The University of Oxford has deepened its partnership with Vietnam through three landmark agreements that advance cooperation in healthcare, higher education, and sustainable aviation. Signed during a visit by General Secretary To Lam, the new initiatives reflect Oxford’s commitment to building long-term academic and scientific ties with Vietnamese institutions.
A major highlight is the creation of the Tam Anh Oxford Partnership (TOP), established through an MoU between the Tam Anh Research Institute and Oxford’s International Health and Tropical Medicine Group at the Nuffield Department of Medicine. The partnership focuses on joint training, research, and capacity building, prioritizing diagnostic innovation and preventive healthcare for non-communicable diseases. Designed around equitable collaboration, TOP places Vietnamese leadership and national health needs at the centre, with Oxford contributing global research expertise to support policy development and implementation.
Oxford also announced a significant climate-focused collaboration with VietJet through the Oxford Net Zero initiative led by Professor Myles Allen. The partnership supports the Net Zero Aviation Project, a GBP 1.6 million research program conducted with IATA. The project explores the feasibility of geologically balanced fuels – a new approach that offsets aviation emissions by capturing and permanently storing equivalent CO₂ underground. With Vietnam’s aviation market growing rapidly, the research aims to develop fair, scientifically robust pathways to reduce long-term emissions while ensuring affordability for airlines and passengers.
Education remains a core pillar of the strengthened relationship. Oxford and Vietnamese entrepreneur and philanthropist Dr Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao jointly launched the Pioneer Scholarship Scheme, providing fully funded postgraduate scholarships for outstanding Vietnamese students. Supported by GBP 13.7 million from Dr Thao and GBP 4.1 million from the University, the program has already enabled 11 Vietnamese scholars to pursue advanced study and research in fields such as education and genomic medicine.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Irene Tracey emphasized that these agreements reinforce Oxford’s long-standing tradition of global partnership and its commitment to addressing shared challenges through research, innovation, and talent development. Together, Oxford and Vietnam are now positioned to expand cooperation across healthcare systems, climate solutions, and academic excellence, strengthening a growing bridge between the UK and one of Asia’s most dynamic economies.
(Source: University of Oxford)
