On Monday 26 August, a delegation of the Vietnamese University of Quy Nhon (QNU) visited HOGENT. The Health and Water Technology Research Centre, the Department of Environment, Prevention and Welfare and the Environmental and Sustainability Management course are cooperating with that institution under an IUC VLIR-UOS project (see below). During the visit, Do Ngoc My, rector of Quy Nhon University, and Koen Goethals, president of HOGENT, signed a Memorandum of Understanding, expressing the will of both institutions to develop a long-term cooperation.
After the signing, part of the delegation got to know the labs at campus Schoonmeersen. This is not a coincidence, as the cooperation project focuses, amongst other things, on developing solid laboratory infrastructure and strong lab management in Quy Nhon.
Another part of the delegation visited the library. The delegation was keen to know how the library is used functionally for students, teachers and also informed about HOGENT's approach and e-learning implementation. The renovated brewery in Building C also drew Vietnamese attention.
Through the IUC VLIR-UOS project, quite a lot has already been achieved over the past two years:
- Eight students from the undergraduate environment and sustainability management course went on an internship abroad in Quy Nhon. This resulted in five undergraduate theses.
- HOGENT colleagues Yves Ronsse, Linde Raport, Katrijn Cierkens and Els Van Mechelen paid three working visits to QNU and gave training sessions and workshops on good lab management and waste policy on campus.
- Twice, a delegation of Vietnamese team members came to HOGENT. Here, they were immersed in the HOGENT approach around good lab management and waste management on campus.
- Infrastructure was purchased for good lab management and waste management on QNU's campus at a cost of 110,000 euros. The university itself also made an excellent contribution through the establishment of a chemical storage room and the setting up of a first aid room.
Impact
An IUC VLIR-UOS project is a long-term project - 10 years - consisting of several sub-projects. The Vietnam project involves seven teams from different Flemish higher education institutions that work intensively together to achieve the predefined goals for QNU.
“Such inter-institutional cooperation throws open the world for the HOGENT scholars involved,” says Els Van Mechelen, involved in the project as research coordinator Water & Health Technology. “We also learn about ourselves: by working together on the project, people and services within HOGENT also got to know each other better and we became much more aware of the expertise present in our organisation. And it gives a boost to experience what impact we can realise. In addition, the HOGENT students have an important connecting pioneering role in this project - and they do so very well: the concrete they achieve on QNU's campus makes us proud and confirms that HOGENT education is sustainable and future-proof,” Els concludes enthusiastically.
