10 Highlight Events of IFI in 2023

1. Appointment of IFI Director by the President of Vietnam National University, Hanoi

On February 14, 2023, at Hoà Lạc, the President of Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU) Lê Quân issued the decision appointing Mr. Phùng Danh Thắng as the Director of the International Francophone Institute (IFI).

During the announcement ceremony, the new Director, Phùng Danh Thắng, expressed gratitude to VNU for entrusting him with the challenging task. He also thanked the faculty, staff, and IFI community for their trust and support. The new Director pledged to strive to build IFI into a united and robust community, contributing to the development of VNU.

2. Mission and Name Transformation

According to Decision No. 280/QD-DHQGHN, starting from March 1, 2023, the International Francophone Institute underwent organizational and name changes, becoming the Francophone International School on the path to becoming the International French School by 2025. The international names remained as "Institut Francophone International" (French) and "International Francophone Institute" (English).

With its new name, IFI's main function is to organize undergraduate and postgraduate training in the fields of computer science, information technology, communication, financial technology, and interdisciplinary areas integrating information technology with other scientific fields that Vietnam demands and excels in within the Francophone community. This transformation, supported by VNU leadership, aligns with IFI's development direction, vision, and strategy in line with VNU's mission.

3. Celebrating 30 Years of Establishment (1993-2023)

The year 2023 marks the 30-year journey of establishment and development for IFI. From 1993 to the present, IFI has consistently innovated and asserted its pioneering position in international, interdisciplinary training and research, aiming to become the leading university education institution of the Francophone community in Asia-Pacific. IFI takes pride in contributing to VNU's internationalization and being a trusted destination for students worldwide seeking programs in information technology, digital communication, and Fintech. Looking ahead, IFI will continue to develop with new missions, affirming its core values: Pioneering, International, Francophone, Multicultural, Interdisciplinary, and Social Responsibility.

To celebrate the 30th anniversary, IFI organized a series of activities throughout 2023, including the logo design competition, IFI Football Tournament, a Wall of Gratitude, and an exhibition showcasing IFI's journey and achievements.

Furthermore, on November 11, 2023, a grand celebration marking the 30th anniversary of establishment (1993-2023) under the theme 'IFI - Connecting Without Borders, Shaping the Future' was solemnly organized. On this occasion, IFI had the honor of receiving the 'IFI Certificate for Contributions to French-language Science' from the Francophone University Agency (AUF) at Nguyễn Văn Đạo Hall, 144 Xuân Thủy, Cầu Giấy, Hà Nội. This certificate aims to honor IFI's outstanding contributions in promoting the values of the French language in Vietnam through educational and research activities conducted in French. The commemorative ceremony took place in a dignified, warm, emotional, and proud atmosphere, marking the 30-year journey with numerous significant achievements and paving the way for a new chapter in IFI's development.

4. Maintaining Leadership in Fintech Education in Vietnam

As the first institution in Vietnam and the second in Southeast Asia to implement a Financial Technology (Fintech) training program, in 2023, IFI continued to enhance advisory activities and admissions for Cohort 3 of the Master's program in Banking, Finance, and Financial Technology (FINTECH). The program is being simultaneously taught in Vietnam (at IFI) and the United Kingdom (Oxford Campus branch of EM Normandie). EM Normandie's deployment of the program in Oxford allows the participation of high-profile professors and experts in banking, finance, and Fintech from the UK, a global hub for banking, finance, and Fintech, in teaching and mentoring.

With its pioneering position in Fintech education in Vietnam, IFI provides a professional learning environment, helping students enhance their skills, build quality networks for work, and seize employment opportunities at major financial corporations worldwide in the era of Industry 4.0. On September 16, 2023, IFI organized an orientation session for new students of the Fintech Master's Program, creating a dynamic and successful start to the academic year.

5. Enhancing "Education Export" with the Information Technology Master's Program

In 2023, IFI continued its successful efforts in the field of "educational export" with a significant number of students coming from various countries around the world, including Cameroon, Togo, Haiti, Burkina Faso, to enroll in the Master's program in Information Technology, specializing in Intelligent Systems and Multimedia (SIM). This high-quality Master's program in Information Technology is taught entirely in French. Upon completion of the program, students will receive a dual degree from Vietnam National University, Hanoi, and La Rochelle University (France). They also have the opportunity to intern, work, and pursue a Ph.D. in developed countries such as France, Belgium, Canada, and more. Additionally, the department continues to strengthen its admissions efforts for the 27th intake, achieving considerable success with over 5,000 expressions of interest from the international market.

6. Franconomics 5th Edition - An important event of the Francophone Community in Asia-Pacific

Continuing the success of previous seasons, on October 17, 2023, IFI, in collaboration with the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF), the Francophone University Agency (AUF), and the International Francophone Institute (2IF) - Jean Moulin Lyon 3 University, co-organized the Franconomics-2023 International Forum under the theme "Digital Humanities: Opportunities and Challenges in the Digital Transformation." This event is part of the interdisciplinary Scientific Seminar series (DAAS), initiated and held annually by IFI, under the patronage of Vietnam National University, Hanoi. 

