On February 17th, 2024, the Vietnamese Intellectual Society in the UK and Ireland (VIS UK & Ireland) convened its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the prestigious Cambridge Judge Business School. The AGM was succeeded by joyous celebrations of the Lunar New Year 2024 (Tet) at Westminster College, blending traditional festivity with academic conviviality.
Unprecedented Growth and Community Recognition
The past year has been marked by exponential growth for VIS, with over 60 new intellectuals swelling the ranks to nearly 160 members. This rapid expansion was underscored by the prestigious ‘Community Organisation of the Year’ prize, bestowed upon VIS in 2023 by the Vietnam International Awards, commemorating a half-century of Vietnam-UK diplomatic ties.
Intellectual Excellence Amidst Challenges
VIS’s strength stems from its members’ intellectual prowess and achievements, which have shone brightly despite the higher education sector’s recent trials in the UK. Celebrated achievements within VIS include:
- Professor Nguyen T.K.Thanh from UCL, honored with the ‘Thomas Graham Prize’ by the Royal Society of Chemistry for mid-career chemists.
- Senior Lecturer Dr Minh Son Pham, Imperial College London, was awarded the 2024 Young Innovator Prize in Materials Science by the Minerals, Metals and Materials Society (TMS) – one of the largest Societies in the world. This annual prize is given to only one outstanding individual under 40 years of age. To celebrate this prize Dr Pham was invited to give a keynote lecture in the USA on Monday 4th March 2024.
- Dr. Kelly Nguyen, a rising star at the Cambridge MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, received the Colworth Medal for her exceptional research within ten years of earning a Ph.D.
These accolades illustrate the far-reaching impact of VIS members across various scientific and academic disciplines.
Promotions and New Professors
A noteworthy milestone in the past 20 months has been the promotion of six VIS members to full professorships across esteemed UK universities, totalling 15 professors within the society. This advancement reflects the society’s commitment to academic excellence and leadership.
These members include professors Prof. Anh Phan in Chemical Engineering at Newcastle University, Prof. Hong Bui in Business Education at Birmingham City University, Prof. Ngoc Son Bui in Asian Laws at Oxford University, Prof. Hoa Le Minh in Optical Communications at Northumbria University, Prof. Hao Quach in Banking and Finance at Lincoln University, and Prof. Tam Nguyen in Accounting and Finance at Nottingham Trent University.
Vibrant Activities and Engagement
VIS has been at the forefront of fostering intellectual discourse and collaboration through multiple activities, such as:
- The Coffee Talk Series, an online initiative featuring 13 talks from 25 speakers, including industry practitioners.
- The event at Middlesex University attracted more than 250 participants. Our honorary chair, Professor Sir Jonathan Van-Tam, delivered a distinguished lecture on Leadership during COVID-19 Pandemic: Lessons for Innovation and Education. Distinguished guests include HE Nguyen Hoang Long, Vietnam’s Ambassador to the UK and Ireland, Professor Nic Beech, Vice-Chancellor of Middlesex University, and Mr Jamie Bettles, Founder and Managing Director of Pagoda Project.
- In collaboration with the British Council and the UK-Vietnam Higher Education Network, VIS has started the mentoring programme for early career researchers from Vietnam. We currently have 80 mentees registered and a network of 30 mentors. The first workshop for the programme on how to publish research outputs has been organized and the next two workshops are currently being planned.
Looking Ahead: Executive Board 2024 and Upcoming Workshops
With the introduction of the new executive board (EB2024) and an expanded secretary team, VIS stands poised for even greater achievements. The board boasts representation from all nations for the first time, underscoring its inclusive and diverse ethos.
As VIS looks to the future, the society is committed to strengthening the bonds and opening new avenues for scientific and academic cooperation between Vietnam and the United Kingdom. With a robust schedule of upcoming activities and initiatives, VIS is poised to reach unprecedented levels of achievement and innovation in the realms of academia and research.
