Minister of MARD orders scientific research products with Can Tho University

See Can Tho University as a unit of MARD

Can Tho University, a critical state higher education institution in the Mekong Delta, is the cultural, scientific, and technical center of the Mekong Delta and Vietnam. Since founding in 1966, Can Tho University has been improving and developing itself.

Can Tho University's primary missions are training, conducting scientific research, and transferring technology to serve regional and national socio-economic development. In addition to its training responsibilities, CTU has actively participated in scientific research projects, applying advances in scientific and technological knowledge to solve problems related to science, technology, economics, culture, and society in the region.

With achievements in scientific research and international cooperation projects, the university has developed various products and technological production processes that benefit people's lives and promote production.

At the meeting, a representative of Can Tho University said that the university has 1,800 officials and workers, including 1,000 teaching staff, a multi-disciplinary university with 106 undergraduate majors and 45,000 students. The university annually enrolls 1,500 - 2,000 students in the agriculture and fisheries sector alone.

The university has trained 17,500 engineers, bachelors, 3,891 masters, and 131 PhDs related to agriculture and fisheries, accounting for 60% of the total number of learners in this field at universities throughout the Mekong Delta region.

The university recommends that the MARD support, introduce, create conditions, and assign tasks for the university to participate in critical international and national programs and projects, especially for the Mekong Delta region.

The Ministry also creates conditions for the university to be a satellite, connecting information in the national and regional agricultural establishment system.

Specially support and create conditions for the university to form a Center for training, innovation, and start-up of high-tech and sustainable agriculture - aquaculture in the Mekong Delta, a Center for training and intellectualization of professional farmers, etc.

Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Phuong, Chair of Can Tho University Board of Trustees, proposed that the MARD consider the university a MARD unit to assign tasks, order research, and issue issues. Emerging issues in the agricultural sector include the project of 1 million hectares of high-quality, low-emission rice, technology in the farming industry, and solving environmental problems in production.

"If we can do this, it will be perfect for the Mekong Delta," he said.

Turn the student's graduation topic into "something local"

Minister Le Minh Hoan also had opposing orders from scientists from Can Tho University at the meeting.

"I have thought and discussed with Mr. Le Quoc Phong, Secretary of Dong Thap Provincial Party Committee, whether Can Tho University or another university in the Mekong Delta, when students choose a graduation topic, should Encourage and guide the selection of the issues related to the local area.

Wherever the student's hometown is, guide them there so that in the future, the graduation thesis can become a research topic and return to the locality to turn the graduation thesis idea into something local.

Mr. Le Quoc Phong said it would be great if this could be done. Dong Thap province would be willing to sponsor 2% of the science budget. The university will raise its standards with this department, and research topics will be more thorough.

It will liberate the story of bringing ideas from scientific research products of universities, creating a source of revenue for university, teachers and, importantly, promoting immediate locality in fisheries and farming, animal husbandry, agricultural mechanics," Mr. Hoan suggested.

Minister Le Minh Hoan also told the story of how he went on a business trip to Australia and saw that the farm there was reducing emissions from raising cows with only 10% of capital from the government; the rest mobilized from fellow farmers' camp and then divide the results back to those who contributed capital.

"Research on white shrimp should be the same. Does Can Tho University need to connect and gather businesses? Of course, it's difficult; convincing them is not easy," Mr. Hoan added.

In addition, Mr. Le Minh Hoan also said, "People leave Binh Duong and Dong Nai province, but I rarely do research, while jobs in rural areas are critical." Therefore, Mr. Hoan proposed that Can Tho University conduct a research project on what farmers' push and pull forces are in the process of agricultural change.