History of the Formation and Development of the Department of Chemical Engineering

Tuesday - 01/07/2025 11:06

The early days of Hanoi University of Science and Technology (HUST)

Hanoi University of Science and Technology was established as per the decree 147/NĐ of the Ministry of Education and Training singed on March 6^th, 1956, consisting of four integrated departments including department of Chemical and Food Engineering. Throughout 70 years of development, the key milestones of department of Chemical and Food Engineering (currently named department of Chemical Engineering) were addressed below.
1956–1965: The department of Chemical and Food Engineering was one of the first departments established at Hanoi University of Science and Technology (HUST). The first academic year opening ceremony of HUST was held on October 15^th, 1956 in which 184 enrolled and studied at the department of Chemical and Food Engineering and many of them became leading scientists and experts. At this decade (1956–1965), in the chemistry division of the department, there were various specializations founded including Physical Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Inorganic-Silicate Materials Technology, Organic Materials Engineering, and Chemical Engineering-Chemical Process Equipment.

A historically significant evacuation march to Lang Son

1965–1975 (Vietnam war period): Due to the escalation of the war, most faculty members and students, along with their teaching equipment, relocated to an evacuation site in Lang Son. In 1967, the Food division of the department of Chemical and Food Engineering was separated to form the University of Light Industry. By 1969, the faculty gradually moved back to the lowlands and Hanoi. When the war was intensified in 1972, the department once again evacuated to Phu Xuyen district (former Ha Tay province), and then to Hiep Hoa district (former Ha Bac province). Despite ten arduous years, the Faculty maintained its student enrollment scale and continued to improve the quality of teaching and learning. Many textbooks were compiled to support the training of Chemical Engineers. Numerous scientific studies were conducted to support production and the war effort, such as the production of activated carbon, luminescent materials, vertical kiln cement, aluminum plating, and fused phosphate fertilizer.

*Construction of classrooms and chemistry labs during evacuation in Lang Son*

An opening ceremony at HUST during 1975–1995

1975–1995: During this period, staffs and experts at the department were strongly improved not only in research and education but also in management. However, according to the educational development of the nation some members of the department were pointed to contribute to the establishment of universities in the South, such as Hue University, Danang University, HCMC University of Technology, Thu Duc Technical University, and Can Tho University. Also, several specialized laboratories were founded, including the Silicate Laboratory (1976), Rare earth and Radioactive Elements Laboratory (1973), and the Inorganic Materials Research Center (1990). The Department of Cellulose & Paper from the Food department belonging to University of Light Industry was merged into the Industrial Chemistry Division of the department. In the meanwhile, new educational programs, unprecedented in Vietnam, such as Printing and Publishing Technology and Marine Salt Exploitation Technology were also launched. In 1984, Department of Chemistry–Food Technology was established merging the Department of Chemistry and the Department of Food Industry together, consisting of six major divisions: Chemistry (Physical, Analytical, Inorganic–General); Chemical Process and Equipment Engineering (Chemical Engineering, Chemical Industry, Chemical Process Equipment, Food Processing Equipment); Inorganic Materials Engineering (Industrial Construction, Inorganic Materials, Electrochemical Engineering, Silicate Engineering); Organic Materials Engineering (Organic Synthesis, Basic Organic Chemistry, Polymers, Fuels); Biochemistry–Microbiology; and Food Technology. In 1987, the Polymer division was separated to form the Polymer and Composite Materials Research Center.

A Chemical Engineering Lab at Building C4 in HUST campus (1975–1995)

A photo taken at C1 Square in the period of 1995–1999

1995–1999: To meet national demands during the renovation period and to build HUST into “a high-quality, multi-disciplinary center for education, research, and technology transfer,” HUST was restructured and the Faculty of Chemical and Food Technology was also expanded and it’s named was changed into the Faculty of Chemical–Food–Biological Technology, comprising 220 staff with 15 departments: Physical Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, General Inorganic Chemistry, Inorganic Materials Technology, Silicate Materials Technology, Electrochemical Technology and Corrosion Protection, Chemical–Food Process Equipment, Industrial Chemistry Technology, Chemical and Food Processing Equipment, Food Biotechnology, Food Engineering, and Tropical Food Technology. In 1995, two research centers were formed and added up to the Faculty namely the Corrosion and Metal Protection Research Center and the Environmental Science and Technology Center (this center was changed later to the Institute for Environmental Science and Technology). In 1999, three departments—Food Biotechnology, Food Engineering, and Tropical Food Technology— were separated from the Faculty to form the Institute of Biotechnology and Food Technology along with the Biotechnology Center.

