On the morning of July 4, 2025, the University of Information Technology, VNU-HCM (UIT) officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ferdinand Steinbeis Institute (FSTI), Federal Republic of Germany — marking a significant milestone in UIT’s strategy to enhance international academic collaboration.

Representing FSTI at the signing ceremony was Professor Dirk Slama, Vice President of Bosch GmbH and Director of the AIoT Lab at FSTI. On UIT’s side, attendees included Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyễn Lưu Thùy Ngân – Vice President of UIT; Dr. Nguyễn Minh Sơn – Dean of the Faculty of Computer Engineering; Dr. Đoàn Duy – Vice Dean; MSc. Phan Đình Duy – Vice Dean; and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Lê Trung Quân – Dean of the Faculty of Computer Networks and Communications.

Held in a spirit of openness and mutual understanding, the working session centered around shared initiatives in research and education.

Speaking at the event, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyễn Lưu Thùy Ngân affirmed:

“We deeply value Professor Dirk Slama’s vision and dedication in forging this partnership. The collaborative efforts between UIT and FSTI — from the Digital.Auto Bootcamp to cutting-edge research in cybersecurity, AIoT, and autonomous vehicle simulation — are not only strategically aligned but also contribute practical value to our academic and research ecosystems. Today’s MoU signing represents a key milestone in advancing this fruitful cooperation.”

FSTI is a prestigious research institute under the Steinbeis Foundation, one of Germany’s leading institutions for knowledge and technology transfer between academia and industry. With strong expertise in artificial intelligence, AIoT, autonomous technologies, and international innovation networks, FSTI serves as a strategic partner in fostering interdisciplinary research and application-driven training models.

During the session, Professor Dirk Slama outlined FSTI’s long-term research strategies and introduced opportunities for academic exchange and international PhD recruitment, aimed at realizing the commitments outlined in the MoU. UIT research groups in AIoT, GenAI, and autonomous driving technologies also presented their current focus areas, highlighting numerous opportunities for technical collaboration.

Through this MoU, UIT reaffirms its strategic vision of international integration — paving the way for expanded global academic connections, and elevating the quality of education and research in the digital age.