Dr. Stephen McCord (University of California, Davis): Van Lang University Has a High-Quality Research Team Ready to Embrace Challenges

With the goal of strengthening research collaboration between Van Lang University and leading international experts, from February 3 to March 12, 2025, the University had the honor of welcoming Dr. Stephen McCord - Research Associate at the University of California, Davis (UC Davis) - for a working visit under the Fulbright Specialist Program.

During his 40-day working trip at Van Lang University, Dr. Stephen McCord collaborated with VLU lecturers and researchers on practical scientific studies focused on the Mekong Delta region. He also served as a keynote speaker at a series of seminars and workshops developed and organized by the Institute of Computational Science and Artificial Intelligence (COSARI), based on existing partnerships with the University of California, Davis (USA). In a reflective conversation with VLU, Dr. McCord expressed his appreciation for the University’s dynamic academic environment and the creative mindset of its faculty and students. He also shared his hopes for further opportunities in international collaboration with Van Lang University in the future.

Hello Dr. McCord, it’s truly an honor to speak with you. We hope your time in Vietnam has been both fruitful and memorable. In this interview, we’d like to ask you about your work at Van Lang University (VLU), your impressions of our Institutes, Faculties, and students, and finally, your thoughts on potential future collaborations with VLU.

During your 40-day tenure at VLU, what work have you accomplished? Do you feel that your efforts have met your expectations and the objectives of the Fulbright Specialist Program?

TS. McCord: The Specialist Program that I’m involved with is meant to be short-term, but the beginning of something bigger, to form collaborations. Before I came, we set out a clear agenda for the areas I wanted to work in. We worked on a big proposal for rice research in the Mekong Delta; one to work on several papers - we worked on about four different papers I reviewed; and giving some seminars - I gave three with the department and one more with the students here. We also went on a field trip. We went down near the coast in the Mekong Delta. It’s been successful, and I was staying busy the whole time. I got to work with many different researchers. I learned, also - it’s not my research, it’s someone else’s - so I learned as I read and reviewed. It’s been a good learning experience.

We understand that you have engaged in in-depth academic discussions with the Environmental Lab at VLU’s COSARI Institute. In your view, what are the lab’s strengths and challenges in developing into a leading research facility in the region?

TS. McCord: I appreciate that the team is very dedicated. There’s many researchers who are all qualified. Many of the top researchers have studied internationally like Ho Chi Minh himself and brought it back here and they’re working internationally, so they have a broad perspective and a lot of technical skills. I’m also impressed that they’re not afraid to take on big challenges. That’s probably a key aspect for researchers to take a very complicated situation in the Environment as a work and research area. It’s very complicated, so some people are overwhelmed, but this group is taking the challenge. They’re doing good research using high quality tools that are used around the world and answering difficult questions. 

I think one area I was suggesting just this morning was doing more collaborations. They’re already doing some, but they’re working in a place like the Mekong Delta. You have many districts, provinces and countries. You also have different aspects to the problems: from sea-level rise, flooding, contamination… so it takes a lot of people to work together. That’s something the institute is already doing and the leaders are involved with collaborations, committees and government agencies, so I see that happening.

During your time working at VLU, what impression did Van Lang students leave on you?

TS. McCord:  I’m living nearby and there are students everywhere around here and on campus. I walk around and interact casually with students that way.

Last night, I did a workshop. There were around 20 students, so that was a 2-hour workshop with a number of students and that was wonderful. I’m really impressed with the students here. I’m really impressed with the energy and the enthusiasm. Everyone seems to be working hard and wanting to be a better person and a better student. I certainly see that here and feel that.

Before coming to VLU under the Fulbright Specialist Program, what had you heard about our university, and how did you envision its reputation?

TS. McCord: The first time with the application process for the Fulbright Specialist Program. Then I looked for more information online, since that's a little bit easier these days.

I didn't know the researchers, but the world of 8 billion people is still actually small. We find similar connections. We have a saying in The US that everyone is connected through 7 people, 7 degrees of separation. In the work world, it’s even much less. I know some of the same people that the researchers here do. It’s a small world that way. So that’s been fun getting to know Van Lang University (or VLU as you call it) through these researchers and experiencing that.

I didn’t know the University was so big - 45 thousand students and is a private university. In the US, we also have both private and public universities. I think the US universities have many international students, maybe half the students at the universities are from far away. Here, they’re developing that growing area. There’s more international students studying here and more VLU students studying somewhere else, those exchanges are useful for everyone.
 

In 2025, VLU was ranked among the top 500 universities in Asia by QS (Quacquarelli Symonds), and soon, fields like Art & Design will also be ranked in the global top 100–150. VLU is making great strides toward becoming one of the most admired young universities in Asia. In your field - research on water resources and related factors - where do you think VLU currently stands, and what steps can we take to further our development?

TS. McCord: In my short time here, I worked on about 5 papers, so the researchers at VLU are very productive. That’s a good way of getting the message out, because people see a publication on a useful topic, the researchers and the affiliation - Van Lang University, so the university is building its own reputation.

The institute is working with a lot of computer models and artificial intelligence. That’s the trend - to use simulation models and artificial intelligence tools to get better predictive ability. The work that they’re doing is cutting edge. No other country has a major advantage over Vietnam or VLU, because it’s new for everyone.

Beyond academic collaboration, what has been the most memorable or unexpected part of your experience at VLU and in Vietnam?

TS. McCord: I heard good things about Vietnam before coming. People said it’s beautiful, it’s a nice place, and everyone's friendly and it has now been confirmed for me. When I go back, I’ll share with people how nice the Vietnamese are. Everyone is busy working and trying to be better. I feel the progress and the positive direction of the country and the university. You can see the growing buildings on campus, so it’s getting bigger and going for high quality. The university is not just doing more to spend time and money, it’s doing high-quality work. I really appreciate that. 

One of the key outcomes of this program is laying the foundation for collaboration between VLU and the University of California, Davis. Could you share some initial insights into this partnership?

TS. McCord: A good beginning is often with students, so some of the workers, the researchers and the departments are looking for opportunities for them to continue study at UC, Davis. There’s also the US Government and California State Government have programs to encourage international collaborations. The University of California, Davis has a global affairs program, so there’s staff whose job is to encourage and facilitate more collaboration. I talked to them before I came, and when I go back I’ll meet and give a presentation and we’ll identify specific professors that would be interested. So there are a lot of possibilities. Maybe I’ll come back with a small team to meet Professors to Professors and meet students in the future. 

On behalf of Van Lang University, we sincerely thank Dr. McCord for his valuable contributions during his time working with us. We are delighted to know that this visit has also brought him a meaningful and enriching experience in research and learning. We wish Dr. McCord good health and continued success in his endeavors, and we hope to welcome him again in future international collaboration programs.

News: Fenix Nguyen
Photos: VLU Communication Team