NEUST welcomes Vietnamese delegation for academic exchange and collaboration

The College of Management and Business Technology (CMBT) of the Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology (NEUST) welcomed a delegation from Dong Nai Technology University (DNTU), Vietnam, during a welcome program held at the Rico Fajardo Hall, Sumacab Campus on September 23, 2025.

The event marked the launch of an initiative encompassing visiting professors, faculty, and student exchanges, as well as research collaboration between the two institutions.

In her message, NEUST President Dr. Rhodora Jugo emphasized the significance of the partnership. “This partnership reflects the very spirit of the NEUST GLOBAL framework, where we go beyond classrooms and borders to create meaningful partnerships with institutions abroad like Dong Nai Technology University in Vietnam,” stated Dr. Jugo. She added that in an interconnected world, “collaboration becomes not merely an opportunity but a necessity.”

Atty. Eric Claudio, Director of the NEUST Office of International Affairs, outlined the program’s objectives. “To share your knowledge and expertise with our students, faculty, and community, and to engage in a cultural exchange with our people—that is the essence of ASEAN integration,” Atty. Claudio said. He also highlighted potential research collaboration between the universities.

The DNTU delegation, comprising three faculty members from its Faculty of Economics and Management—Tran Thi Minh Ngoc (Hanna), Pham Thi Mong Hang (Jennifer), and Trinh Hong Hoa (Helina)—will engage in class observations and collaborate on research and extension projects.

They are accompanied by three DNTU students: Nguyen The Loc (Ace), Pham Thi Thuy Hang (Mira), and Truong Tran Hoai Thanh (John), who will undertake a three-month On-the-Job Training (OJT) program at NEUST from September to December 2025, and will be guided by NEUST faculty mentors including Dr. Alec De Leon, Jonas Emmanuel Navarro, and Raphael Aduna.

The visiting students will be assisted by NEUST student buddies Aldy Nheil Payawal, Janine Mata, and Karl Cymond Bayudan. In a reciprocal exchange, Payawal is scheduled to visit DNTU in Vietnam beginning in November 2025.

On behalf of the DNTU faculty, Helina expressed gratitude for the hospitality extended by NEUST and noted that such exchange programs are beneficial for both institutions, as they “allow us to build bridges of friendship, understand each other better, and share knowledge and culture.”

DNTU student representative Ace shared their aspirations for the program. “We hope to bring the image of DNTU, as well as Vietnam in general, to the Philippines. We believe this is an opportunity for everyone to come together and share our culture and knowledge,” he said.

Dr. Sarah Alvarez, Dean of NEUST-CMBT, outlined the program’s next steps—including internship assignments for students to apply their academic learning—while also highlighting the potential for research and extension collaboration between NEUST and DNTU.

Prior to the welcome program, the DNTU delegation conducted an academic visit to the NEUST Gabaldon Campus and participated in a tree-planting activity. The delegation also attended a Filipino Language Class, conducted by the NEUST Institute of Linguistics and Literature.

Also present at the event were Dr. Alma Pia Reyes, Head of CMBT Internationalization; Dr. Janice Cucio, Area Chairperson of Business Administration; and other CMBT faculty members.

#NEUSTGLOBAL #NEUSTCMBT #NEUSTxDNTU #SDG4QualityEducation #SDG8DecentWorkAndEconomicGrowth #SDG17PartnershipsForTheGoals