UMP AT APMEC 2026: AFFIRMING ACADEMIC STATURE AND INTERNATIONAL INTEGRATION IN MEDICAL EDUCATION
- bthvy6
- Jan 28
- 4 min read
On January 23-24, 2026, the delegation from the University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City (UMP) attended the Asia Pacific Medical Education Conference (APMEC) 2026. The trip left a significant mark, affirming the academic stature and international integration of the University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City in medical education through the scale of the attending delegation, the quantity and quality of scientific reports, and the active participation in discussions at the conference.
Large-scale Delegation: Unity and Strategic Direction from the Board of Presidents
The UMP delegation attended APMEC this year with a scale of up to 88 members, including 10 members of the Board of Presidents, along with leaders and lecturers from key units: School of Medicine, School of Pharmacy, School of Nursing and Medical Technology, Faculty of Public Health, Faculty of Traditional Medicine, Faculty of Dentistry, Faculty of Fundamental Sciences, and the Center for Medical Education. Notably, the conference also featured participation and presentations by student representatives, demonstrating the inheritance and spirit of scientific research in the University's younger generation.
Pride from the "Excellent Presenter" Awards
A highlight of the trip was the recognition from the international professional council regarding the research quality and presentation skills of UMP lecturers. The University was honored to have 02 lecturers named in the prestigious "Excellent Presenter" award category:
· Nguyen Thi Minh Trang, PhD (Faculty of Public Health): Awarded in the Free Communication session with the topic: “Effectiveness of Technology-Enhanced Training Program for Hypertension Management among Primary Healthcare Providers in Binh Duong, Vietnam”.
· Tran Thuy Khanh Linh, PhD (School of Nursing and Medical Technology): Awarded in the Short Communication session with the topic: “Effectiveness of a Dementia Awareness Game on Knowledge and Attitudes of Medical and Nursing Students in Vietnam: A Pre-/Post-Test Design”.
These achievements are not only a source of pride for the individual authors but also a clear testament to the scientific research capacity and the increasingly elevated academic stature of the University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City on the international medical education forum.
Affirming Expert Reputation: The Mark of a Symposium with Vietnamese Identity
The academic reputation of the University was strongly affirmed when key leaders were entrusted with leading roles at the international forum. Prof. MD. PhD. Tran Diep Tuan – Secretary of the Party Committee of UMP, assumed the role of Chair for the symposium “Faculty Development - East Meets West”.
Especially, a major milestone marking the delegation's outstanding maturity at this year's conference was the Symposium titled “Transforming Healthcare Through Interprofessional Education: Experiences from Vietnam”. This was the only symposium out of 18 conference sessions fully hosted and executed by a Vietnamese unit – the Center for Medical Education of UMP. Under the chairmanship of Assoc. Prof. MD. PhD. Le Khac Bao, the session attracted significant attention from international delegates, affirming the program design capacity and regional-level professional stature of the University's teaching staff.
Pioneering Innovation: Leading Trends in Modern Medical Education
With 21 high-quality reports, the UMP delegation brought to the conference a comprehensive picture of 05 key pillars of modern medical education:
· Interprofessional Education (IPE): Focusing on evaluating the effectiveness of training formats (in-person and online), strategies for building faculty teams, and enhancing the quality of standardized patients in teaching.
· Technology Application and Innovation: Embracing trends with topics on AI readiness, minimally invasive surgery training, and integrating technology and gamification into teaching.
· Mental Health and Learning Environment: Deep analysis of psychological barriers, health behaviors of students, the link between physical constitution and personality, and peer-led mental health support models.
· Clinical Competence and Assessment: Focusing on validating advanced assessment tools, evidence-based practice capacity, communication skills, and factors affecting students' learning motivation.
· Curriculum Development and Career Orientation: Contributing solutions such as building competency frameworks for specialized majors, professional identity scales, developing new majors (Speech Therapy), and strategies to optimize international student exchange programs.
The Inheriting Generation: Students Confidently Reaching the Global Stage
Alongside the team of lecturers, the presence of UMP students on the international podium also left a strong impression. Topics on the International Student Exchange Program (Student Pham Doan Gia Khang) and Mental Health Support (Student Nguyen Thao Han) demonstrated the bravery, confidence, and integration mindset of the University's young generation.
Strategic External Relations
Within the framework of the working trip, one of the core activities of the Board of Presidents was the Letter of Intent (LOI) Signing Ceremony between the University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City and the International School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, China. This event opens a new chapter in bilateral relations, creating a premise for future lecturer and student exchange activities and multilateral research coordination. Establishing a partnership with a prestigious university like Zhejiang University right at an international forum demonstrates the University's vision in proactively connecting and deeply integrating with the advanced medical education of the region.
Continuing the Journey of International Reach
The trip to APMEC 2026 concluded with impressive figures: 88 delegates, 01 Symposium session, 21 presentations, 02 excellent awards, and 01 strategic cooperation agreement. These achievements serve as a strong motivation for the collective of the University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City to continue striving, innovating, and taking the University's brand further on the world map of medical education.
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