With the participation of scholars, researchers, businesses, and policymakers within and beyond the Francophone community worldwide, Franconomics-2023 provided the latest updates on digital humanities and presented new cooperation proposals among Francophone countries to leverage opportunities and address challenges in this field. The forum continued to affirm IFI's pioneering position in Asia-Pacific in international research, characterized by high quality and based on the interdisciplinary foundation of information technology and the French language. In addition to the Franconomics Forum, the DAAS 2023 series included workshops and practical activities revolving around compelling topics such as Digital Economy, Digital Communication, Human Security in the Digital Age, and the Application of Digital Technology in the Preservation of Cultural Heritage.

7. Diversifying the Global Partner Network

IFI is one of the most experienced organizations in Vietnam when it comes to international collaboration, especially in teaching and research, and the transfer of scientific and technological knowledge. In terms of education, on November 15, 2023, IFI organized the scholarship interview session for the first phase of the Software Tester Training Course. This scholarship program is a collaboration between IFI, the Vietnam-France Friendship Association (AAFV), and the online education organization FUNiX within the framework of the "Supporting Vietnamese Talent" program (Solidarité Talents Vietnam). The program is aimed at young individuals who aspire to transition or orient their careers toward the field of information technology but may lack the necessary resources. Furthermore, in 2023, IFI continued to strengthen its close cooperative relationships with reputable French universities and research institutes such as the University of Toulon, La Rochelle University, Normandy Business School, and the International Francophone Institute (2IF) - Jean Moulin Lyon 3 University.

In the realm of research and the transfer of scientific and technological knowledge, on July 7, 2023, IFI collaborated with the University of Economics and Business (UEB), Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU), the Institute of European Studies, the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, and the Vietnam-France Friendship and Cooperation Association to co-organize the Vietnam-France Economic Forum 2023. The forum was held under the theme "Towards Green and Sustainable Development" and was part of a series of events commemorating the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations and the 10th anniversary of the strategic partnership between Vietnam and France.

8. Internationalization - High-Quality Lecturers, Experts, and Personnel from Around the World Joining IFI 

As a professional, friendly, and multicultural learning and working environment, IFI attracts many high-quality lecturers, experts, and personnel from around the world. In 2023, IFI welcomed and guided international internship groups as part of its collaboration with the Institute of Research and Development (IRD) in the Republic of France. Working in a place far from their homelands, nearly 10,000 km away, with cultural and lifestyle differences, the international interns couldn't avoid initial hesitations and challenges. However, with the support of the IFI team, they quickly integrated into their work and had memorable experiences.

In addition, with its international collaborative training programs, IFI regularly welcomes professors and industry experts to work and teach. The ideal learning environment, equipped with modern facilities, coupled with the enthusiasm and dynamism of the students, is why international faculty members find IFI impressive and exciting to work in.

9. Launching the Virtual Tour of the Morocco Gate

On March 24, 2023, IFI, in collaboration with the Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco in Vietnam, the Francophone University Agency (AUF), and the Institute for African and Middle Eastern Studies (IAMES), organized the inauguration ceremony for the virtual tour of the Maroc Gate (Ba Vi - Hanoi). The virtual tour of the Maroc Gate is part of the Cultural Heritage Digitization program, which has become a trademark of IFI. This project is one of the initiatives undertaken to commemorate the 62nd anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Morocco (March 27, 1961). The product represents a combination of cultural, historical, and technological content, realized over an extended period under the significant efforts of IFI and its partners, especially during the challenging times of the Covid-19 pandemic.

10. Launching Issue 7 of the FAP Scientific Journal

On November 13, 2023, in Hanoi, the International Francophone Institute (IFI) at Vietnam National University, Hanoi, organized the launch ceremony for Issue 7 of the scientific publication "Francophone Community in Asia-Pacific" (FAP) with the theme "French-Asian-Pacific Art Dialogue: Cross-Cultural Perspectives in Modern and Contemporary Art." The event also featured a digital art exhibition by the French artist HironPhoenix. The occasion marked the celebration of IFI's 30th anniversary and the 6th anniversary of the first issue of the FAP publication.

Continuing the success of previous issues, FAP Issue 7 gathered and analyzed exemplary cases of the intersection between French and Asia-Pacific arts. With diverse perspectives and viewpoints, Issue 7 delves deep into the relationships and interactions between the modern and contemporary arts of the East and West. The success of the 7th issue further affirms FAP as the "most brilliant symbol of French-language academic cooperation," as stated by Jean Paul de Gaudemar, the Director-General of the Francophone University Agency (AUF), during his visit to Aix-Marseille University (France) in 2018.