On May 21, 2024, in Hanoi, National Agro-Forestry-Fisheries Quality Assurance, Processing and Market Development (NAFIQPM) (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) in collaboration with the "Safe Foods for Growth" (SAFEGRO) Project organized a signing ceremony for the Collaboration Plan with Vietnam National University of Agriculture, Hanoi University of Science and Technology, Nha Trang University, and Ho Chi Minh City Nong Lam University. This plan aims to implement, disseminate, and replicate a pilot model for Undergraduate Program and Food Safety Certificate Program approaching international standards.
The signing ceremony was attended by representatives from NAFIQPM, the Canadian Embassy in Hanoi, the SAFEGRO Project, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and partner universities (Vietnam National University of Agriculture, Hanoi University of Science and Technology, Nha Trang University, and Ho Chi Minh City Nong Lam University).
In his speech, Mr. Pham Van Duy, Deputy General Director of NAFIQPM, emphasized the urgent need to enhance the quality of human resource training, especially in the field of food safety, in the context of deepening international integration. Food safety is not only a domestic issue but also a global concern. Therefore, the collaboration program between the NAFIQPM, the SAFEGRO Project, and leading universities in Vietnam, such as Vietnam National University of Agriculture, Hanoi University of Science and Technology, Nha Trang University, and Ho Chi Minh City Nong Lam University, is a strategic and important step. This initiative aims to improve the quality and effectiveness of training programs, providing society with skilled professionals, excellent managers, and technicians who meet the demands of both domestic and international labor markets, thereby contributing to the enhancement of Vietnam's human resources in food safety. The experiences and lessons learned from this pilot model will be summarized and shared with other educational institutions related to food safety in Vietnam.
A representative from the SAFEGRO Project outlined the main collaborative activities, including: (i) organizing consultative workshops to share experiences in establishing and operating food safety training programs from Canada and other countries; (ii) developing Undergraduate Program and Food Safety Certificate Program approaching international standards; (iii) creating teaching materials for several courses within these programs; (iv) implementing these courses at partner universities with the participation of international and local experts from the SAFEGRO Project; (v) enhancing the capacity of teaching staff through participation in specialized workshops, short-term training courses, thematic activities, and study tours to national and international universities.
After exchange ideas and open discussion, the leaders of the involved agencies signed the collaboration plan, which will be in effect from May 2024 to December 2025.
SAFEGRO, funded by the Canadian government with 15 million Canadian dollars, is implemented by Alinea International in collaboration with the University of Guelph in Vietnam's two largest urban areas, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, from 2021 to 2025.
Below are some images from the signing ceremony and speeches by representatives of the involved parties.
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| Mr. Phạm Văn Duy, Deputy General Director of NAFIQPM delivers the speech on importance of collaboration between NAFIQPM, SAFEGRO project, and the universities to enhance the quality and effectiveness of the food safety training program |
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| Prof. Phạm Văn Cường, Vice President of Vietnam National University of Agriculture, signed a collaboration plan with NAFIQPM and the SAFEGRO Project to implement a pilot model for a university training program on food safety that approaches international standards |
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| Representatives from NAFIQPM, the SAFEGRO Project, Canadian Embassy, Vietnam National University of Agriculture, Hanoi University of Science and Technology, Nha Trang University, and Ho Chi Minh City Nong Lam University attended the signing ceremony for implementing the pilot model for Undergraduate Program and Food Safety Certificate Program that approaches international standard |
Faculty of Food Science and Technology