The third National VinaREN Forum

On 27-28 March 2008, the third National VinaREN Forum was held in Hanoi, Hue and Ho Chi Minh City.

I.  Organization

Mr. H.E. Vice-Minister Tran Quoc Thang chaired the Forum. 177 participants directly attended the Forum and also other Vietnamese and international representatives via teleconference, including the typical participants:

1. Mr. Tran Quoc Thang, Vice-Minister of Science and Technology, Chairman;
2. Mr. Le Quang Minh, Vice President, Vietnam National University – Ho Chi Minh City;
3. Mr. Pham Trong Quat, Vice President, Vietnam National University - Hanoi.
4. Mr. Ta Ba Hung, Director, National Centre for Scientific and Technological Information;
5. Mr. Huynh Phuoc, Director, Department of Science and Technology, Da Nang City;
6. Mr. Phan Minh Tan, Director, Department of Science and Technology, Ho Chi Minh city;
7. Mr. Do Van Xe, Vice Director, Can Tho University;
8. Mr. Le Manh Thạnh, Vice President, Hue University
9. Mr. Le Dinh Thao, Administration Chief, Vietnam Institute of Science and Technology

Deputy Directors of Water Resources University, National Economics University; Vice Rectors of Hanoi National University of Education; Deputy Director of Nha Trang University; Director of Agro-Forestry University; Vice Director of Economic Institute – Ho Chi Minh City; Director of Army Medical University in Ho Chi Minh City; Director of Library and Information, Vietnam National University – Hanoi and leaders, researchers from institutes, universities, hospitals, research and education centers from the whole country.

Attending the Forum, there are some participants via teleconferencing from the following points:

1.      Australian National University: Mr. McLaughlin, Representative from TEIN2 & APAN;

2.      Can Tho University: Mr. Le Minh Tri, Vice Director;

3.      Vietnam National Hospital of Pediatrics, Dr. Nguyen Thanh Liem, Director;

4.      Vietnamese Academy of Science, Branch in Ho Chi Minh City;

5.      Department of Science and Technology – Da Nang, Mr. Vo Duy Khuong, Vice President of Da Nang People Committee;

6.      Vietnam National University – Hanoi, Mr. Nguyen The Duc, Director of Technology School;

7.      National Centre for Scientific and Technological Information: Mr. Phung Minh Lai, Deputy Director.

The third forum programme:

8h35 - 9h00:

Establishment and Development of VinaREN: Ta Ba Hung, Director, National Centre for Scientific and Technological Information.

9h00 – 10h00:

-         Welcome words and opening of VinaREN by Mr. HE. Vice Minister Tran Quoc Thang;

-         Welcome words, George McLaughlin, TEIN2 & APAN via teleconference;

-         Welcome words, David West, Director DANTE;

-         Welcome words and the important role of VinaREN in education and training activities of Vietnam National University – Ho Chi Minh City, Mr. Le Quang Minh, Vice President.

-         Application of the cutting edge technologies on VinaREN in Can Tho University, Mr. Le Minh Tri, Vice Director, Can Tho University via teleconference;

-         Application of Virtual Conference based on VinaREN in medical examine and treatment in Vietnam National Hospital of Pediatrics, Dr. Nguyen Thanh Liem, Director via teleconference;

-         Welcome words, Mr. Ha Quang Thuy, Vice Rector, Technology School, Vietnam National University – Hanoi via teleconference.

-         Sharing of scientific and technological information on VinaREN, Mr. Phung Minh Lai, Deputy Director, National Centre for Scientific and Technological Information via teleconference.

-         Welcome words, Mr. Dao Van Tuyet, Ho Chi Minh City Branch of ICT Institute via teleconference.

-         Welcome words and Introduction to research and education programs in Danang City, Mr. Vo Duy Khuong, Permanent Vice Chairman of Da Nang province (via teleconference)

-         Perspectives of VinaREN, Mr. Tran Quoc Thang, Chairman

10h30 – 11h00:  Establishing of  the Steering Committee, working boards and groups of VinaREN:

Mr. Bui Van Quyen, Director General, Head of South Representative Office - Ministry of Science and Technology declared decisions on establishing the Steering Committee, working boards and groups of VinaREN:

-         The Steering Committee of VinaREN;

-         NOC implementing boards;

-         Policy and Technical Advisory Board;

-         Working groups;

