SKKU hosts Vietnamese alumni and researchers for academic workshop
Sungkyunkwan University Hosts Vietnamese Alumni and Researchers for Joint Academic Workshop
Sungkyunkwan University expanded its international research partnerships on October 13 by welcoming Vietnamese alumni and faculty members to its Natural Sciences Campus for a joint academic workshop and alumni gathering, spressnews.com reported. The event brought together visiting scholars and university leadership to evaluate ongoing collaborative projects and tour advanced laboratory facilities.
- SKKU paired four alumni professors from Ho Chi Minh City University and Duy Tan University with four internal faculty members to drive joint research initiatives.
- Visiting researchers reviewed new research facilities and advanced equipment during tours of the Natural Sciences Campus.
- The gathering united academic researchers with alumni working at companies in Korea, including Samsung Electronics.
SKKU Launched Joint Research Projects Connecting Alumni and Resident Faculty
The October workshop followed a series of diplomatic and administrative steps initiated after President Ji-Beom Yoo visited Ho Chi Minh City in December 2025. That initial visit established the framework for expanding academic exchanges and strengthening the institution’s overseas network. Building on those discussions, SKKU launched formal joint research projects in May 2026 by connecting four alumni researchers serving as professors abroad with four resident faculty members from departments including Advanced Materials Science & Engineering, the School of Pharmacy, and Biophysics.
Participating researchers at the October 13 gathering included Professor MinJae Choi and Professor Sunkook Kim from the Department of Advanced Materials Science & Engineering, Professor Ki Hyun Kim from the School of Pharmacy, and Professor Inki Kim from the Department of Biophysics. They were joined by visiting alumni researchers Dang Vinh Quang and Thai Khac Minh from Ho Chi Minh City University, alongside Nguyen Dang Nam and Nguyen Xuan Loc from Duy Tan University.
Visiting Delegation Toured Research Facilities and Met Students and Alumni
During the day-long program, the visiting delegation toured specialized research facilities and advanced equipment at the Natural Sciences Campus. Current students met with the visiting alumni to discuss research capabilities and exploring career paths. Later sessions shifted to an alumni gathering that included graduates working at companies in Korea, such as Samsung Electronics.
These meetings built upon prior international outreach efforts by university leadership. Earlier delegation visits to Vietnam—including meetings between SKKU officials and President Nguyen Thi Thanh Mai of Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City—focused on broadening inter-institutional cooperation across engineering, health sciences, and social sciences. University administrators have indicated plans to continue scaling these joint research pairings and overseas engagement initiatives.
President Ji-Beom Yoo remarked, “The interest and support of our alumni are a great driving force behind Sungkyunkwan University’s continued development. I look forward to maintaining close ties with our alumni and growing together in the years ahead.”