The University of Regina (URegina), located in Saskatchewan, is known for its strong research programs and international collaborations. With support from the Trade Commissioner Service (TCS), URegina has expanded its activities in Vietnam to include institutional partnerships, particularly in education cooperation and applied research.
Mining common ground: building global research ties in Vietnam
Success from Saskatchewan to Southeast Asia
Since 2021, URegina has established 27 academic agreements with 16 partner institutions in Vietnam. In 2023, URegina partnered with Hanoi University of Mining and Geology (HUMG) to launch a new joint research project using Ground-Penetrating Radar (GPR) to improve potash mining.
URegina has welcomed over 20 exchange students from Vietnam and is currently hosting 7 students who have been awarded the University of Regina International Student of Distinction scholarship.
How the TCS forged a global collaboration
The strategic partnership began when Tu Nguyen, the education sector Trade Commissioner at the Consulate General of Canada to Vietnam, identified HUMG as a strong potential partner for URegina and initiated contact. The TCS office in Vietnam and the Saskatchewan Vietnam office provided market intelligence and cultural insights that helped URegina navigate the Vietnamese academic landscape. This hands-on support ensured that the partnership was built on a strong foundation of mutual understanding and aligned goals.
Through a series of discussions and introductions, the universities discovered a shared interest in mining and agreed to pursue a formal collaboration in 2021. This agreement laid the groundwork for a long-term research partnership, including faculty and student exchanges, joint research projects, and knowledge-sharing initiatives.
The partnership continues to flourish today with:
- a HUMG student beginning a PhD at URegina in 2025
- a joint seminar on mining planned for Vietnam in 2026
- ongoing collaborations between Canadian and Vietnamese researchers and institutions focusing on innovation and knowledge sharing
A word from the University of Regina
“In recent years, the University of Regina has been working to diversify our international partnership development in terms of student recruitment, student exchanges, and research collaborations. In this context, we are proud of our growing engagement with Vietnam, much of which has been facilitated by both the TCS and the Saskatchewan Vietnam Office. We look forward to continuing our close work with these partners in coming years, and to strengthening the educational and research connections between Canada and Vietnam for the benefit of both countries.”
The TCS can help your institution go global
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