A Doctoral dissertation defense in Chemical Engineering area (1995–1999)

A photo of the 45^th Anniversary of HUST (2001)

1999–2009: In July 1999, all of the departments related to chemistry and chemical engineering were separated from the Faculty of Chemical–Food–Biological Technology to establish the Faculty of Chemical Technology consisting of 12 departments: Physical Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, General Inorganic Chemistry, Inorganic Materials and Printing Technology, Silicate Materials Technology, Electrochemical Technology and Metal Protection, Organic–Petrochemical Technology, Industrial Chemistry Technology, Industrial Construction, Chemical–Food Process Equipment, and Chemical-Petrochemical Process Equipment. In 2003, the Department of Industrial Chemistry Technology was dissolved and the Department of Printing Technology was established. In 2006, the Cellulose & Paper Group and the Pharmaceutical–Pesticide Chemicals Group were separated from the Organic–Petrochemical Technology Department to the two new departments keeping the same name of these groups.

A photo of Student Week at the School of Chemical Engineering (2017)

2010–2023: At this period, HUST was again upgrade. On December 29, 2010, under Decision No. 2517/QĐ-ĐHBK-TCCB of the HUST Rector, the School of Chemical Engineering was officially established from the Faculty of Chemical Technology, consisting of 14 departments and 1 key laboratory. Since April 2019, under HUST’s strategic direction, the School was restructured into four science-based departments named: Physical Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, General Inorganic Chemistry, and nine technology-based departments namely: Silicate Materials Technology, Electrochemical Technology and Metal Protection, Inorganic Materials Technology, Organic–Petrochemical Technology, Pharmaceutical and Pesticide Chemistry, Printing Technology, Industrial Construction, Chemical–Food Process Equipment, Chemical and Petrochemical Process Equipment, and three research centers.

Modern Laboratory system at School of Chemical Engineering

Establishment Ceremony of the School of Chemistry and Life Sciences

According to a new resolution from the University Council of HUST on March 29, 2023, the School of Chemistry and Life Sciences (SCLS) was established based on the merger of three schools and one research institute: School of Chemical Engineering, Scholl of Biotechnology and Food Technology, School of Environmental Science and Technology, and Institute for Research and Application of Natural Compounds. All staff working at SCLS were a highly qualified and well-trained in which over 90% of lecturers holding doctoral degrees and nearly 40% achieved professor or associate professor positions. Currently, the organization structure of SCLS includes nine units: five departments, one administrative office, and three centers (Technical Center, Rubber Science and Technology Center, and the Center for Research and Development in Chemistry, Environment, and Life Sciences).

Organization of the Department of Chemical Engineering with 8 specialized groups (09/09/2023)

The Department of Chemical Engineering (DCE) was officially established on September 9, 2023, under Decision No. 7953/QĐ-ĐHBK, based on the inheritance and development from the former School of Chemical Engineering. There were 63 lecturers and staff working at DCE distributed in eight specialized groups: Process Engineering; Chemical–Petrochemical Process Equipment; Electrochemistry and Energy Storage-Conversion; Inorganic Chemical Technology and Plant Nutrition; Silicate Materials Technology; Pharmaceutical, Cosmetic, and Pesticide Technology; Petrochemical and Gas Technology; Paper and Packaging Technology.

Training program structure with 8 specialized majors at Dempartment of Chemical Engineering.

Currently DCE offers two academic programs: the standard training program named Chemical Engineering (program code: CH1) and the advanced training program in Pharmaceutical Chemical Engineering (program code: CH-E11). In the near future, department leading board plans to develop additional programs such as Mineral Processing and Pharmaceutical Engineering as current trend in the new era of the world development. All 63 faculty members are experts in chemical technology and engineering, involved in major research projects and effective technology transfer activities in industry.

The Department of Chemical Engineering enhances international cooperation in training and scientific research

With a rich tradition and nearly 70 years of history, the Department of Chemical Engineering always strives to provide high-quality human resources in chemical technology and engineering following the philosophy of being “sustainability, comprehensiveness, creativity, and adaptability”. Furthermore, lecturers and scientists in the department are always willing to participate in and solve scientific and technological challenges in both research activities and industrial practice in the area of chemical engineering.

Department of Chemical Engineering aiming at “sustainability, comprehensiveness, creativity, and adaptability”

Author: Assoc. Prof. Đặng Trung Dũng

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