On February 26, 2023, the signing ceremony of a Memorandum of Understanding between the United Nations Development Programme Vietnam (UNDP Vietnam) and VNU Vietnam Japan University (VJU) was officially held at the United Nations headquarters in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Opening the event was a speech by Ms. Ramla Khalidi, resident representative of UNDP Viet Nam. Ms. Ramla Khalidi expressed that the cooperation relationship between the two sides will create an avenue for VJU and UNDP staff members to play a significant role in the advancing of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Viet Nam. She also said that in the past three decades, Viet Nam has demonstrated the strength of its economy and the resilience of its people. Based on its export orientation and favorable natural and human resources Viet Nam has been to capitalize on growth opportunities and show sustained progress in raising living standards and making remarkable progress in reducing poverty.  Today, Vietnam is one of the fastest growing economies among the ASEAN countries having weathered the impact of COVID 19. Therefore, UNDP’s programme of work in Vietnam aims to support the government accelerate the achievement of the SDGs through three inter-related outcomes on (i) Shared prosperity through sustainable economic transformation; (ii) Climate change, disaster resilience and environmental sustainability; and (iii) Governance and access to justice.

These activities of cooperation should be done based on data and evidence for sure, that is why collaboration with academia is critical for our work here. The cooperation with VJU will contribute to “sustainable growth” in Vietnam by promoting the activities in the field of Circular Economy, Climate Change, Digital Transformation, and so on. More importantly, diversity is the significant key word of this partnership. It would be great if students in VJU and other young generations who lead the coming Vietnamese society will realize the importance of diversity through our activities based on MOU. 

Ms. Ramla Khalidi believes that the signing ceremony will institutionalize the important partnership between VJU and UNDP, as well as contribute to building a more resilient and prosperous country where no one is left behind.

Following that, Prof. Furuta Motoo, Rector of VNU Vietnam Japan University also gave his speech. Professor said, Vietnam Japan University, always known as a symbol of  the good relationship between Vietnamese and Japanese governments, has set the goal to become a leading research-oriented university in Asia, associated with social responsibility and sustainable development. In addition to improving and ensuring the quality of training, we also pay great attention to building and developing the cooperative relationships with the university partners as well as domestic and oversea enterprises, especially focus on not only Japanese enterprises but also international organizations and aim to organize many practical activities, bringing many benefits to the VJU students as well as to Vietnamese society. 

UNDP serves in many respects as the operational arm of the United Nations at the country level and works with partners in numerous countries to promote among other things sustainable development, eradication of poverty, advancement of women, good governance and the rule of law.

VJU has the mission of training and providing international quality human resources towards becoming experts, leaders, managers in Vietnam, Japan, Asia and the world. To accomplish this mission, Professor Furuta believe that being able to cooperate with big organizations and having the same goal of sustainable development like UNDP is extremely great and useful for VJU, especially bringing many opportunities in learning, research as well as internship and job opportunities for students, opportunities for officers and lecturers in knowledge exchange, mutual project cooperation. Besides, VJU also hopes to be able to provide high-quality human resources to meet UNDP’s requirements and contribute to Vietnam’s as well as Global's development. Professor Furuta Motoo is very honored to be present on the special occasion marking the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation between Vietnam Japan University and UNDP Vietnam. This MOU commits the two sides to work more closely towards a common goal.