“Lion Leap Project” Launched: A Significant Step in Taiwan-Vietnam Collaboration to Cultivate Global AI and Semiconductor Talent
To deepen international academic exchange and talent cultivation, National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU), Can Tho University (CTU), and the Chen-Yung Memorial Foundation (CYMF) held a signing ceremony on May 20 to officially launch the Lion Leap Project: Taiwan-Vietnam Faculty and Student Collaboration. This marks a significant commitment from the universities and the foundation to foster international collaboration. Nearly 50 representatives from Taiwanese and Vietnamese enterprises attended to witness this important milestone in industry-academia collaboration.
The project’s name, Lion Leap, is a homophonic pun of “Yue” (Vietnam in Chinese) and “Shi” (NTNU in Chinese), symbolizing that all participating faculty and students will become lively “lions.” The project will combine NTNU’s outstanding faculty and rich teaching resources to offer CTU faculty and students training and learning opportunities in cutting-edge fields like AI and semiconductors. The CYMF and co-sponsoring enterprises will fund the program, helping Vietnamese students overcome financial barriers and explore advanced technology and international industry chains.
NTNU President Cheng-Chih Wu emphasized in his remarks that the university actively promotes internationalization and hosts the highest proportion of international students among all national universities in Taiwan. NTNU’s world-renowned Mandarin Training Center (MTC) also attracts learners worldwide. Moreover, NTNU strengthens its connection with Southeast Asian universities, with Vietnam ranking as one of NTNU’s top three partner countries. This partnership marks a new milestone in Taiwan-Vietnam educational collaboration and fosters the cultivation of international talent with practical skills in AI and semiconductors.
CTU Rector Dr. Tran Trung Tinh expressed his delight about the trilateral collaboration, seeing it as an essential starting point for resource sharing and talent exchange between the two universities. He believes the beginning will contribute to Vietnam’s overall educational and social development and looks forward to more CTU faculty and students studying at NTNU to expand the scope of academic and industrial cooperation further.
Mr. Xian Wen-Ju, CEO of the CYMF and a key facilitator of this collaboration with co-sponsoring enterprises, shared his personal experience. Although his daughter studied at a French school in Vietnam and didn’t know how to speak Chinese, her Chinese proficiency improved significantly after studying at NTNU’s MTC, surpassing her father’s. He stated that he committed to this collaboration because NTNU’s high educational quality aligns with Vietnam’s strong desire for quality education. He also affirmed that he would encourage more student participation in the project by calling the co-sponsoring executives to fund it.
Mr. Tran Kim Chung, Chairman of CT Group, one of the project’s sponsors, stated that CT Group is deeply involved in education and business investment and has long been committed to promoting innovation through university-industry collaboration. He sees the Lion Leap Project as a visionary and meaningful beginning that has the potential to inspire more diverse opportunities for exchange and cooperation in the future.
At the ceremony, CY Huang, Chairman of FCC Partners, delivered a keynote speech titled “Taiwan-Vietnam AI Technology Collaboration Trends.” He noted that Taiwan plays a critical role in global tech manufacturing and holds a key advantage in the AI and semiconductor sectors, with many senior executives of international tech giants, such as the well-known NVIDIA, coming from Taiwan. He analyzed Vietnam’s competitiveness in science park development, government efficiency, supply chain integration, and talent cultivation. Many leading Taiwanese tech companies are already actively investing in Vietnam, indicating a promising future for bilateral cooperation.
Three Vietnamese students studying at NTNU also shared their experiences in Taiwan, including Nguyen Ngoc Ha (Ph.D., English), Trinh Chi Tham (Ph.D., Science Education), and Vu Hong Minh (Master, International Human Resource Development). They mentioned how appealing Taipei’s convenience, safety, and cultural diversity are, as are NTNU’s excellent learning environment and faculty.
Trinh Chi Tham, an alumnus of CTU, especially noted the shared values between the two universities, including their emphasis on innovation, practical application, and teaching quality. He also expressed his willingness to serve as a bridge between the institutions. Vu Hong Minh, who came to Taiwan on a Ministry of Education scholarship, produced a video tour of NTNU’s new male dormitory that garnered over 30,000 views on social media, successfully inspiring fellow students to apply to NTNU. He also shared photos of Taipei’s scenic spots, which received great admiration from the CTU faculty.
The signing ceremony was graced by the presence of nearly 50 representatives from partner enterprises and cultural organizations, creating a vibrant and grand atmosphere. Distinguished guests included key industry leaders such as FCC Partners Inc., Taiwan Truewin Tech. Co., Ltd, and Asia-Orchids Technology Corp, all demonstrating strong support and recognition for the initiative. Moved by the inspiring atmosphere of the event, several participating companies pledged financial contributions on the spot. These included Dayeh Jewellery Inc, Chin Pan Engineering Co., Ltd, San-Xi Collections Inc., Shu-Long Flowers Industry Co., Ltd, Advance Technology Co., Ltd, Jampoo Corporation, Summer Show Plastic Corporation, and Fordays Co., Ltd, and Taiwan Truewin Tech. Co. with a personal donation from Chairman Y.F. Lee, whose generous donations have infused the Lion Leap Project with powerful momentum and provided a solid foundation for its continued success.
CTU Rector Tran Trung Tinh, accompanied by Vice Rector Le Van Lam, led the university’s delegation. Also, CT Group delegation, the group supporting the project, was led by Chairman Tran Kim Chung. Chairman Mr. Pham Minh Tien from the Science and Technology Section of the Vietnam Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei also attended to express his strong support for the Taiwan-Vietnam collaboration.
Representing Taiwan, NTNU President Cheng-Chih Wu was joined by Vice President Yao-Ting Sung, faculty members from the College of Technology and Engineering and Department of East Asian Studies, as well as the faculty of Office of International Affairs all witnessing the launch of this significant international partnership.