ISCM EXPANDS ACADEMIC CONNECTIONS AND INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION IN KOREA
From September 10 to 16, 2026, a delegation of faculty members from the Institute of Smart City and Management (ISCM), University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH), undertook a working trip to Korea, engaging in a series of activities with universities, experts, and partners, combined with field visits to urban and transportation models currently being implemented in practice.
The delegation comprised Assoc. Prof. Dr. Trinh Tu Anh, Director of ISCM; Dr. Ducksu Seo, ISCM Visiting Professor and faculty member at Handong Global University (Korea); Dr. Le Quang Hoai, international expert from Hanyang University (Korea); Dr. Pham Nguyen Hoai, Director of the Bachelor of Smart Mobility and Operation Management (BMOM) Program; and Dr. Christopher Han, UEH Creative Director.
The trip began with the ISCM-UEH delegation's participation, alongside partner K-City Network, in the World Smart City Expo 2026 (WSCE 2026) at BEXCO, Busan, as part of the ongoing cooperation to implement the Demand Responsive Transit (DRT) pilot project between UEH-ISCM and K-City.
The delegation joins partner K-City in attending World Smart City Expo 2026
There, the ISCM delegation attended the K-City Network Interim Report Session, where partners updated progress, shared results, and exchanged views on the implementation of smart city projects across Asian countries.
The delegation attends the Interim Report session of the 2026 K-City Network Solution Demonstration Project
During the session, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Trinh Tu Anh, Director of ISCM, delivered the opening presentation, helping set the stage for the professional exchanges and connections among the program's participants.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Trinh Tu Anh, Director of ISCM, delivers the opening presentation at the KCN Interim Report Session
In addition to the working session, the ISCM delegation took part in activities at World Smart City Expo 2026, connecting with organizations, experts, and businesses while gaining access to the technology ecosystem and solutions being developed for smart cities. This gave the delegation the opportunity to observe how technology, data, and multi-stakeholder collaboration models are connected to turn smart city ideas into practically deployable solutions.
At WSCE, the delegation held an in-depth meeting with Prof. Hwan Yong Kim, a smart city expert from Hanyang University. The two sides discussed research collaboration opportunities, focusing on the role of data and technology in supporting decision-making, strengthening governance capacity, and guiding smart city development. The exchange also opened up possibilities for connecting academic research with real-world urban challenges, pointing toward models and solutions that could be piloted in the Vietnamese context.
The delegation meets with Prof. Hwan Yong Kim (first from left) to discuss smart city research cooperation opportunities
Beyond academic networking activities, the ISCM delegation and partner K-City visited Busan Eco Delta Smart City and directly experienced the Demand Responsive Transit (DRT) service. This field visit provided a hands-on perspective on how a smart mobility solution is integrated into an urban ecosystem — from demand data and technology platforms to service organization and operation. It gave the delegation practical grounding to compare against the DRT project currently under joint implementation, while also discussing how the model could be adapted and piloted to suit transportation conditions and mobility needs in Vietnam.
The delegation tours Busan Eco Delta Smart City
Following WSCE 2026, the ISCM delegation visited and worked with Woosong University to learn about its training system and strengths in management, operations, and technology in the rail transport sector. These training capabilities align closely with the direction of the Bachelor of Smart Mobility and Operation Management (BMOM) Program at ISCM, where rail transport is regarded as an important component of the modern mobility ecosystem.
The delegation visits Woosong University
Building on this foundation, the two sides discussed a roadmap for long-term training cooperation for BMOM, spanning student exchange, experiential learning, and academic activities at the undergraduate level through to opportunities for further specialized training at the master's level. This cooperation not only broadens the international learning journey and academic pathway for BMOM students, but also links training with the need to develop high-quality human resources for Vietnam's modern transportation and rail systems.
Also during the trip, the ISCM delegation visited Korea University and met with Prof. Park Sang-woo, former Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport of Korea (MOLIT), and Prof. Se-yong Kim, Director of the City Institute. The two sides focused on discussions of urban design and development, while also exploring opportunities for professional networking, faculty-student exchange, and research and learning activities that enhance international exposure and interdisciplinary approaches for the Bachelor of Architecture and Smart Urban Design Program (BAUD, dual-degree track) at ISCM.
The delegation poses for a commemorative photo with Prof. Se-yong Kim (second from left) and Prof. Park Sang-woo (third from right)
Also during the trip, the ISCM delegation visited and worked at Hanyang University (ERICA Campus). There, the delegation met with Prof. Yonghan Ahn of the School of Architecture & Architectural Engineering to discuss research directions at the intersection of the built environment and smart cities — areas that align closely with ISCM's interdisciplinary research and training focus on smart cities. Also at Hanyang University (ERICA Campus), the delegation met with representatives from the Department of Transportation and Logistics Engineering to discuss potential cooperation in research and training related to transportation and logistics in the context of smart cities.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Trinh Tu Anh poses for a commemorative photo with Prof. Yonghan Ahn
The delegation poses for a commemorative photo with representatives from the Department of Transportation and Logistics Engineering
Before concluding the trip, the ISCM delegation visited Seoul National University, where it met with Prof. Jae-Min Song of the Graduate School of Environmental Studies. Building on shared research directions, the ISCM delegation and Prof. Song discussed the potential for joint research on smart and sustainable cities, particularly on adaptive urban planning, climate resilience, and urban transformation amid new technologies. The meeting also opened opportunities to connect Korea's urban development experience with challenges currently facing Vietnam, pointing toward comparative research, academic exchange, and international cooperation capable of translating research knowledge into practical implications for urban planning and governance.
The delegation poses for a commemorative photo with Prof. Jae-Min Song
Throughout the journey in Korea, the ISCM delegation's activities were connected across three layers: gaining access to knowledge and emerging trends at international forums; exchanging expertise with universities, research institutes, and experts; and observing models currently being implemented in practice. This approach helped transform international meetings from simple exchanges into opportunities to shape concrete directions for cooperation in research, training, academic exchange, and expert network building. The trip to Korea therefore not only helped expand ISCM's international partner network, but also added a source of knowledge and practical case studies for research and teaching activities at ISCM. It also marks a further step in ISCM's ongoing efforts to strengthen internationalization, connect academia with practice, and drive cross-border cooperation initiatives in the time ahead.
News, photos: Dr. Pham Nguyen Hoai