Nguyen Tat Thanh University and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Hold First Formal Meeting to Explore Academic Partnership

NTTU – On April 23, 2026, representatives from Nguyen Tat Thanh University (NTTU) and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) convened via Zoom for their first formal institutional meeting. Organized through Illinois International, the session brought together leadership from both universities to introduce their institutions, share strategic priorities, and identify potential areas for academic and institutional collaboration.

The UIUC delegation was led by Dr. Canales, Associate Provost for Illinois International, and included Dr. Rosenstein, Director of Global Education and Training (GET), and Director of the Intensive English Institute (IEI), as well as Dr. Katayoun Salmasi. NTTU was represented by university leadership alongside staff from the Department of Global Engagement, Quality Assurance, and the Foreign Languages Center.

UIUC introduced itself as the flagship public university of the University of Illinois system, with more than 60,000 students, nearly 3,000 faculty members, and broad research capacity across multiple disciplines. Illinois International was described as the university’s primary platform for connecting external partners with relevant academic and administrative units.

A significant portion of the meeting focused on collaborative programming offered through GET and IEI, including faculty and scholar development, intensive English instruction, visiting scholar programs, executive education, and short-term or summer student programs. UIUC presented the Bolashak Scholars Program — a structured faculty development model originally developed with Kazakhstan — as one example of how institutional goals can be translated into a practical, long-term initiative. Both sides also discussed student mobility, transnational education pathways such as 2+2 and 3+2 arrangements, and research collaboration in fields including renewable energy, biotechnology, and high-tech agriculture.

Both institutions agreed to exchange introductory materials and to advance discussions in a focused, theme-by-theme manner. UIUC will provide a standard memorandum of understanding template, detailed information on its faculty development programs, and relevant GET and IEI materials. NTTU will share its institutional presentation, priority research areas, and a clearer outline of its near-term collaboration interests.

The meeting concluded on a positive and constructive note, establishing a solid foundation for continued engagement and a structured follow-up phase between both institutions.

Msc. Tu Anh