On September 14, 2026, in Lyon, France, the University of Science and Technology of Hanoi (USTH), Claude Bernard Lyon 1 University (Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 – UCBL), and Hospices Civils de Lyon (HCL) signed a tripartite Letter of Intent on cooperation in healthcare, including medicine and pharmacy. On the same occasion, USTH and UCBL signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to strengthen cooperation between the two universities in training and research.
The agreements were signed during an official visit to France by Prof. Dinh Thi Mai Thanh, Rector of USTH. She joined the delegation of the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST) accompanying General Secretary and President To Lam on his State visit to France.
UCBL is a member of the Consortium of French Universities and Research Institutes for the Development of USTH (USTH Consortium) and has long been one of USTH’s key partners in training and research. UCBL co-awards the Master’s degree in Biotechnology with USTH and sends lecturers to the University each year to contribute to teaching and university governance. Prof. Raphaël Terreux, Vice-President of UCBL, previously served as Deputy Director of USTH’s Department of Life Sciences and currently serves as Deputy Director of USTH’s Department of Medicine and Pharmacy. With its strong expertise in medicine, pharmacy, and health sciences, UCBL is an important partner in USTH’s strategy to develop these fields.
Hospices Civils de Lyon (HCL) is France’s second-largest university hospital system, comprising 13 public hospitals and employing approximately 24,000 people. With a 200-year history, HCL has three core missions: patient care, healthcare professional training, and research and innovation. Its network includes 11 schools and training institutes, which train more than 1,600 students each year in nursing and allied health professions. HCL’s participation in the tripartite partnership will help USTH further strengthen the links between training, fundamental research, professional practice, and clinical research.
Representing UCBL at the signing ceremony were Prof. Bruno Lina – President; Prof. Raphaël Terreux – Vice-President of UCBL and Deputy Director of USTH’s Department of Medicine and Pharmacy; and Ms. Dana Daia – Head of International Relations. HCL was represented by Ms. Audrey Socolo – Deputy Director General for International Relations. Representing USTH were Prof. Dinh Thi Mai Thanh – Rector, and Assoc. Prof. Nguyen Thi Van Anh of the Department of Medicine and Pharmacy, who previously pursued a PhD in Clinical Pharmacy at UCBL’s Faculty of Pharmacy from 2010 to 2013.
Under the Letter of Intent, USTH, UCBL and HCL agreed to establish a tripartite framework for training and research in health sciences, with a particular focus on medicine and pharmacy. The partnership is designed to draw on the strengths of the three institutions: UCBL will contribute its academic expertise and experience in medical and pharmaceutical training; HCL will provide professional practice and clinical research environments; and USTH will develop new training programmes in medicine, pharmacy and related health fields, while strengthening links with VAST’s research ecosystem and hospitals in Vietnam.
At the same ceremony, USTH and UCBL signed an MOU to turn these shared priorities into specific areas of cooperation. The two universities agreed to promote student and lecturer exchanges; develop a double-degree Master’s program in Pharmacy; support USTH in preparing and developing training programs in Nursing, Nutrition and Public Health; jointly train and co-supervise doctoral candidates; undertake collaborative research projects; organise scientific conferences and seminars; and share teaching and learning resources.
The agreements were signed shortly after USTH established the Department of Medicine and Pharmacy in June 2026, marking a new phase in the University’s strategy to expand training in healthcare.
USTH expects strengthened cooperation with UCBL and HCL to provide substantial support in accessing international expertise to develop new academic programs, enhance capacity, organize research activities, and connect training with professional practice.
Turning the agreements into initiatives
To begin implementing the agreements, the USTH delegation visited UCBL’s Faculty of Pharmacy, the HCL Esquirol Nursing Training Institute (Institut de formation en soins infirmiers HCL Esquirol – IFSI), and Édouard Herriot Hospital.
The visits to IFSI HCL Esquirol and Édouard Herriot Hospital gave USTH valuable insight into the training of healthcare professionals within the French university hospital system. These experiences serve as an important reference for USTH as we aim to develop the Department of Medicine and Pharmacy toward a School of Health Sciences, drawing on the University’s resources, support from VAST, and the domestic and international partner network, particularly the French partners.
During the visit, the USTH delegation held discussions with Prof. Raphaël Terreux, Vice-President of UCBL and Deputy Director of USTH’s Department of Medicine and Pharmacy; Prof. Claude Dussart, Dean of UCBL’s Faculty of Pharmacy; Mr Arnaud Barras, Director of IFSI HCL Esquirol, Director of Nursing and General Coordinator of HCL’s Nursing Training Institutes; and Prof. Anne-Claire Lukaszewicz, a UCBL faculty member, clinician and head of a specialist unit at Édouard Herriot Hospital.
The discussions focused on developing a double-degree Master’s program in Pharmacy, with teaching contributions from French professors. The two universities will compare their curricula and consider recognising USTH’s five-year Pharmacy program as equivalent to the first year of UCBL’s Master’s programme (M1). This pathway would allow eligible students to progress to the second year of the Master’s programme (M2) and graduate with Master’s degrees from both USTH and UCBL.
UCBL and HCL will also work with USTH to develop Nursing and Nutrition training programs, with academic and professional contributions from their university professors and hospital physicians.
