VNF - The Vietnam-Poland Friendship Association (VPFA) and the club of the Vietnamese alumni of Polish universities on November 4 organised a meeting to mark the 50^th anniversary of their first day in Poland in 1968.

At the meeting in Hanoi.

Nearly 100 alumni from all over the country presenting in the gather recalled their meaningful time on the European country.

Polish Ambassador to Vietnam Wojciech Gerwel and representatives of the Polish Embassy in Vietnam; and a delegation of the AGH University of Science and Technology in Krakow (AGH UST) led by its rector, professor Tadeusz Słomka, also attended the meeting.

In a cozy atmosphere, Polish university graduates in the event had a nice time sharing their unforgettable memories of studying and working in Poland.

Opening the meeting, Pham Khoi Nguyen, VPFA chairman and former Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, said that Vietnam and Poland share a number of similarities in history, love for peace, and sacrifice for national independence and sovereignty.

Between 1960 and 1990, Poland trained over 4,000 Vietnamese students and scientists, and over 3,500 labourers, mostly in the coal and shipbuilding sectors. Many had came back home to build the nation, he said, adding that they have served as a bridge to promote the Vietnam-Poland friendship.

He highlighted the capability and skills of those who received training in Poland thanks to the European country’s high-quality education system.

VPFA chairman, Pham Khoi Nguyen studied at AGH UST Faculty of Geology and Location (currently Faculty of Geology, Geophysics and Environmental Protection) between 1969 and 1974.

Currently, Poland grants some 20 scholarships to excellent Vietnamese students each year, most of which are in philosophy, health care, geology, technology, agriculture, information and technology, and graphics, among others, he underlined.

Polish Ambassador to Vietnam Wojciech Gerwel, for his part, thanked VPFA for their support for the Polish Embassy in successfully implementing many projects between Vietnam and Poland, contributing to the enhancement of mutual understanding, friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

He expressed his belief that the traditional cooperation with Vietnam will develop in a stronger manner, helping build a prosperous future in each country.

AGH UST Rector professor Tadeusz Słomka said he is pleased to meet Vietnamese alumni who have made great contributions to the bilateral friendship and hoped that they will continue to bring the Poland closer to the Vietnamese people.

Established in 1919, the Institute is one of the best and most renowned modern Polish universities. For many years it has been ranked at the top of the list of institutions of higher education. AGH UST is a leading Polish university in modern technologies, and belongs to a group of prestigious international educational centres.

Currently, the list of Vietnamese graduates of AGH UST includes approximately 300 names. In 2009, Hanoi-based AGH Alumni Club was founded and in 2015 AGH UST in cooperation with the Polish-Vietnamese Friendship Association released an official publication on Polish-Vietnamese friendship and Vietnamese graduates of AGH UST.

AGH UST is actively pursuing cooperation with Vietnam – so far the University has signed general agreements with nine Vietnamese research institutions, in areas such as biomedicine, mechatronics, IT, underground construction, ecology, geotourism, geodesy, mining as well as management and humanities.

Vietnamese graduates of AGH UST received the “golden school report”.

Next year will mark the 100^th Inauguration Ceremony of the Academic Year. On the occasion, AGH UST presented the “golden school report” to 55 Vietnamese students who graduated of the university 50 years ago./.

Translated by Chau Pham