On January 19, 2022, VNU Vice President Pham Bao Son presented the Medal for the development of VNU to Mrs. Elisa Cavacece, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Ireland in Hanoi in recognition of her valuable contributions to the sustainable development of VNU as well as to the promoting of partnership between VNU and Irish partners in general and to the VIBE program in particular.

Over the past few years, VNU has experienced a flourishing partnership with Irish universities and research institutions. The bilateral collaboration activities are diverse, including cooperation in training, capacity building for VNU faculty, cooperation in scientific research, exchange of lecturers and students.

Especially, since 2018, with the initiative of implementing the Vietnam - Ireland Bilateral Education Exchange Program (VIBE), educational cooperation and exchange activities between Vietnam and Ireland have been promoted. Under the VIBE program, VNU has received a grant of nearly 500,000 euros for 3 training and research projects. The VIBE project on building capacity for VNU’s academic staff and lecturers has been implemented very effectively and has a far-reaching impact on both inside and outside VNU. The project, supported by the Embassy of Ireland in Hanoi and highly appreciated by Irish partners, has become a key project within the VIBE Program.

Speaking at the ceremony, VNU Vice President Pham Bao Son sent his sincere thanks and appreciation to Mrs. Elisa Cavacece for her valuable contributions. He said that the cooperation with Irish partners in general and the activities within the framework of the VIBE Program in particular have received financial, procedural and connection support from the Embassy of Ireland in Hanoi, together with strong support by the Irish Deputy Head of Mission. Mrs. Elisa Cavacece was the initiator of the VIBE Program and is now the approver of new funding for the VIBE and other research projects at VNU in 2022.

VNU Vice President Pham Bao Son said that the cooperation agreement signing marked an important milestone in the partnership between VNU and the Embassy of Ireland in Hanoi as well as proved VNU’s efforts and commitment to strengthening the partnership between the two sides. He hoped that in the coming time, VNU and Irish partners would further develop cooperation in implementing joint research projects, transfer of training technology and teaching materials and various other cooperation activities.

At the ceremony, Mrs. Elisa Cavacece expressed her sincere thanks and honour to receive the Medal for the development of VNU. In addition, she expressed her impression with the efforts and determination of VNU’s leaders, staff and lecturers, who have overcome many difficulties and challenges caused by the epidemic to implement training courses in changing thinking, promoting creative spirit, activating innovative entrepreneurial thinking as well as forming a community of educators with the spirit of entrepreneurship at VNU.

Deputy Head of Mission Elisa Cavacece said, “The VIBE project and cooperation activities with VNU are impressive experiences during my tenure in Vietnam. This is also a valuable asset to help me perform other tasks in the future.” She believes that the results of cooperation between VNU, the Embassy of Ireland in Hanoi and Irish partners, achieved over the past time along with efforts to further develop cooperation activities will contribute to the sustainable development of each party as well as tighten the friendship ties between Vietnam and Ireland.