Results of cooperation between Tay Bac University and Southern Cross University – Australia, four years in retrospect

On June 16, 2021, the Tay Bac University (TBU) research team held a meeting in preparation of wrapping up cooperation activities between the two universities in phase I (2018 – 2021) and to develop an implementation plan for cooperation activities in phase II (2021 – 2022). The meeting was chaired by Dr. Doan Duc Lan – Chair of TBU University Council. Representing Southern Cross University – Australia (SCU) was Mr. Lo Minh Duc, the project coordinator. The meeting was held at TBU with the participation of representatives of the Center for Scientific Research and Technology Transfer and members of the research team. Exactly four years since the signing of the MOU (June 16, 2017 – June 16, 2021), the cooperation between TBU and SCU have achieved remarkable results:

MoU signing ceremony between TBU and SCU at TBU on June 16, 2017

Regarding research cooperation: TBU collaborated with SCU experts to build and establish an agroforestry model in Nong Sang village, Bo Muoi commune, Thuan Chau district, in which there are two research focuses: piloting the agroforestry model and evaluating its ability to limit soil erosion. After four years, 15 students of the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry (TBU) have participated in research activities and successfully completed their graduation theses from the results of the joint research between the two universities. Additionally, one research project at grassroots level, one agroforestry handbook and one reference document on agroforestry have been developed. One academic article was also published in TBU’s Journal of Science.

Regarding training activities: TBU has sent one lecturer to pursue a master’s degree at SCU; TBU also organised two training sessions and study tours for 23 graduate students and SCU students; 18 TBU students collected data for the agroforestry model at Bo Muoi and visited Muong La Nature Reserve and the Forest Science Centre of North Western Vietnam; successfully organised two short-term training courses to share experiences in writing research articles for international academic journals and processing research data on R software for TBU lecturers and students; successfully organised five seminars to share research results of TBU and SCU on agroforestry, natural resources and environment, with the participation of hundreds of lecturers and students from the two universities.

The meeting also exchanged and discussed the implementation plan for the cooperation project in phase II (Project on conservation and restoration of rare and precious tree species to improve the livelihoods of people in Muong La Nature Reserve) under the sponsorship of the Australian Center for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), which includes 3 main objectives: Assessing the market value and income potential for farmers to co-produce native seeds; develop the production of fruit and timber tree species suitable for farmers; improve silvicultural knowledge for sustainable forest resource management of selected timber species through experiments. The priority is to domesticate high-value tree species such as Fokienia hodginsii (Pơ mu), Calocedrus macrolepis (Bách xanh), Cinnamomum balansae Lecomte (Vù hương), Keteleeria evelyniana (Du sam), Madhuca pasquieri (Sến mật), Cephalotaxus mannii (Đỉnh tùng)…The project will be implemented over 1.5 years (July 2021 – December 2022).

Wrapping up the meeting, Dr. Doan Duc Lan highly appreciated the outcomes of the cooperation between the two universities in phase I, which resulted from Aus4Skills program, and believed that the partnership will continue to develop further and create more solidarity between the two universities. Dr. Lan also reminded that in order to prepare for the Phase I Wrap up Ceremony, attention must be paid to the facilities and equipment and that an online format should be done to ensure the health and safety of participants and partners during the Covid-19 pandemic; There needs to be feedback assessment on the interest of local people and officials where the project is implemented on farming techniques, the effectiveness of the agroforestry model and its replicability. The implementation of the phase II project will require the participation of many stakeholders, including institutes, research centers, local authorities, people in the research area and students.

Author: Dr. Vu Duc Toan – Department of Natural Resources and Environment Management

Source: Tay Bac University website