Prof. Patrick Boiron was the second Rector of USTH. He took the office in 2015 when USTH finished its first 5 years of establishment and development. His bountiful experience in higher education and research made him become the “catalyst” for the success of USTH during his 2 terms.
Before taking over the position of the USTH Rector, Prof. Patrick Boiron had carried out and participated in numerous research projects in different countries such as the United States, Venezuela, Mexico, etc., as well as in the French Overseas Territories as a Doctor of Pharmacy and Microbiology and Professor at the Faculty of Pharmacy of Claude Bernard University Lyon 1. He also held the position of vice president of the University of Claude Bernard Lyon 1.
He knew the USTH through the USTH Consortium, which was a non-profit organization created to support the development of the University. Prof. Patrick Boiron applied for the vacant position of Rector when Prof. Pierre Sebban, its first rector, left the office after 2 successful terms. He took office on January 1, 2015. His 4-year tenure left an indelible mark on the development of USTH.
“My predecessor had brilliantly built the contours of the University, and it was important to continue his legacy after a year the position of rector was vacant. Some decisions were difficult, some were necessary, others seemed ambitious, but fortunately several of them turned out to be successful,” recalled Patrick Boiron.
“During my two mandates, the USTH has gone through many ups and downs, and I have always given priority to the human aspect. I highly valued the support of the first vice-rectors, Le Tran Binh and Nguyen Van Hung, whose experience was indispensable to me, and then the dynamism of their successors, Dinh Thi Mai Thanh and Ngo Duc Thanh, who gave a new vision necessary for the growth of the University. Besides, it was the determination of the brilliant young lecturers, the dedication of the administrative as well as the technical staff from both the Vietnamese and French sides, which pushed USTH towards its success.”
Prof. Patrick Boiron highlighted the trust and significant support of the French Embassy in Vietnam and of the USTH Consortium to the advancement of the University. As USTH grew, he expressed his excitement about its future development in the world of industrialization and its relocation to the future campus in Hoa Lac High Tech Park.
Looking back on his 4 years in the position of the USTH Rector, he had the feeling that he had done his best to drive the University towards the place it deserved and create possibilities for its future beautiful evolution. He treasured the ties he forged, the warm contact with his colleagues at USTH, and the long-lasting friendships with the Vietnamese people he met during his time in Vietnam.
When his retirement started was also the time he finished his tenure at USTH. Since then, he has enjoyed his life in his hometown in the Champagne wine region in France and follows the development of USTH with admiration from afar.
