On July 26, 2025, Ho Chi Minh City Open University affirmed its role as a hub for international academic connections by, for the first time, co-hosting the 11th International Conference on Community Development in the ASEAN (ICCD) with the ASEAN Muslim Community Association (AMCA) in Vietnam, and moving forward with the signing of a strategic cooperation agreement with AMCA and seven leading Indonesian universities.
This event strongly affirmed the University’s role in connecting knowledge and action for a sustainable community future.
The program was attended by Prof. Dr. Nguyen Minh Ha – President of Ho Chi Minh City Open University, together with representatives of the University’s units and students. On the partner and international guest side, the event welcomed Prof. Dr. Latipun – Secretary General of AMCA; Mr. Adiguna Wijaya – Head of Social, Cultural and Educational Affairs, Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia in Ho Chi Minh City; as well as representatives from major universities in Indonesia, Malaysia, Uzbekistan, and India.
ICCD-11: An Interdisciplinary Forum for Community Solutions
With the theme “Empowering Communities for a Resilient Future: Innovation, Sustainability, and Inclusion”, the 11th ICCD, co-organized by Ho Chi Minh City Open University and the ASEAN Muslim Community Association (AMCA), truly became a prestigious and influential academic forum, gathering more than 70 scholars, administrators, and researchers from over 34 universities and educational institutions across Asia.
At the conference, participants exchanged ideas and shared in-depth research findings on social innovation and community development, while analyzing the contemporary challenges and opportunities facing ASEAN nations. From there, important assessments and practical recommendations were proposed to address issues of new infrastructure development toward comprehensive community growth.
Speaking at the program, Prof. Dr. Nguyen Minh Ha – President of Ho Chi Minh City Open University – expressed his honor and extended the warmest welcome to all domestic and international scholars and experts attending the Conference.
Prof. Dr. Nguyen Minh Ha also reaffirmed the University’s commitment to accompanying partners in building a cohesive, interdisciplinary academic community oriented toward sustainable development. He emphasized that the conference served as a practical foundation to promote international cooperation, expand research networks, and sign important agreements, with the expectation of generating valuable, applicable contributions to ASEAN’s overall development.
The applicability of the conference was demonstrated through a variety of presentations offering concrete solutions. Scholars presented effective applied models such as project-based learning methods combined with digital tools to develop learners’ soft skills; applying cultural research to foster dialogue and interfaith harmony; and integrating ecological thinking into management and entrepreneurship training programs. These solutions showed how academic knowledge, when applied appropriately, can become a powerful tool for empowerment and positive change within communities.
At the heart of the conference were intensive sessions where leading scholars presented their latest research, providing multidimensional perspectives and practical solutions.
In addition to the main sessions, more than 40 selected research papers were published in the conference proceedings, along with five specialized panels: Economics and Business, Education and Psychology, Philosophy, Culture and Society, Law, Social Sciences and Humanities, Agriculture and Agribusiness.
Strategic Cooperation Milestone: Signing Agreements with AMCA and Seven Prestigious Indonesian Universities
Ho Chi Minh City Open University established strategic cooperation and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Prof. Dr. Latipun – Secretary General of the ASEAN Muslim Community Association (AMCA), representing the network of AMCA member universities.
At the same time, the University also signed agreements with seven universities from Indonesia, including: Muhammadiyah University of Jember, Muria Kudus University, Bhinneka PGRI University, Muhammadiyah University of Sorong, Muhammadiyah University of Jambi, Jakarta Islamic University, and Tadulako University.
This marked an important step in expanding international academic connections, laying the foundation for student and faculty exchange programs as well as collaborative research activities in the field of community development within the ASEAN region.
This strategic cooperation agreement opens a new chapter in the University’s international relations, aiming to build a cohesive and high-quality educational ecosystem. The parties agreed to widely implement key initiatives, including developing joint training programs with flexible credit transfer and mutual degree recognition, co-organizing international scientific conferences, and publishing joint research. The agreement will also strongly promote faculty, staff, and student exchange, as well as the sharing of learning resources and scientific data to develop a robust joint research network.
The signing event was not only a milestone in strengthening ASEAN’s higher education network, but more importantly, it directly created tangible value for learners. Through these agreements, students of Ho Chi Minh City Open University and partner institutions will gain broad opportunities to participate in exchange programs, experience multicultural academic environments, and access high-quality joint training programs. This is not only a chance to enrich specialized knowledge, but also a journey to develop soft skills, foreign language ability, and a global mindset. This solid cooperation foundation reflects the University’s commitment to equipping learners with internationally valuable degrees and strong preparation to confidently integrate as globally competitive citizens in regional and international labor markets.
Article: Khanh Ly
Photo: Quoc Anh