Associate Professor Dr. Dinh Van Chau: Training and scientific research must be linked to businesses.

Speaking with reporters, Associate Professor Dr. Dinh Van Chau – Rector of the University of Electrical Engineering – said that the university recognizes that students and postgraduate researchers should not only study theory, practice, and defend their dissertations, but also quickly master scientific tasks, conduct research linked to businesses, and solve practical technological problems.

Research and innovation are the pillars of development.

Professor, what are the core innovations in training linked to scientific research at the University of Electrical Engineering today?

Associate Professor Dr. Dinh Van Chau : One of the important innovations of the amended Higher Education Law of 2025, the Law on Science, Technology and Innovation, as well as the major policies of the Party and State today, is the requirement that scientific research in higher education institutions become a mandatory and central activity. Furthermore, this activity should no longer be purely academic, but must shift strongly towards application, linked to practical production and business and the development needs of the industry and sector.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dinh Van Chau - Rector of the University of Electrical Engineering

In this context, universities are being facilitated to develop new research models such as on-campus research institutes and innovation centers, thereby closely connecting universities, research institutes, and businesses. These are not only research spaces but also places for testing, refining, and transferring technology, bringing research results quickly into practice.

As a key higher education institution in training high-quality human resources to serve socio-economic development in general and the Industry and Trade sector, especially the energy sector, EPU currently has over 800 lecturers and scientists, of which over 53% hold doctoral degrees. Based on this, the Electric Power University identifies science, technology, and innovation as one of the pillars determining the quality of training and the development of the university in the period up to 2030, with a vision to 2045.

The goal is to transform the University of Power Engineering into a reputable center for scientific research and innovation in the energy sector, not only domestically but also gradually expanding its reach regionally in several key industries and fields.

To realize this goal, the core task of the school is to mobilize and gather the creative power of its faculty and scientists, while strengthening links with domestic and international training institutions and research institutes, maximizing existing potential and effectively leveraging the mechanisms, policies, and development strategies of the industry and the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

Students are at the center of innovation.

-So, Professor, what steps has the university taken to encourage students to participate in scientific research?

Associate Professor Dr. Dinh Van Chau : From a training perspective, especially for engineering and technology fields such as electrical engineering, electronics, telecommunications, materials science, computer engineering, artificial intelligence, nuclear energy, and semiconductors, the university encourages students to participate in scientific research from their early years.

Scientific research and innovation are integrated as an important part of the training program. 2025 marks the second year the university will organize a university-level student scientific research conference, building upon previous faculty and unit-level conferences, thereby selecting and developing valuable projects and initiatives.

Along with scientific research, the university also focuses on promoting innovative entrepreneurship among students. Many ideas have been realized, participating in competitions, connecting with investors and businesses, and gradually entering production and business, bringing practical benefits to both students and businesses.

EPU commends outstanding groups with achievements in student scientific research activities.

According to Decision No. 3035/QD-BCT signed by the Minister of Industry and Trade on October 17, 2025, promulgating the Action Plan of the Ministry of Industry and Trade to implement Resolution No. 328/NQ-CP dated October 13, 2025, of the Government promulgating the Action Program to implement Resolution No. 70-NQ/TW of the Politburo, the Ministry of Industry and Trade has assigned EPU three key tasks: Research, training, and technology transfer for energy storage; Developing a plan for the development of high-quality human resources for the energy sector, including it in the list of key training fields, training a minimum of 25,000-35,000 engineers and experts, prioritizing the nuclear energy sector; and Promoting cooperation in research, development, technology transfer, and human resource training for new and renewable energy.

The school recognizes this as both a political responsibility and a great opportunity for its faculty and scientists to demonstrate their intellect and capabilities, making practical contributions to the development of the Industry and Trade sector and the energy field.

Along with implementing assigned tasks, the University of Electrical Engineering also proactively implements Resolution No. 57 of the Politburo on breakthroughs in science, technology, and innovation development. The university has been selected to participate in major training and research programs in core technology fields such as nuclear power, semiconductors, microchips, and in the near future, control and electrification for urban and high-speed railways.

The school requires that scientific works not only be published but also be linked to specific scientific and technological products, capable of application and solving practical problems posed by businesses and industries.

Currently, the University of Electrical Engineering has built a cooperation network with nearly 300 businesses, including many large corporations such as Viettel, VNPT, EVN, PV Power… These are both partners and important resources in human resource training and the application of science and technology.

Through internships and practical training at businesses, students have the opportunity to develop innovative ideas; lecturers and scientists work alongside students and businesses to research and propose solutions to optimize production, improve efficiency, and enhance competitiveness.

Bridging the gap between research and production practice.

-In order to successfully implement and complete the tasks assigned by the Ministry of Industry and Trade, what steps will EPU take, Professor?

Associate Professor Dinh Van Chau : With its strong faculty, increasingly open policies and mechanisms, and a forward-thinking approach through international cooperation and talent attraction, the University of Electrical Engineering believes that it will excellently fulfill the tasks assigned by the Ministry of Industry and Trade, gradually affirming its role as a core research and innovation center of the Ministry of Industry and Trade in the energy sector, directly contributing to the goal of ensuring national energy security and sustainable development of the country.

Specifically, for postgraduate training, especially doctoral studies, the university has adopted a new approach that focuses on assigning scientific tasks to doctoral students that are closely linked to practical applications and businesses, rather than simply limiting research to the university campus.

EPU students present at the 2025 Student Scientific Research Conference.

EPU will have a mechanism to ensure funding, allowing doctoral students to both conduct research for their doctoral training and lead or co-lead scientific and technological tasks directly linked to businesses, aiming to solve specific technological problems in practice.

This is a core requirement of doctoral training in the new era, helping doctoral students go straight into practice, quickly develop independent research capabilities, master technology, and closely link research, training, and production.

Based on this, the school will expand this model to master's degree training in the future. Depending on the level and stage of study, the requirements for scientific and technological tasks will be designed at different levels, but the general principle is that postgraduate students must participate in research and innovation during their studies.

This approach not only provides students with a stable source of funding for postgraduate training but also serves as a fundamental solution to help doctoral and master's students integrate into the research and innovation ecosystem of universities and businesses, contributing to narrowing the gap between academic training and the practical needs of industries and fields.

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