November 18  - 19,  2010, the KAAD Conference on “World of Learning – World of Living”: The role of Science and Education in Modern World” was held at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Ho Chi Minh City (USSH). Once again it became evident of how much importance Vietnamese universities attach to consultation and collaboration with German institutions as far as educational reforms are concerned.

The meeting was part of the celebration of 35 years of diplomatic relations between Germany and Vietnam. This is why the conference attracted many people from both sides – sometimes there were more than 200 people in the auditory. Guests of Honour like the German Consul General, the Head of Goethe-Institute in Ho Chi Minh City and the DAAD Information Centre  and various leading personalities of the USSH attended the meeting as well as a group of Korean KAAD alumni. Since 1993 KAAD has supported about 90 Vietnamese scientists - the invitation to the KAAD conference giving them the opportunity to reunite and exchange ideas within a intercultural context.

Lectures and workshops dealt with lifelong-learning (Prof. Dr. Ok Bun Lee), relations between technical and social sciences and even the position of ethics as an academic discipline within modern societies. Another issue was the international academic exchange in the context  of the actual German-Vietnamese relationship – thus showing its cultural dimension (Dr. Hermann Weber). The issue of the “academic culture” of a country within the framework of globalisation of science and science market (Prof. Dr. Gerhard Maas) was object to an intense discussion. 

Ngyuen Thien Nham, Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Education since 2006 and educated in Germany as well, announced an “educational campaign”. KAAD is happy having discussed questions related to this campaign during the Conference.