CAN THO UNIVERSITY

The Mekong Delta (MD), with a natural area of approximately 4 million hectares and over 18 million inhabitants, is the biggest agricultural production area in Vietnam and considered the rice basket of Viet Nam. Beside rice production, the MD is also rich in fruits and a diverse variety of seafood for export. This is a rich land with beautiful scenery including colorful fruit trees that grow all year round.

Can Tho University (CTU), an authentic multidisciplinary state-run higher education institution in the MD, is the cultural, scientific and technical center of the MD. Since its establishment in 1966 (following the land-grant model from the US), CTU has been improving and developing. It has been selected to be one of 14 key universities in Vietnam out of 400 higher education institutions across the nation. Currently, it offers 84 Bechelor, 32 Master and 9 Doctoral training programs in various fields with a focus on highly qualified graduates who are prepare to serve society’s greater needs. Annually, the University recieves international faculty staff members, volunteers, and students on internship programs or under agreements between their home universities and CTU. Many of them are from the US, Belgium, the Netherlands, France, Germany, Australia, Japan, etc. So far, the University has signed Memos of Understanding (MOUs) and Memos of Agreement (MOAs) with a large number of higher education institutions around the world. CTU expects, however, to have specific MOUs/MOAs through concrete activities which are benefical to both sides. For instance, academic exchange programs, joint-research projects (searching and funding), staff and student exchange programs, etc. Starting from something small seems better than something big is its preference.