The Association of Francophone Universities (AUF) and the University of Medicine Pham Ngoc Thach signed a framework agreement on Monday morning for the creation of an Integrated Francophone Space in Ho Chi Minh City.

Located on the campus of the university, the facility, called Espace Intégré Francophone in French, will house two specialized AUF units including a Francophone Career Center (Centre d'Employabilité Francophone - CEF) and a Francophone Digital Education Center (Campus Numérique Francophone - CNF 5.0).

Professor Slim Khalbous, rector at AUF, said at the signing ceremony that the francophone space in Ho Chi Minh City will facilitate partnerships between universities and businesses and socio-political organizations with the goal of enhancing career prospects as well as entrepreneurial skills for graduates.

As part of a global network of over 60 CNF 5.0 and CEF centers, including 10 in the Asia-Pacific region, the francophone space in Ho Chi Minh City will feature modern, adaptable facilities and technology to cater to AUF member universities, research institutions, and partners.

It is expected to be a welcoming space for all francophone and francophile members of the French-speaking scientific community, he added.

He expressed his hope of making this francophone space a platform for collaboration across the board, especially in educational technology and research transfer, the professor continued.

On Monday afternoon, AUF and the city’s Department of Information and Communications were scheduled to co-host an international conference on building a high-quality workforce for smart city development.

Founded in 1962, AUF is one of the largest associations of higher education and research institutions in the world, with over 1,000 member institutions including universities, colleges, and scientific research centers in nearly 120 countries.

AUF accompanies francophone universities to engage in broader economic, social, and cultural development issues.

Established in Hanoi in 1993, AUF’s Asia-Pacific Regional Directorate oversees a network of 86 institutions across 12 countries, including Vietnam, Cambodia, China, India, Laos, and South Korea.

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