On 6 October 2025, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Education (HCMUTE) welcomed a delegation from the University of Houston (UH), USA for a meeting held at the State Room, 5th Floor – Central Building. The session marked an important step in opening dialogue on potential academic and research collaborations between the two universities.

The meeting brought together representatives from HCMUTE, including the Deputy Director of the Office of International Affairs and leaders from the Faculties of Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Applied Sciences. The University of Houston was represented by Dr. Ji Chen, Chair of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hien V. Nguyen from the same department.

The session began with a warm welcome and introductory remarks from HCMUTE, followed by the screening of a short video about the university. Mr. Nguyen Thoi then delivered a presentation outlining HCMUTE’s history, campuses, training model, academic programs, and international cooperation activities. He emphasized the university’s readiness to engage in diverse forms of collaboration and shared successful experiences with international programs such as 1+1, 2+2, and 4+0 with partners in the UK and Australia.

In response, Dr. Ji Chen expressed appreciation for HCMUTE’s reputation as one of Vietnam’s leading universities and reaffirmed the University of Houston’s strong interest in building a partnership. He highlighted opportunities to develop 2+2 exchange programs in fields such as Materials Technology and Computer Science, alongside faculty exchange initiatives.

Dr. Chen also presented an overview of the University of Houston, covering its location, history, academic programs, and student support initiatives. He noted that UH provides generous scholarship opportunities for international students, including a tuition reduction from USD 20,000 to USD 10,000 annually, and introduced the unique B.S. to Ph.D. program offered by the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Furthermore, he underlined UH’s strong industry linkages with global leaders such as Apple, Google, Meta, and Abbott, which provide students with promising career prospects and internship opportunities.

The meeting concluded with an engaging Q&A session for HCMUTE students, focusing particularly on scholarship opportunities and pathways to study at UH. Both institutions expressed enthusiasm about continuing discussions, with UH extending an invitation for HCMUTE representatives to visit and further develop cooperative initiatives in the United States.

This exchange marked the beginning of what is expected to become a fruitful partnership, strengthening ties between Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Education and the University of Houston, and expanding opportunities for students and faculty of both institutions.