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"Students, don't look for innovative methods somewhere or from someone, look for them within yourself."
The above lesson was emphasized by Professor Michael I. Kotlikoff, President of Cornell University (USA) at a sharing session with experts and students of VinUni University on the topic "Innovation to solve major challenges" on February 7.
Professor Micheal I. Kotlikoff shared on February 7.
VinUni is similar to Cornell University
On his first visit to Vietnam, Professor Michael I. Kotlikoff was impressed with the facilities and learning environment at VinUni. He assessed that Cornell University and VinUni have many similarities in terms of goals, development orientation, and scientific research.
When it was first established, Cornell University was a private university. The school had a completely different goal from the famous private universities at that time. Instead of focusing on training young leaders and attracting money from the rich, the school determined to become a new university model, focusing on research closely linked to real life.
“Sir Ezra Cornell - the founder of Cornell University, was a farmer and later an inventor. Therefore, he had a perspective ahead of his time, determining the right direction of science associated with life, which has been true since 1856 - the school is in the top 20 best educational institutions in the world.
Since its inception, the school has focused on basic science programs, expanding its mission, promoting exploration in the fields of Physics, Chemistry, Engineering, Agriculture, Economics…”, said Professor Michael I. Kotlikoff. These fields and majors are difficult to find at research schools in the Ivy League.
The school is always committed to providing equal opportunities in admission, training and research according to the European university model.
Mr. Ezra Cornell and Andrew Dixon White (the first president of the United States) once emphasized that Cornell University would accept all capable students, regardless of whether they come from rural areas, difficult circumstances, or are foreigners, immigrants, people of color... "anyone can study and research at Cornell". One of Cornell's strategies for developing global connections is to welcome international students, creating a multicultural and multiethnic environment.
Overview of the sharing session
Innovation Lessons from Cornell
Attending the lecture, many people asked the President of Cornell University about innovative and creative solutions to humanity's great challenges.
Professor Michael I. Kotlikoff believes that the world today has many large, complex challenges that require expertise from many fields, as well as support from outside. Lessons from Cornell, universities need to gather many groups of experts who have a strong impact on society, together changing humanity. Today, our biggest challenges are not only technical but also social, medical, policy, climate change, AI...
In the current context, the fact that schools are moving towards multidisciplinary training will bring extremely urgent benefits, solving the most important challenges of society. This is also the direction of Cornell University.
Sharing advice with Vietnamese experts and students, Professor Michael I. Kotlikoff emphasized that the first thing in innovation and creativity is passion. “We need to always maintain passion, a desire to learn, and curiosity. In the past, whenever I wondered about something, I would write the question and post it on the wall. Every time I saw that question, it would urge me to find the answer. Students are the same, don't look for methods of innovation and creativity somewhere, or from someone, but find it within yourself. Your passion and knowledge accumulated through the process of research and study are the answers.”
The principal also advised universities in Vietnam to create more opportunities for students, “the more the better”. By allowing students to express their ideas, schools will play a connecting and guiding role, always providing students with opportunities to access all fields and professions.
He gave 3 lessons to help students always have a spirit of innovation and creativity.
Lesson 1, schools always have an environment and experts for students to access and learn information, work, and listen to the right advice.
Lesson 2: In the process of training students, schools always need the participation of companies and businesses. They will be sponsors and also sources of information about labor market needs, thereby helping students come up with projects and ideas to solve practical problems.
Lesson 3, always create opportunities for students to express their ideas and they should be bold in expressing their thoughts and opinions. When their ideas are really good, the school will support them in finding many sources of funding. All students in the world are equal in the opportunity to develop.
As a strategic partner of VinUni, Cornell University participates in consulting, developing and evaluating training programs, recruiting lecturers at VinUni, and building an admissions process according to best admissions practices, supporting VinUni students to have opportunities to study and experience at Cornell University.
In 2021, VinUni and Cornell University signed a cooperation agreement to implement an integrated bachelor's and master's training program 3+2, 4+1 for students of the School of Engineering & Computer Science and the School of Business Administration.
With the 3+2 program, students study 3 years at VinUni and the next 2 years at Cornell University. With the 4+1 program, students study 4 years at VinUni and 1 year at Cornell University. Upon graduation, students will receive a bachelor's degree from VinUni and a master's degree from Cornell University.
According to VTC
