Quy Nhon University welcomes Prof. Peter Lievens, Vice Rector of KU Leuven, Belgium
On the morning of September 25, Quy Nhon University (QNU) had the honor of welcoming Prof. Peter Lievens, Vice Rector for International Policy and Interculturality, as well as Alumni Policy at KU Leuven, Belgium.
This visit marked a significant milestone, as it has been ten years since Prof. Lievens’ first meeting with Prof. Nguyen Hong Anh (former rector of QNU) in Leuven during his tenure as the Dean of the Faculty of Science at KU Leuven. He highlighted the collaboration between QNU and the Department of Chemistry, led by Prof. Minh Tho Nguyen, which initiated the development of a new Master’s curriculum in Chemistry at QNU. This initial partnership has expanded since then, involving colleagues from Physics and other departments, as well as central services from KU Leuven.
Prof. Lievens was happy to see that this collaboration has matured into the Institutional University Cooperation (IUC), financed by VLIR-UOS, with KU Leuven coordinating efforts alongside several Flemish partners, including Ghent University, Hasselt University, University of Antwerp, HOGENT, and VIVES University of Applied Sciences.
After a one-day visit with many scientific and managerial discussions Prof. Lievens emphasized that the IUC-QNU project has ambitious goals with key elements of joint PhD student supervisions, and mutual research visits and internships. He was happy to learn about the progress of the IUC project which started in 2022 and will last for 10 years. He observed that: “Already now, there is significant progress and first output.”
On behalf of Quy Nhon University, the rector Prof. Doan Duc Tung expressed gratitude to Prof. Lievens for his support in developing the partnership not only between QNU and KU Leuven but also with many other institutions in Belgium. He committed that the university’s leaders, relevant units, and researchers will dedicate all necessary resources and efforts to implement the IUC project to achieve its objectives.
Prof. Tung emphasized, “The visit of Prof. Lievens represents not just an opportunity to strengthen the ties between QNU and KU Leuven, but also a celebration of the shared values and aspirations that drive our commitment to education and research. In a world that is increasingly interconnected, collaborations like ours are vital for fostering innovation and enhancing the academic experience for our students and faculty.”
Expressing his joy at witnessing the remarkable development of QNU, Prof. Lievens conveyed his anticipation for the future outcomes of this collaboration over the next decade. He praised the enthusiasm and passion for research demonstrated by the university’s faculty and graduate students. Furthermore, he extended his congratulations to the staff for their successful establishment and implementation of the IUC-QNU Program, which addresses both local issues and broader global challenges. Particularly, Prof. Lievens highlighted the importance of fostering an entrepreneurial spirit within the University to effectively transfer research results into real-world benefits for the community.
Lab Tour Featuring Short Presentations by Sandwich PhD Students in the framework of the IUC-QNU Project
