Innovative university model: Lever for socio-economic development

With the policy of promptly putting resolutions and policies into practice under the direction of the Party Committee of the Ministry of Education and Training , in addition to training and research tasks, higher education institutions have made positive changes in innovation, meeting the new development requirements of the country.

Research towards transfer

In early August 2025, representatives of the University of Education, University of Danang (UED) successfully presented a scientific topic ordered by Binh Son Refining and Petrochemical Joint Stock Company ( BSR ) with the name "Research on building technology for cultivating and processing microalgae raw materials to produce biofuel with high efficiency, making the most of wastewater and exhaust gas from Dung Quat Oil Refinery".

The project is chaired by Associate Professor Dr. Trinh Dang Mau - Head of the Department of Biology - Agriculture - Environment, with a total cost of nearly 7 billion VND. The research focuses on developing and operating a high-tech pilot system capable of cultivating microalgae at a scale of 2,000 kg of dry algae/year, integrating the use of CO₂ and wastewater from Dung Quat Oil Refinery to produce crude bio-oil - input material for biodiesel and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

The cooperation between UED and BSR in implementing commissioned research tasks not only contributes to concretizing national policies on green growth and circular economy, but also affirms the university's research and technology transfer capacity. This is an important step in linking training - research with production practices, contributing to promoting innovation and sustainable development in the field of bioenergy in Vietnam.

Integrating scientific research into the implementation of requirements and goals set out in Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW dated December 22, 2024 of the Politburo on breakthroughs in science, technology, innovation and national digital transformation has been creating a solid foundation for Da Nang. Higher education institutions have gradually affirmed their pioneering role in proactively accessing funding sources, promoting research applications in the community, education and regional economic development.

The average annual revenue from scientific research transfer of Danang University is about 50 billion VND. With the potential of the team and the synchronous and modern investment in facilities, Danang University's scientific and technological activities are focused on implementation, associated with transfer, application and innovation, serving the community; implementing many topics at the state, ministerial, provincial, city and equivalent levels. The number of scientific works published in prestigious international journals (WoS, Scopus) increases rapidly and steadily every year.

Duy Tan University has 6 research projects of lecturers applied in practice, specifically: Training management system; 3D human body simulation system; Cardiopulmonary resuscitation training support system; Research on the age of ancient architectures at the Oc Eo - Ba The National Special Relic Site; Biodiversity investigation, building a database on genetic resources and proposing solutions to preserve and develop medicinal plant resources in Kon Ka Kinh National Park and the Online Medical Ecosystem project.

From 2021 to 2024, Duy Tan University has implemented 45 state-level projects, 5 provincial-level projects, 2 international cooperation projects, 11 other sponsored projects, 155 projects of teachers and staff, and 558 projects of students.

Laboratory of the Faculty of Biology - Agriculture - Environment, University of Education, University of Danang. Photo: NTCC

Unlocking extra-budgetary resources

Innovation is one of the three strategic breakthroughs, but this is almost the most difficult task for universities. Currently, universities face difficulties from unsynchronized policy mechanisms to limited investment resources and staff.

Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Vu - Director of Danang University said that one of the solutions to remove the bottleneck is to open up resources outside the State budget for higher education. The State, as a "midwife", encourages and creates conditions to promote cooperation between schools and businesses so that businesses can participate in the training process, support financial resources and facilities to contribute to improving the quality of training, which is extremely important.

Danang University has focused on increasing investment in facilities, laboratories, and practice from many sources such as from the budget (University of Technology has just inaugurated the National Key Laboratory "Mechatronics and Applications" worth 40 billion VND, deployed the Semiconductor Chip Experiment Area worth more than 80 billion VND...); strengthening cooperation with businesses to mobilize more support for facilities and equipment for training and scientific research.

Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW has opened up many favorable opportunities for the University of Science and Technology, University of Danang. “Currently, the school participates in projects of the Ministry of Education and Training to invest in more modern laboratories and specialized research centers to serve the research and development of new technologies.

Along with that, advanced training programs, international cooperation and preferential policies to attract and nurture talented lecturers and students have contributed to improving the school's scientific research capacity," Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Huu Hieu - Rector of the University of Science and Technology, Danang University informed.

Similarly, the University of Technical Education - University of Danang has just received the Precision Measurement Engineering Department sponsored by Accretech Vietnam Co., Ltd. with an investment capital of nearly 4 billion VND. From the sponsorship of the enterprise, the University of Technical Education, University of Danang has received many modern equipment and components to serve teaching and scientific research.

Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Le Hung - Principal of the University of Technical Education - University of Danang, said: "This is an opportunity for students to access, practice and apply theoretical knowledge on modern technological equipment, thereby improving professional skills, meeting the increasing demands of the labor market".

Creative products of Da Nang high school students participating in the Science Conference and Technology Exhibition of students organized by the University of Science and Technology, Da Nang University. Photo: NTCC

Sell research capabilities instead of research products

The Principal of the University of Technical Education, Danang University, said that in the new context, universities need to redefine the focus of their cooperation with businesses: “In the past decades, we often heard the phrase 'universities transfer technology to businesses'.

However, at this stage, many domestic technology enterprises have a team of scientists and experts who are good at theory and practice and are working with systems, infrastructure and scientific and technological equipment that have reached the world's advanced level. In the new context of domestic and foreign technology as above, each university needs to redefine the focus of cooperation activities with enterprises.

The University of Technical Education, University of Danang will build a school-enterprise cooperation space in the direction of encouraging businesses to invest in setting up offices, showrooms, and research centers right on the campus of the school's first facility - a strategic location in the city center, near the airport and Lien Chieu port. This is not only an intersection between theory and practice, but also creates a creative ecosystem, facilitating technology transfer and human resource development.

From 2022 to present, the University of Economics, University of Danang has proactively developed an annual report on the economic situation of Danang and proposed specific policy implications according to the orientation and strategy for socio-economic development of the city. The annual report can be considered a product with an application address that the school has proactively and determinedly built to meet the requirements of policy making and economic development of the city.

Scientific research is one of two pillars in the long-term development strategy of the University of Economics, University of Danang, implemented in two directions: Academic, basic research topics and research topics oriented towards application and technology transfer.

Shifting from selling research products to “selling” research capacity to meet practical needs from localities and businesses, scientific research lecturers have changed their thinking to lay the foundation for an innovative university model.

“To contribute to the development of the teaching and research team, from the 3rd Party Congress of Danang University to present (7th Congress), Danang University has vigorously implemented the Resolution on sending lecturers for training abroad, except for some specific majors through Projects 911, 89 as well as international cooperation or self-exploited personal resources.

Thanks to that, Danang University currently has nearly 50% of lecturers with doctoral degrees or higher, increasing by 60-100 new doctors each year. This is a team with expertise, good foreign languages, and international relations, so it is truly a valuable asset, a core force in training and research of Danang University". - Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Ngoc Vu

Source: https://giaoducthoidai.vn/mo-hinh-dai-hoc-doi-moi-sang-tao-don-bay-phat-trien-kinh-te-xa-hoi-post745000.html