UEF welcomes expert from PUM Netherlands and kicks off the series on entrepreneurship and innovation

OCTOBER 19, UEF welcomed Dr. Frans Stel, PUM Netherlands Senior Expert, to the on-campus working visit, officially kicking off the series “Innovation, Coach Training, and Research Collaboration.”

The program marked another stage of the development of cooperation between UEF and the international expert, aiming to strengthen the University’s innovation competence, refine the entrepreneurship support ecosystem, and expand opportunities for research collaboration.

The series opened up opportunities for adopting international perspectives on innovation and developing entrepreneurial projects

Welcoming Dr. Frans Stel, on behalf of UEF, were Dr. Ngo Minh Hai, Vice President; Dr. Phan Bao Giang, Vice President; Mr. Nguyen Xuan Hung, Director of the UEF Center for Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Project Design; Ms. Ha Le Thu Hoai, Deputy Director of the Center; and other lecturers.

At the meeting, representatives of the Board of Presidents warmly welcomed Dr. Frans Stel with an opening speech and gave a general introduction to UEF as well as the University’s achievements in innovation and entrepreneurship in recent years. The initial sharing illustrated UEF’s current directions for building an environment where ideas are nurtured, projects are developed, and learners have opportunities to gain practical experience.

The Board of Presidents gave a general introduction to UEF and its development directions for innovation and entrepreneurship

UEF’s projects during the working visit. He also provided general information about PUM Netherlands Senior Experts, an organization connecting experienced expert networks with the aim of sharing knowledge, contributing to the development of local competence, and promoting sustainable development in numerous countries.

Dr. Frans Stel introduced his professional experience and PUM Netherlands Senior Experts

The discussion was organized based on the established connection between UEF and PUM at the beginning of 2026. While the previous phase mainly took place through virtual consultation to discuss cooperative orientation, this on-campus working visit allowed both sides to explore practical needs, from strategies for operating the entrepreneurship support ecosystem to potential research collaboration.

During the working session, both sides discussed the main contents of the upcoming activity series. The discussion provided a basis for connecting international experience with UEF’s development vision, aiming for methods suitable for teaching and learning, research, and supporting entrepreneurial projects.

UEF and the PUM expert discussed the main contents to prepare for the upcoming activity series

According to the plan, until October 30, Dr. Frans Stel will support UEF with consultation sessions on innovation and entrepreneurship models, seminars on global trends, training on entrepreneurial project coaching skills, and direct consultation for student projects. This program features a series of activities that integrate knowledge sharing and skills training with direct consultation on practical issues.

On this occasion, Dr. Frans Stel also spent time visiting UEF’s facilities

After the working session, Dr. Frans Stel visited the Project Design 2 class and shared his practical entrepreneurship experiences, ranging from identifying market needs and customer insights to developing business models and competitive advantages. Through advisory activities and feedback on project ideas, the expert encouraged students to focus on customers’ practical needs, proactively test their solutions, and develop appropriate development plans.

Dr. Frans Stel shared his experiences and provided feedback on project ideas for UEFers in the Project Design 2 class

The activity series will continue with the seminar “Global Trends in Innovation and Entrepreneurship” tomorrow morning, October 20. This is an opportunity for lecturers, students, and interested participants to update international perspectives on changes in innovation and entrepreneurship as well as to gain experience from the PUM expert’s sharing.

It is expected that, from orientation discussions to training, consultation, and research activities, Dr. Frans Stel’s support during this working trip will strengthen faculty competence, open up opportunities for students to successfully develop their startup projects, and apply international experience to UEF's innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem.

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