DR. TRUONG THI THANH PHUONG – BRIDGING SCIENCE BETWEEN VIETNAM AND BELGIUM

On the occasion of International Women’s Day, the Embassy of Belgium in Vietnam proudly honored Dr. Truong Thi Thanh Phuong – a lecturer at Quy Nhon University and the Vietnamese team leader of Sub-project 5 under the IUC-QNU programme. This recognition celebrates her tireless dedication to scientific research and the strengthening of international cooperation.

From Theory to Practice: Applying Mathematics to Real-World Challenges

As a lecturer in Applied Mathematics, Dr. Phuong has pursued a research path that connects theory with practice. After earning her PhD in France, she returned to Vietnam with a strong ambition: to transform theoretical models into practical solutions for local socio-economic challenges.

The turning point in her career came with the IUC-QNU Programme, funded by the Belgian government through VLIR-UOS. As the leader of Sub-project 5, Dr. Phuong has spearheaded research into risk assessment and management in agricultural supply chains – a vital sector for the livelihoods of people in Central Vietnam.

“Research is not only about acquiring knowledge but also about creating new knowledge that can contribute to society,” Dr. Phuong shared.

Tangible Impacts through the IUC-QNU Project

Moving beyond prestigious academic publications (such as in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Research – ESCI Q1), Dr. Phuong’s research has delivered direct benefits to the community:

  • Supporting Farmers: Identifying and ranking major risks, such as demand fluctuations, price volatility, and pest outbreaks, for the dragon fruit supply chain in Lam Dong Province, which supported farmers in better understanding challenges affecting their livelihoods.
  • Sustainable Solutions: Introducing the Participatory Guarantee System (PGS), which helped the Ham Minh 30 Cooperative transition to organic farming, enhancing market credibility and ensuring resilient income for local farmers.

Building a Global Academic Network

Beyond research outcomes, Dr. Phuong has been actively involved in strengthening academic collaboration between Quy Nhon University and Belgian partners, such as KU Leuven, Ghent University, and the University of Antwerp. She not only coordinates interdisciplinary research but also co-supervises PhD students under the “sandwich” model—enabling young researchers to access advanced Belgian science while remaining deeply rooted in Vietnamese reality.

A Message to the Next Generation: “Science is not defined by gender”

Offering advice to young women aspiring to enter research, Dr. Phuong highlighted three key elements: English proficiency, perseverance, and optimism. She believes that with confidence and the support of international networks like the IUC, Vietnamese women can make significant marks on the global scientific map.

 

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