The Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto (ISEP) hosted last week a visit from lecturer and researcher Tung Pham Xuan, from the University of Science and Technology of Hanoi (USTH), Vietnam.

As part of an internationalisation initiative, Professor Tung collaborated with the Autonomous Systems Laboratory (LSA), where he taught a course unit in the Master’s in Electrical and Computer Engineering (MEEC), within the Autonomous Systems specialisation.

According to the lecturer and researcher, this cooperation enabled knowledge exchange with students and the discussion of research ideas. He described it as a particularly valuable experience, as it strengthened both academic ties and practical research collaborations.

He noted that “even in a short period, I believe such exchanges can open the door to meaningful joint projects and future student engagement. International collaboration is very important because it connects people, ideas, and expertise. It benefits lecturers through research partnerships and benefits students by providing broader academic and cultural perspectives.”

Tung Xuan described ISEP as a modern, well-organised and academically active institution, with a strong commitment to engineering education and applied research. He highlighted the quality of the school’s laboratories and its close connection with industry.

He also stated that he “would certainly be happy to return in the future, whether for research collaboration, academic exchange or joint educational activities. I would also gladly recommend ISEP to my colleagues, as I believe it is an excellent institution with a strong academic environment and a very welcoming international spirit.”

Tung Pham Xuan works at USTH, where he is involved in teaching, research and academic development. His field of study is Control Systems, and his work focuses on the development of unmanned vehicles, with a particular interest in how scientific and technological innovations can be applied to solve real-world problems.

He explained that “the impact of this work is visible in several areas, including improving efficiency, enhancing system intelligence, supporting industrial development and training future engineers and researchers. I enjoy exploring new ideas, working with students and colleagues, and seeing how research can lead to practical applications and long-term academic growth.”

Visiting Portugal for the first time, he said: “I was truly impressed by the country from the moment I arrived. I found Portugal to be a very beautiful, peaceful and welcoming place, with a rich culture and a strong sense of history. What I appreciated most was the friendliness and openness of the people. During my stay, I felt very comfortable and well received, which made the whole experience enjoyable and memorable. For me, it was not just a professional trip, but also a valuable cultural experience.”