On October 20, 2026, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Thanh Bac - Vice President of The University of Danang (UD), received Ms. Katherine Grimmond - Australian Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City, for a working session to explore new avenues for cooperation in higher education, science, and technology.

The meeting was also attended by Ms. Nguyen Thi Bich - Economic & Government Affairs Officer at the Australian Consulate General, alongside representatives from UD’s Administrative Office and relevant functional departments.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Thanh Bac highlighted UD’s strategic focus on education and research within high-tech and emerging disciplines, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), semiconductor technology, Financial Technology (FinTech), and logistics. He emphasized the vital role of UD faculty members who graduated from Australian universities in fostering institutional connections and driving collaborative research with leading Australian partners.

As part of its strategic ambition to enter the top 150 universities in Asia by 2030, UD is committed to upgrading its training and research quality, developing its academic personnel, and expanding international partnerships with prestigious universities and global enterprises.

UD leadership conveyed its desire for the Australian Consulate General to serve as a bridge connecting the university with leading Australian higher education institutions and industry partners. Priority areas of cooperation include faculty and student exchanges, joint research projects, technology transfer, and the commercialization of research outcomes to deliver practical benefits to society.

Ms. Katherine Grimmond expressed her appreciation for the warm reception from UD leadership. She noted that the visit provided a valuable opportunity to align priorities, identify shared interests, and unlock new avenues for collaboration in higher education, science, and technology.

She also introduced Australian Government scholarship programs and affirmed the Consulate General's readiness to assist prospective applicants. Acknowledging UD’s strong foundation with Australian academia, she expressed optimism that more UD faculty and students would pursue advanced studies and research in Australia. Furthermore, she highlighted the important role of alumni networks in deepening long-term educational and cultural ties.

Both sides discussed concrete cooperation mechanisms, including articulation programs, academic transfer pathways, co-authored scientific publications, and joint international conferences and workshops.

The working session concluded with a mutual commitment to strengthening educational and research ties while expanding collaboration with local government authorities - particularly Da Nang City - to create a thriving ecosystem for university–industry collaboration and sustainable regional development.

UD Media