UTT Signs Cooperation Agreement with Korea National University of Transportation and Korean Education Representative Office to Promote High-Quality International Human Resource Training

On May 5, 2026, the University of Transport Technology (UTT) held a ceremony to sign a trilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between UTT, Korea National University of Transportation (KNUT), and the Representative Office of the Overseas Koreans Education Agency in Vietnam (KEC).

The program represents a concrete step in UTT’s strategy for internationalizing education, while opening up numerous opportunities for cooperation in training, scientific research, high-quality human resource development, and academic exchange programs between Vietnam and Korea in the fields of transportation, logistics, and urban railways.

Overview of the signing ceremony

Attending the program on behalf of Korea National University of Transportation were Prof. Hyung-Woo Lee – Dean of the Faculty of Railway Science and Director of the K-Transportation International Education Center; and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Jaeyoung Shin – representative of the K-Transportation International Education Center. Representing the Overseas Koreans Education Agency in Vietnam were Mr. Kim Hyun Dong – Director of the Representative Office, and Ms. Khong Minh Ngoc – Head of the Study Abroad Support Team.

On behalf of UTT, participants included Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Hoang Long – Secretary of the Party Committee and Rector of the University; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vu Ngoc Khiem – Standing Vice Rector; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ngo Thi Thanh Huong – Head of the Office of Science, Technology and International Cooperation; Dr. Tran Ngoc Hung – Dean of the Faculty of Civil Engineering; and Dr. Nguyen Long Khanh – Director of the Institute of Training and International Cooperation.

Representatives from Korea National University of Transportation and the Representative Office of the Overseas Koreans Education Agency in Vietnam

The program was conducted through two working sessions. In the first session, the parties focused on discussing strategic cooperation orientations, particularly the implementation of the proposed ODA project between UTT and KNUT titled: “Establishment of an Urban Railway Center and Human Resource Development for the Railway Sector at the University of Transport Technology.”

The project aims to establish an Urban Railway Center at UTT; develop undergraduate training programs in the railway sector; enhance lecturers’ capacities; and invest in modern laboratories, simulation systems, and practical training facilities to support education and scientific research.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Hoang Long – Secretary of the Party Committee and Rector of the University speaking at the program

According to information shared during the meeting, on March 13, 2026, Vietnam’s Ministry of Finance sent an official diplomatic note proposing the project to the Ministry of Education of Korea through the Embassy of Korea in Vietnam. By April 3, 2026, the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) announced that the project had been selected and was undergoing further appraisal by the Korean Ministries of Finance and Foreign Affairs before the official results are announced in December 2026.

The second working session, chaired by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vu Ngoc Khiem – Standing Vice Rector, and Dr. Tran Ngoc Hung – Dean of the Faculty of Civil Engineering, focused on in-depth discussions regarding training cooperation and the development of international programs with Korean partners.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vu Ngoc Khiem – Standing Vice Rector chairing the second working session

During this session, the three parties officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Korean language training cooperation to support UTT students wishing to study at KNUT as well as participate in joint training programs between the two universities. According to the agreement, the parties will coordinate in organizing Korean language courses for UTT students and support improvements in language proficiency, particularly TOPIK Level 3 – an important requirement for students participating in transfer and study programs in Korea.

In addition, KNUT will provide admissions information, training programs, scholarships, and study opportunities for UTT students, while also coordinating career counseling, academic exchange, and educational cooperation activities between the two institutions.

MoU signing ceremony

Within the framework of educational cooperation, UTT is currently collaborating with KNUT to implement international joint programs in railway signaling and information systems; student and lecturer exchange programs; short-term training courses in Korea; and inviting KNUT lecturers to teach in UTT’s talent-oriented classes.

Notably, KNUT plans to grant 10 scholarships with a total value of approximately VND 4.3 billion for UTT students to study in Korea starting from September 2026, while UTT will also provide five exchange scholarships for KNUT students in the 2026–2027 academic year.

In addition to KNUT, UTT is expanding cooperation with several other prestigious Korean universities, such as Pukyong National University in the field of logistics and Tongmyong University with its 2+2 International Logistics Bachelor’s Program. To date, UTT has sent 16 students to study in Korea under this program.

Within the framework of the program, UTT also proposed strengthening cooperation with the Korean Education Representative Office in many practical areas to support students and lecturers in accessing international study, research, and exchange opportunities.

Accordingly, the parties agreed to coordinate support for lecturers and organize Korean language training courses for UTT students; annually organize conferences, seminars, and study-abroad counseling programs related to Korea; provide information on scholarship programs for lecturers and students, including majors, admission requirements, and information about Korean universities; and support connections between UTT and Korean universities, educational organizations, and academic partners.

These cooperation activities are expected to create more international learning opportunities for UTT students, contributing to enhancing foreign language proficiency, integration skills, and the quality of human resources in the context of today’s educational globalization.