On June 21, 2024, University of Saint Joseph (USJ) Macao Rector and ASEACCU Executive Secretary, Rev’d Prof. Stephen Morgan with Vice-rector for Internationalization and Academic Affairs, Prof. Álvaro Barbosa and Ms. Ivy Tran, Head of Vietnam Recruitment, visited the Catholic Institute of Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City campus. The USJ delegation was warmly received by the Institute’s Rector Bishop Joseph Dinh Duc Dao and faculty representatives. 

The Catholic Institute of Vietnam is an emerging higher education institution of Catholic mission in Vietnam, committed to academic achievement, cultural enrichment and spiritual growth. This inaugural meeting is a valuable step towards laying a strong foundation for ongoing union of the two institutions’ educational missions. Rector Morgan and Bishop Joseph are keen to further the historic relationship between Macao, Vietnam and the Church through international education and exchange, and anticipates furthering the partnership for more collaboration pathways.

With strong commitment to cooperation and mutual benefit of their respective communities, USJ and the Catholic Institute of Vietnam formally inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during the meeting. This is a significant step for both communities and USJ is committed, as an international university rooted in Macao, to open doors for fruitful academic exchanges for Vietnamese students and to bridge international scholars across ASEAN and beyond.

In previous visits by USJ delegates to the Catholic Institute of Vietnam, USJ as the Executive Secretariat of ASEACCU had also invited the Institute to join the association as a member and new representative of Vietnam, expanding horizons for all members within the Catholic HEI community across the Asia Pacific to engage in meaningful exchange. 

The original article has been edited for the ASEACCU newsletter. 

Source: USJ