-         CanalAVIST Initiatives on TEIN2, Kanchana Kanchanasut – Executive Director of CanalAVIST, Presented by George McLaughlin via Teleconference;

-         VinaREN applications in Vietnam National Hospital of Pediatrics and other activities in health services, Eng. Nguyen The Vinh, Vietnam National Hospital of Pediatrics

-         Connect to VinaREN serving the professional activities in National Centre for Hydrometeorological Forecasting, Eng. Vo Van Hoa, National Centre for Hydrometeorological Forecasting;

-         Sharing of information resources of National Centre for Scientific and Technological Information on VinaREN, Msc. Cao Minh Kiem, Deputy Director of National Centre for Scientific and Technological Information;

-        Vietnam OpenCourseWare and its application on VinaREN. Do Ngoc Minh;

-        Introduction and launching of Vista Innovation Portal (VIP), Representative from IBM Vietnam;

-       E-learning in medical education and training – Activities on the base of TEIN2 and VinaREN, Msc. Le Ngoc Anh, Chief of ICT Department,  Hanoi Medical University;

-         System for Web Assessment Management, Msc. Vu Quoc Dung, Chief of Information Department, Centre for Science and Technology of Ho Chi Minh City;

-         IOIT-HCM Grid System and approaching to deploy Grid on VinaREN Network. Eng. Do Van Long, Ho Chi Minh City Brach of ICT Institute;

-         Experience in management and operation of NOC, Dr. Nguyen Kim Khanh, Director of Library and Information Network, Hanoi University of Technology;

-         REPOSITORY solution on VinaREN, Head of REPOSITORY Working Group, Ministry of Science and Technology;

-         Working Groups by VinaREN with TEIN2/APAN, Eng. Tran Ba Thai, Representative from TETF VN Group;

The second day of Forum:

40 participants visited Vietnam National University – Ho chi Minh City

Program:

Participants were introduced and guided by Mr. Hoang Thang – Director, Mr. Dung Deputy Director of Ho Chi Minh International University, Mr. LDV Hai Director of ICT Center – Vietnam National University – Ho Chi Minh City and, Mrs. Hoang Thi Thuc, Director of Library, Vietnam National University – Ho Chi Minh City.

1. Visited Ho Chi Minh International University:

-         Teleconference room;

-         Department of Electronic and Communication;

-         Laboratory for Networking Training;

-         Laboratory for Electronic Experiment.

2. Visited High-tech Centre, Vietnam National University – Ho Chi Minh City

-         IBM Company;

-         Vietsoftware;

-         Nano Laboratory;

and some companies and facilities in High-tech Centre, Vietnam National University – Ho Chi Minh City

3.      Visited the Central Library, Vietnam National University – Ho Chi Minh City.

II.    Summarizing of the Forum

-         Total participants in conference room are 177 and hundred participants via teleconference (7 points).

-         Representatives from the leading universities and research institute.

-         The forum was organized at the main conference room and other domestic and international teleconference rooms with the following topics:

a.      Nationwide launching of Vietnam Research and Education Network - VinaREN;

b.      Established the organizations of VinaREN;

c      The cutting edge technologies on the base of VinaREN and their application in research and Education in Vietnam;

d.      Visited Vietnam National University – Ho Chi Minh City.

Some comments:

-         The first time, VinaREN Forum was organized in the new form with teleconfencing techniques from domestic and international points. All proposed contents were successfully conducted. VinaREN was acknowledged by domestic and international research and education corps.

-         Organizations of VinaREN were established, facilitating the development of VinaREN, international integration, especially taking part in APAN.

-         Presentations mostly focused on general activities. In the future, presentations should focus on specific issues belonging to working groups of VinaREN/APAN strengthening regional and international integration processes.

Some further works:

-         To learn from experience in organizing works (technical facilities, cooperation between NOCs and teleconference points, lighting, arrangement, scenario).

-         Organization of VinaREN was already established. However, their governing bodies should have solutions in term of organization and promotion for working groups.

-         Language of the Forum is Vietnamese and there is a need of interpreter for international participants (locally or via teleconference).

The organizing committee sincerely thanks to consultant experts who have been closely collaborated with NACESTI in preparing the content and scenario of the Forum; thanks to Rectorial Board of Vietnam National University – Ho Chi Minh City for actively cooperation in organizing works as well as visiting trip to Thu Duc Campus; thanks to organizations and individuals who have actively involved in preparing and participating in the Forum; thanks to Implementing Boards and technical staff in NOCs.