On August 17, 2026, the School of Chemistry and Life Sciences (SCLS), Hanoi University of Science and Technology (HUST), welcomed Professor Di Wu, Director of the Centre for Green Chemistry and Environmental Biotechnology, and Professor Philippe Heynderickx from Ghent University Global Campus (GUGC), Republic of Korea, for a visit and working session at the School. The visit marked another concrete step forward in the collaboration between SCLS and Ghent University Global Campus, which was initiated through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in 2024.
In 2024, SCLS and Ghent University Global Campus signed an MoU, establishing a comprehensive framework for cooperation in education and training, scientific research, academic exchange, and the development of international collaborative activities between the two institutions.
Since the signing of the MoU, the areas of cooperation have gradually been translated into a range of practical activities. Staff, faculty, and student exchange programs, seminars and academic exchanges, as well as the development and implementation of joint research projects, have contributed to deepening the partnership between the two institutions. The visit and working session with Professor Di Wu and Professor Philippe Heynderickx on August 17 provided a clear demonstration of the progress made in implementing the collaborative activities agreed upon under the MoU.
As part of the visit, Professor Di Wu participated in the signing and launch of the Vietnam–Belgium bilateral collaborative project, “Development of an intelligent integrated microalgae–photocatalytic membrane and solar-driven membrane distillation system for water reuse and resource recovery from the semiconductor industry (SOLARWISE)”. The project is co-funded by the National Foundation for Science and Technology Development (NAFOSTED) of Vietnam and the Research Foundation – Flanders (FWO) of Belgium. SCLS serves as the Vietnamese lead institution, with Dr. Duc Viet Nguyen as the Principal Investigator.
The implementation of the project represents an important milestone in the research collaboration between the two institutions. It will provide opportunities for researchers, doctoral candidates, graduate students, and undergraduate students from both sides to strengthen professional exchanges, share facilities and research methodologies, and jointly develop new research directions. The project also provides an important foundation for further expanding bilateral research collaboration, particularly in areas of complementary expertise. (https://nafosted.gov.vn/thong-bao-danh-muc-tai-tro-nhiem-vu-khoa-hoc-va-cong-nghe-trong-khuon-kho-hop-tac-quoc-te-nafosted-fwo-thuc-hien-tu-nam-2026/)
Professor Di Wu during his visit and working session at the School of Chemistry and Life Sciences and joined the kick off the SOLARWISE project.
Alongside the project collaboration, Professor Philippe Heynderickx delivered a seminar during the visit entitled “Hydrothermal Carbonization for Waste Reduction: Converting General Waste into (Photo)Catalytic Materials for Pollution Mitigation and Synthesis Reactions,” organized by Professor Le Minh Thang.
The seminar attracted faculty members, researchers, and students from the School, providing a forum for sharing recent research findings and discussing approaches to waste valorization and the development of catalytic and photocatalytic materials for pollution control and chemical synthesis.
Professor Philippe Heynderickx during his visit and working session at the School of Chemistry and Life Sciences.
Cooperation is promoted from both sides
The reception for Professor Di Wu and Professor Philippe Heynderickx was attended by Associate Professor Chu Ky Son, Dean of the School of Chemistry and Life Sciences, together with faculty members and staff of the School.
Speaking at the meeting, Associate Professor Chu Ky Son emphasized that the visit by the professors from Ghent University Global Campus was a positive indication that collaboration between the two institutions is becoming increasingly substantive and impactful, with the commitments set out in the 2024 MoU gradually being translated into concrete activities.
The Dean of the School of Chemistry and Life Sciences also expressed his expectation that the two institutions would continue to maintain and expand their collaboration in the coming years, not only in scientific research but also in education and training, staff and student exchanges, technology transfer, and the development of international cooperation programs. In particular, the two sides will jointly explore and pursue larger-scale international funding opportunities, including Horizon Europe, thereby creating opportunities to establish long-term collaborative programs and projects with significant scientific and practical impact.
Associate Professor Chu Ky Son, Dean of the School of Chemistry and Life Sciences, together with faculty members and students, welcoming the GUGC professors.
New Milestones Built on an Established Partnership
The visit by the two GUGC professors took place shortly after a delegation from the Department of Environmental Science and Technology, led by Associate Professor Hoang Thi Thu Huong, visited Ghent University Global Campus in July 2026. The continued exchange of visits, academic activities, and research collaboration demonstrates that the partnership is being maintained actively and regularly, while continuing to expand in scope.
At the same time, Associate Professor Tran Thi Thuy, together with 4 graduate and undergraduate students from the School of Chemistry and Life Sciences, is undertaking a research exchange at Ghent University Global Campus in the Republic of Korea. These reciprocal exchange activities are contributing to the development of an international academic environment, providing faculty members and students with opportunities to engage with research groups and fostering long-term research linkages between the two institutions.
Professor Di Wu hosted a delegation of faculty members and graduate students from the School of Chemistry and Life Sciences at Ghent University Global Campus, Incheon, South Korea, in July 2026.
Since the signing of the cooperation agreement in 2024, the partnership between the School of Chemistry and Life Sciences and Ghent University Global Campus has gradually evolved into concrete activities in research, education, and academic exchange. Joint research projects, staff and student exchange programs, professional seminars, and regular academic visits are establishing a strong foundation for the continued development of the partnership.
Looking ahead, building on the strong foundation already established and the proactive engagement of both sides, the School of Chemistry and Life Sciences and Ghent University Global Campus expect to further broaden the scope of their collaboration, leverage their complementary strengths, jointly pursue new international funding opportunities, and develop more interdisciplinary and long-term collaborative programs addressing practical challenges in environmental science, chemistry, biotechnology, food science, and sustainable development.
