Promoting the development of the International Center for Physics (ICP) and the International Center for Research and Training in Mathematics (ICRTM) under UNESCO

Overview of the meeting

On the basis of the Agreement between the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), ICP and ICRTM (Type II Center), affiliated with the Institute of Physics, Physics and Mathematics Institute under VAST, officially launched in October 2021. The ICP and ICRTM Executive Board includes: Dr. Le Quynh Lien, Head of International Cooperation Department, VAST; Dr. Nguyen Thi Thanh Ha, Deputy Director, Department of Social Sciences, Humanities and Natural Sciences, Ministry of Science and Technology; Mr. Shaofeng Hu, Director of the Department of Basic and Natural Sciences Policy, UNESCO; Prof. Atish Dabholkar, Director of Abdus Salam International Center for Theoretical Physics (ICTP), Prof. Nguyen Dai Hung, Chairman of the Scientific Council of the Institute of Physics, member of the ICP Executive Board and Professor; and Phung Ho Hai, Institute of Mathematics, member of ICRTM Executive Board.

Dr. Le Quynh Lien, Head of International Cooperation Department, VAST, Head of Executive Board

At the meeting, the Executive Board and representatives of units discussed the process of extending the International Agreement on establishing Type II Centers (ICP and ICRTM) according to the Strategy on Type II Centers under the auspices of of UNESCO (adopted in 2019) and report on the activities of the two centers in the period 2020 - 2023. On this basis, the Executive Board unanimously supported the extension of the Agreement on the establishment of the center and proposed to strictly the timelines set out in the proposal and evaluation process for UNESCO Type II Centers.

Delegates discussed the process of renewing the Agreement to establish a Type II Center under the auspices of UNESCO

The Board of Directors highly appreciated the activities of the two centers since their establishment. Since 2020, ICRTM has made positive contributions in the field of mathematics as well as sustainable development. Specifically, ICRTM has successfully organized more than 20 major events, attracting about 2,000 live attendees, more than 300,000 online views, and 100 articles and television coverage. The events aim to raise awareness in the community about the 17 sustainable development goals, focusing on the following topics: quality education, gender equality, climate change adaptation, knowledge dissemination and clean energy access. ICP has also achieved certain results in training, research and international cooperation in Physics. ICP has successfully organized five major international conferences and seminars, 10 domestic seminars, one class, and co-organized three other conferences and classes; carry out 12 research tasks; Organized to welcome more than 20 incoming delegations and three outgoing delegations. In addition, ICP also makes great contributions to promoting UNESCO's spirit of 17 sustainable development goals through organizing Vietnam Science and Technology Day as well as having gender balance policies.

Assoc Prof. Dr. Phan Thi Ha Duong, Director of ICRTM, and Dr. Do Hoang Tung, Deputy Director of ICP, reported at the meeting

In addition, the ICP and ICRTM Board of Directors also received a number of comments on the report as well as the action plan from the UNESCO Representative, the Representative of the Ministry of Science and Technology and the ICTP Representative. The two Centers will continue to implement the goals stated in the Agreement between the Government of Vietnam and UNESCO while enhancing training and scientific research activities; promote international cooperation activities and especially spread UNESCO's 17 sustainable development goals in the coming time.

Based on the proposal to continue developing ICP and ICRTM under the auspices of UNESCO and the high consensus of the International Executive Board, the Executive Board and the two Centers will coordinate with VAST and the UNESCO National Committee. Vietnam, the Ministry of Science and Technology (in charge of the Natural Sciences Subcommittee) and relevant agencies and units to implement extension procedures according to UNESCO's regulations.

Delegates take photos at the event

Translated by Tuyet Nhung
Link to Vietnamese version