During the visit of the First Mayor of Hamburg, HCMUT and KLU sign a Letter of Intent for cooperation

Attending the program were Ms Andrea Maria Sühl, Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany in Ho Chi Minh City; Professor Dr Mai Thanh Phong, President of HCMUT; Professor Dr Andreas Kaplan, President of KLU; Dr Trinh Viet Dung, Campus Director Asia of KLU; Dr Duong Nhu Hung, Dean of the Faculty of Industrial Management, together with representatives of relevant units of both universities and the Hamburg delegation.

Towards expanding educational cooperation

Within the framework of the visit, Professor Dr Mai Thanh Phong, President of HCMUT, and Professor Dr Andreas Kaplan, President of KLU, signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) on behalf of the two universities. The document expresses the intention to jointly explore the possibility of developing a 2+2 transfer pathway in the field of business administration. 

The proposed pathway is intended for students of Industrial Management and Business Administration at HCMUT, with the first stage in Ho Chi Minh City and the subsequent stage at KLU Hamburg. Credit recognition, duration of study, transfer conditions and the possibility of awarding a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree by KLU remain subject to program comparison results and the necessary approvals. The two universities may also consider developing a double-degree program in the longer term under separate agreements.

This cooperation builds on the existing Master of Science in Global Logistics and Supply Chain Management program jointly delivered by HCMUT and KLU since 2025, with the master’s degree awarded by KLU. The program currently has two cohorts recruited in 2025 and 2026, combining international expertise from KLU faculty with practical insights from the HCMUT team. Students have the option to undertake an exchange semester at KLU Hamburg.

Hamburgs First Mayor Dr. Peter Tschentscher: “Both Vietnam and Germany require skilled professionals and well-trained managers to ensure efficient logistics. Kühne Logistics University KLU and Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology HCMUT are addressing this need through a joint Master’s program in Logistics and Supply Chain Management. Now, they intend to expand their academic collaboration. The Hamburg Senate supports international partnerships between Hamburg-based companies and our universities. I wish KLU, HCMUT, and their international students great success in bringing together logistics expertise from Germany and Vietnam!”

Speaking at the signing of the Letter of Intent, Prof Dr Andreas Kaplan, President of Kühne Logistics University, said: ”Our goal is brain gain, not brain drain. First and foremost, KLU Saigon is about developing talent and strengthening expertise across Vietnam and Southeast Asia. Global education must create local impact. That is why we have partnered with HCMUT, one of Vietnam’s leading universities and a natural fit in both ambition and outlook. Together, we combine our strengths, share knowledge, and create opportunities across the region.

Of course, our presence in Vietnam also encourages more Asian students to come to Hamburg, some of whom choose to build their careers in Germany. And that is great! At the same time, KLU Saigon attracts European students to Vietnam. International education is not a one-way street. This two-way exchange benefits both regions and contributes to an open, international, and multicultural society. We are grateful to HCMUT for making this partnership such a success and look forward to achieving even more together.”

Connecting two logistics hubs and academic networks

The visit program combined a high-level exchange between the First Mayor of Hamburg and representatives of HCMUT and KLU with academic cooperation briefings for other members of the delegation. The delegation subsequently toured the teaching facilities, learned about the learning environment and met students of the joint master’s program.

Hamburg and Ho Chi Minh City both play important roles in international trade, logistics and supply chain connectivity. Building on the existing educational partnership, HCMUT and KLU discussed potential research and academic exchange in the areas of sustainable supply chains, digital transformation and enhancing the resilience of logistics systems. New directions for cooperation will require further discussion and mutual agreement between the two sides.

For KLU, the partnership with HCMUT constitutes a foundation for its strategy to develop its presence in Asia, linking the Hamburg Campus and the Saigon Campus with networks of academic and business partners in the region. Through education, research and student exchange, the two universities aim to contribute to human resource development and strengthen knowledge connections between Vietnam, Germany and Asia.

About Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology – Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (HCMUT), a member of Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City, is a leading public higher education institution in Vietnam in the fields of engineering and technology. Keeping pace with the global internationalization of higher education, HCMUT focuses on building an advanced training ecosystem with English-taught program, international transfer pathways and study-abroad-at-home options to supply high-quality, internationally integrated human resources. As science, technology and innovation are identified as new growth drivers for Vietnam, HCMUT continues to play a leading role in excellent education, research and technology transfer in key engineering fields and strategic technologies that have been the university’s strengths over nearly seven decades of development.

About Kühne Logistics University (KLU)
Kühne Logistics University is a state-recognised private university in Germany, headquartered in Hamburg and AACSB-accredited. KLU provides education and research in management, logistics, operations and supply chain management, with a strategic focus on expanding its international education and research network in Asia.