Attending the opening ceremony of the summer school were leaders of the Vietnam National University of Forestry, including Assoc. Prof. Dr. Phung Van Khoa – Vice President, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Xuan Phuong – National Project Coordinator. Participants in the training course included lecturers and over 70 students (30 on-site and over 40 online) from four Vietnamese universities: Vietnam National University of Forestry (VNUF), Thai Nguyen University of Science (TNUS), Hue University of Science (HUSC), Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Education (HCMUTE), as well as professors from European universities (online).

During the opening speech of the course, Prof. Janerik Lundquist warmly welcomed the Vietnamese students from the FOREST project participating in this summer course. This is an important course that helps students better understand the Master's programs being developed by the four Vietnamese universities within the framework of the FOREST project. Moreover, it also shares exciting topics that students will study when participating in these new Master's programs. Additionally, students will have the opportunity to hear about new and interesting research topics being conducted by professors at European universities including Linkoping University (LiU), University of Catania (UNICT), Tomar Polytechnic Institute (IPT), Montanuniversität Leoben (MUL), and University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU).

Prof. Janerik Lundquist gave an opening speech

On behalf of the organizers of the summer course, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Xuan Phuong – National Project Coordinator, Vice Director of the International Cooperation Division, VNUF, introduced an overview of the FOREST project and the objectives of the summer school. He also presented the one-week summer school program, which runs from August 28, 2023, to September 1, 2023.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Xuan Phuong introduced an overview of the FOREST project

On behalf of the university leadership, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Phung Van Khoa welcomed the professors and students from various Vietnamese universities who have come to VNUF to participate in this important summer school. Climate change is currently one of the greatest challenges facing humanity, and cooperation between universities to develop new Master's programs, address these challenges, and apply green technology, chemical technology as the FOREST project is implementing is highly significant and important for the university. Through this project, VNUF hopes that professors from various universities will continue to explore new collaborative opportunities to enhance cooperation between universities in the future.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Phung Van Khoa welcomed the professors and students from various Vietnamese universities who have come to VNUF to participate in this important summer school.

With the goal of establishing an international Master's degree program in Chemistry in Vietnam, aiming to enhance education quality to meet Bologna standards and adhere to the ECTS credit system, this program provides chemistry graduates from Vietnamese universities with additional opportunities to work in advanced environments. The second major objective is to mitigate climate change in Vietnam by introducing community capacity-building activities through the development of green technologies.

Additionally, the training course includes a field trip to Ba Vi National Park, allowing students to expand their understanding of Forest and Forestry, which they can then relate to in classroom lectures.

Some images of the Summer School 2023:

Teachers and online participants from 04 universities (VNUF, HUSC, TNUS, HCMUTE)

Dr. Ngo Duy Bach, lecturer of VNUF, discussing with students

Dr. Tran Thi Ai My (HUSC) introducing about Hue University and its training program

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Minh Nguyet – VNUF sharing a presentation on forest chemistry

Dr. Phan Duy Hung (VNUF) presenting about Wood Composite and green materials

Dr. Vuong Truong Xuan (TNUS) introducing the training program of TNUS.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hoang An Quoc – lecturer at Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Education (HCMUTE)

Dr. Huynh Nguyen Anh Tuan (HCMUTE) introducing the training program of HCMUTE

Presentations from foreign experts: Linkoping University (LiU), University of Catania (UNICT), Tomar Polytechnic Institute (IPT), Montanuniversität Leoben (MUL), University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU)

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Cao Quoc An sharing knowledge about timber processing on the second day of class

The field trip to Ba Vi National Park