On Monday, July 14, 2014 a delegation group from Thai Nguyen, Vietnam visited the School of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering at the University of Oklahoma. The trip occurred to discuss a possible collaboration with the mechanical engineering program between OU and Thai Nguyen University of Technology (TNUT).  If this program were put into place, it would send Vietnamese students selected by the government to OU and AME for Ph.D. completion. Those students would then return to Vietnam to become faculty members.

In order for TNUT students to qualify for the potential program, they must first be selected by the university, must have completed their advanced program which is a 5-year curriculum taught in English. To enter the program, students have to take a highly competitive entrance exam to qualify. Once that is completed, the student must apply through the Graduate College at OU before acceptance into the graduate program. This collaboration between AME and TNUT would have support for at least four years from the Vietnam government.

Dr. Feng C. Lai, AME Professor, has spent time in Thai Nguyen, Vietnam teaching students during the summer and winter intersessions. He is hopeful for the possible collaboration as he says the students in Thai Nguyen study hard and the overall quality is great. “This is a win-win situation for all,” said Dr. Lai, “This is a great opportunity to increase the number of Ph.D. students in our graduate program, while recruiting these highly qualified students.”

Details are in the works and still being finalized. The program may begin as early as Spring 2015, but the ultimate goal is to begin in Fall 2015.

Pictured from left to right: Dr. Quang T. Phan, Rector of TNUT, Ms. Le Ha Do, Director of International Training Cooperation Center, Mr. Quoc H. Nguyen, Head of Management and Services Department, Mr. Ba Dung Ho, Director of Service Center, Dr. Feng C. Lai, AME Professor, and Dr. M. Cengiz Altan, AME Interim Director and Professor.