Neslihan Alp, Ph.D., Dean of the College of Engineering, Technology, and Management at Oregon Tech, participated in the Oregon–Vietnam Bilateral Dialogue held on March 27, 2026, in San Francisco. The meeting brought together leaders from the State of Oregon and a high-level Vietnamese delegation led by His Excellency Nguyen Hoa Binh, Deputy Prime Minister of Vietnam.
The event, organized by the Consulate General of Vietnam in San Francisco and coordinated by the Office of Oregon State Representative Daniel Nguyen, focused on strengthening economic, educational, and innovation partnerships between Oregon and Vietnam. The Vietnamese delegation included senior leaders from the Vietnamese government, including representatives from the Ministry of Finance, State Bank of Vietnam, Ministry of Justice, and the governments of Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang.
During the meeting, Alp highlighted Oregon’s higher education ecosystem and the critical role universities play in supporting innovation, entrepreneurship, and workforce development. She emphasized the importance of STEM education in preparing the next generation of engineers and technologists, particularly in areas such as artificial intelligence, semiconductors, advanced manufacturing, clean energy, and cybersecurity.
Alp also discussed Oregon Tech’s unique polytechnic model, which focuses on hands-on learning, strong industry partnerships, and applied research. She highlighted several of Oregon Tech’s distinctive academic programs, including Renewable Energy Engineering, Geomatics, Cybersecurity, and the university’s new Bachelor of Science program in Artificial Intelligence. She also noted emerging opportunities in Uncrewed Aerial Systems and advanced manufacturing education.
The dialogue reinforced the strong and growing relationship between Oregon and Vietnam. As Vietnam continues to expand its technology and innovation sectors, partnerships with Oregon’s universities and industry leaders offer opportunities for collaboration in workforce development, research, and startup ecosystems.
The Oregon delegation included leaders from government, industry, agriculture, and innovation organizations, including representatives from the Office of Governor Tina Kotek, Intel, Plug and Play Tech Center, the Oregon Department of Agriculture, and the Oregon Container Terminal.
The meeting concluded with a commitment from both sides to continue building partnerships in higher education, advanced technology, and economic development. Strengthening educational collaboration and STEM talent development will play an important role in supporting Vietnam’s goal of training tens of thousands of engineers while expanding opportunities for Oregon students and institutions to engage globally.
