On September 9, 2025, the opening session of the 20th Plenary Conference of the ASEAN–European Academic University Network (ASEA-UNINET) was solemnly held at the Palazzo della Loggia, the City Hall of Brescia, Italy.
The session took place with the attendance of senior leaders from universities across Europe and Southeast Asia, ASEA-UNINET members, international organizations, embassies, and political bodies interested in the network. This important event provided a platform for member universities to share development experiences and to strengthen international cooperation in education and scientific research between institutions in Asia and Europe.
Opening session of the ASEA-UNINET Plenary Conference at the Brescia City Hall
The leadership of the University of Brescia and representatives of ASEA-UNINET co-chaired the conference. In their welcoming remarks, Ms. Laura Castelletti – Mayor of Brescia, Prof. Francesco Castelli – Rector of the University of Brescia, Prof. Roberto Ranzi – President of ASEA-UNINET, along with delegates from European and Southeast Asian educational and diplomatic organizations, highly appreciated the active participation of all members. They also shared insights on the network’s history, its development, as well as challenges in education and research in the context of global political, social, and environmental changes.
Mrs. Laura Castelletti, Mayor of Brescia, giving the opening speech of the Conference
Prof. Roberto Ranzi, Vice Rector of University of Brescia, President of ASEA-UNINET Network, speaking at the plenary session
The ASEA-UNINET Plenary Conference program included multiple sessions and keynote speeches by leading experts in higher education and international cooperation, highlighting the importance of enhancing ASEAN–Europe relations and promoting sustainable research collaboration under the spirit of joint development, especially in the context of globalization.
The opening attracted a large number of delegates from Vietnamese member universities, including leaders of Hanoi University of Science and Technology, Thuyloi University, Hue University, Vietnam National University of Agriculture, and several others, demonstrating a strong commitment to cross-border collaboration initiatives.
The delegation of Thuyloi University, led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Canh Thai – Vice President, together with representatives from the Department of Science and Technology, the Faculty of Water Resources Engineering, and the Institute of Hydrology, Environment and Climate Change, actively participated in the conference. On this occasion, Thuyloi University signed a cooperation agreement with the University of Brescia, expanded network-related activities, and organized a ceremony to present the “Thuyloi’s Family” Medal to Prof. Roberto Ranzi, Vice Rector of the University of Brescia.
Vice President Nguyen Canh Thai attended the opening session of the Conference
Delegation from Thuyloi University attended the Conference
Earlier, on September 8, 2025, the University of Brescia had hosted a signing ceremony with Thuyloi University for the 2025–2030 cooperation period. The agreement focuses on strengthening joint training, student and faculty exchange, co-supervision of Master’s and PhD theses, as well as joint research projects through the ASEA-UNINET network.
TLU signed an agreement to extend and promote cooperation with University of Brescia for the period 2025-2030
Delegates from other universities attended the MOU signing session between TLU and UNIBS on September 8, 2025
The ASEA-UNINET (ASEAN – European Academic University Network) is an alliance of universities from Europe and Southeast Asia, established in 1994 with the goal of promoting the internationalization of education and research. Currently, the network consists of more than 92 universities from 14 countries, carrying out over 80 bilateral and multilateral research projects annually, along with doctoral and postdoctoral scholarship programs, workshops, and networking events. ASEA-UNINET supports interdisciplinary collaboration across natural sciences, technology, economics, social sciences, and medicine, while fostering close personal ties, creating the spirit of the “ASEA-UNINET Family.” The network plays an important role in promoting scientific and cultural exchange and building global connectivity. Thuyloi University has been an official member of ASEA-UNINET since 2023.
The University of Brescia is a public university established in 1982, located in the city of Brescia, northern Italy, about 80 km from Milan. With approximately 14,000 students and 565 faculty members, the University of Brescia currently ranks 22nd among Italy’s top universities. Over the years, it has built a strong partnership with Thuyloi University, notably through two joint research projects on flood forecasting in the Red River and Ca River, as well as in Master’s and PhD training and student exchanges. Prof. Dr. Roberto Ranzi, Vice Rector for International Affairs, has closely collaborated with Thuyloi University, particularly in supervising many outstanding PhD students, some of whom now hold leadership positions at the Faculty and Department levels of Thuyloi University.
