SMART AXIATA COMPANY - CAMBODIA VISITED INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY TO FOSTER KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE ON THE STARTUP ECOSYSTEM AND INNOVATION

On August 5, 2024, International University – Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City welcomed a delegation of talented students from Cambodia’s SMART AXIATA Learning program of Smart Axiata Co., Ltd and representatives of Schoolab Asia in Vietnam who came to Ho Chi Minh City to learn about the innovation ecosystem in the technology field in Vietnam. The students majoring in various fields including Information Technology, Electronics, and Business from different universities in Cambodia.

Students from American University of Phnom Penh, the International University of Cambodia, Paragon University, Cambodian Digital Technology Academy, and Singapore High School visited International University for this study exchange program.

To welcome the delegation, Dr. Tran Thi Ngoc Diep – Head of the Innovation and Technology Transfer Center introduced and shared on the research orientation of International University, along with the open and dynamic ecosystem of Startup and Innovation at the School.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Minh Giang – Senior APAC Program Manager from Schoolab Asia expressed her gratitude towards International University for hosting the delegation.

Dr. Tran Thi Ngoc Diep – Head of the Innovation and Technology Transfer Center welcomed the delegation and introduced the participants from International University.

The highlights of Startup and Innovation activities at International University (IU) offered valuable and engaging perspectives to businesses and Cambodian students. The university addressed numerous inquiries from students who were eager to participate in IU’s Startup and Innovation program. Mr. Sek Chanbora, Senior Expert in CSR and Sustainability at Smart Axiata Co., Ltd., expressed great enthusiasm for potential collaborations to organize meaningful exchange activities for students from Vietnam and Cambodia, focusing on Startup and Innovation in the near future.

Dr. Tran Thi Ngoc Diep, along with the experts from the Innovation and Technology Transfer Center took a commemorative photo with the delegation.

After the meeting, both sides have made promising commitments to organizing Startup and Innovation Programs, as well as Sustainable Development Education Programs between students from both countries, aiming to address regional hot issues such as responding to climate change in the Mekong Delta, plastic waste, and the circular economy, etc.

The delegation had the opportunity to visit laboratories at International University. At the the School of Biomedical Engineering, the group had the chance to observe the state-of-the-artmedical equipment laboratory with modern equipment such as a blood pressure monitoring device using a smartphone app to track the health of loved ones. This is considered one of the Startup products of the School’s lecturers and students. The delegation also experienced the School of Electrical and Electronics Engineering laboratory with advanced equipment such as a robotic arm and an Atenna electromagnetic wave impact testing chamber.

Mr. Tran Ngoc Viet – Laboratory Specialist in School of Biomedical Engineering, International University introduced the delegation to the School and a Startup product – a smartphone-based blood pressure monitoring device developed by the School’s students.

PhD. Nguyen Lap Phuong Uyen – The Laboratory Specialist from the School of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, International University – introduced the delegation to the control system.

PhD. Nguyen Minh Thien – The Antenna Laboratory of the Telecommunications Department, the School of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, International University introduced the delegation to the Antenna equipment.

Cambodia is Vietnam’s neighbor. Currently, Vietnam in general, and Ho Chi Minh City in particular has been welcoming an increasing number of Cambodian students to live and study here. Therefore, collaborating on student exchange activities and Startup and Innovation programs to cultivate the entrepreneurial spirit of students from both countries is a noteworthy activity.