artificial intelligence to support visitor management; and digital technologies in transport, accommodation and the learning experience in tourism education. Students not only acquire specialised knowledge but also become familiar with interdisciplinary thinking, in which tourism is connected with electrical and electronic engineering, energy, automation, data and management.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vladimir Tanasiev and
Dr. Nguyen Thi Anh Thu taught students
at UD- University of Science and Technology

The SOHO Project (Smart, Optimized, High-quality, and On-demand Tourism Innovative Education for Sustainable and Green Development) is funded by the European Commission through the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) under Grant Agreement No. 101129336, within the Erasmus+ Capacity Building in Higher Education programme. The project is coordinated by the National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest (UNSTPB, Romania) and runs from November 2023 to November 2026.

The main objective of SOHO is to support higher education institutions in applying smart technologies, renewable energy and digital technologies to build sustainable, effective and personalised learning experiences in tourism education. The project also promotes smart solutions in transport, accommodation and visitor management, helping to reduce environmental impact, and develops a network of Knowledge & Competence Centres in Southeast Asian partner countries, including Vietnam.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vladimir Tanasiev and
Dr. Nguyen Thi Anh Thu taught students
at UD- University of Science and Technology

The SOHO Project involves nine higher education institutions in Europe and Asia. The University of Danang and the University of Technology and Education – UD are the two member institutions from Vietnam, together with the following partners: UNSTPB (Romania), Université Lumière Lyon 2 (France), Politecnico di Milano (Italy), Universiti Sains Malaysia, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (Malaysia), American International University-Bangladesh and Jahangirnagar University (Bangladesh).

The co-teaching activities illustrate how UD leverages the strengths of a multidisciplinary university to attract international lecturers. Rather than being confined to a single unit, the visiting expert is connected with multiple member universities, specialist groups, and fields of study. Smart tourism is not solely a matter for the tourism discipline; it requires the involvement of IoT, AI, electrical and electronic engineering, energy, automation, architecture, data and management. Connecting experts within the same university creates conditions for developing interdisciplinary training programmes, joint research groups and new cooperation initiatives.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vladimir Tanasiev and
Dr. Vo Thi Quynh Nga taught students
at UD- University of Economics

This orientation is aligned with the requirements of Politburo Resolution No. 26-NQ/TW dated 22 August 2026 on developing Vietnam’s tourism into a key economic sector in the new era, which emphasises accelerating the application of science and technology, innovation, digital transformation and the development of smart tourism. The co-taught classes, together with the thematic seminar “Smart Tourism – Smart Hotels: The Role of IoT and Digital Technologies in the Transition to Sustainable Tourism – Perspectives from the SOHO Project” (7 September 2026) and the training series from 7 to 11 September 2026 at member universities, are concrete steps to put this group of solutions into practice in the training environment.

This activity continues more than eight years of cooperation between the University of Danang and POLITEHNICA Bucharest, encompassing numerous staff and lecturer exchanges as well as international projects. Co-teaching not only creates value in the classroom but also opens connections beyond it: joint project ideas, research groups, scientific publications, and the co-organisation of international conferences and seminars. From staff mobility, the two sides have gradually moved towards joint training, joint research, and the co-development of in-depth, long-term projects.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vladimir Tanasiev and
Dr. Vo Thi Quynh Nga taught students
at UD- University of Economics

Through Erasmus+ KA171 and KA2, UD is not only strengthening lecturer exchange but is also building an internationalisation ecosystem within the lecture hall – a space where Vietnamese and international lecturers teach together, disciplines interconnect, research develops jointly, and students gain access to an international academic environment right in Danang.