On the morning of August 28, National Economics University (NEU), in collaboration with the Vietnam Institute for Advanced Study in Mathematics (VIASM), organized the Fourth Scientific Conference of the Vietnam Operations Research Network (VORN 2024). The conference will take place over two days, August 28–29, at NEU.

An overview of the conference

Representing the Vietnam Institute for Advanced Study in Mathematics (VIASM) at the conference was Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Minh Ha, Managing Director. Representing NEU was Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Hieu, Vice President, alongside representatives of the leadership of its constituent colleges, departments, faculties, institutes and centers, as well as experts, scientists, and faculty and staff from within and outside the University.

Alongside artificial intelligence and data science, operations research is one of the core tools driving breakthroughs in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Operations research plays an important role in decision-making in everyday life and in businesses’ production activities, helping organizations optimize various tasks and costs.

In Vietnam, the Government has issued the “National Strategy for Research, Development and Application of Mathematics for 2021–2030,” with the aim of gradually applying operations research and mathematical and technological tools to solve real-world problems.

Against this backdrop, the Fourth Scientific Conference of the Vietnam Operations Research Network was organized to provide a forum where scientists could discuss methods for solving important operations research problems related to supply chain management, finance, economics and e-commerce, focusing on fundamentals, the development of theoretical techniques and their applications in economic networks.

The conference aims to raise public awareness of the importance of operations research, in support of the National Program for the Development of Mathematics for 2021–2030.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Hieu, Vice President of NEU, delivers remarks.

Speaking at the conference, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Hieu, Vice President of NEU, said that in a rapidly changing world, operations research is increasingly demonstrating its important role in optimizing systems, processes and decisions, helping reduce costs and improve operational efficiency at businesses and social organizations. In doing so, it contributes to sustainable development and enhances the economy’s competitiveness.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Hieu expressed confidence that the content and outcomes of the Fourth Scientific Conference of the Vietnam Operations Research Network would provide a major source of inspiration for continued research, innovation and the application of operations research across various fields.

According to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Hieu, NEU recognizes the importance of mathematics in general and operations research in particular and consistently seeks to promote their applications, especially in fields related to business and economics. This year, NEU established the College of Technology, with mathematics-related faculties serving as its pillars and foundation: the Faculty of Mathematical Economics, the Faculty of Statistics and the Faculty of Fundamental Sciences. These faculties all have long traditions and have trained many cohorts of students who have been well received in the labor market and contributed to overall socioeconomic development. In recent years, NEU has also attracted a large number of lecturers with strong expertise in mathematics-related fields, including operations research.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Minh Ha, Managing Director of the Vietnam Institute for Advanced Study in Mathematics, speaks at the conference.

The Vietnam Operations Research Network (VORN) was established in 2020 and operates under the auspices of the Vietnam Institute for Advanced Study in Mathematics (VIASM).

Speaking at the conference, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Minh Ha, Managing Director of the Vietnam Institute for Advanced Study in Mathematics, said that the Institute’s central role and mission are to support mathematics research in Vietnam, including both theoretical research and applied research areas, and to coordinate the National Program for the Development of Mathematics. Operations research is one of the research fields emphasized and given focused support under the program.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Minh Ha expressed hope that the Vietnam Institute for Advanced Study in Mathematics and NEU would pursue further collaboration in operations research and other fields in the future.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Hieu, Vice President of NEU, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Minh Ha, Managing Director of the Vietnam Institute for Advanced Study in Mathematics, present gifts and pose for a commemorative photo with the conference speakers.

Since its establishment in late 2020, the Vietnam Operations Research Network has regularly organized an annual conference alongside a summer school that attracts students from universities across the country to study operations research.

In previous years, the Scientific Conference of the Vietnam Operations Research Network was held at the Vietnam Institute for Advanced Study in Mathematics (2021), International University, Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City (2022), and the University of Science, Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City (2023).

In 2024, the event is being held at NEU and the Vietnam Institute for Advanced Study in Mathematics, with two activities taking place over four days: the annual conference on August 28 and 29, and the summer school on operations research on August 30 and 31.

Conference delegates pose for a commemorative group photo

According to a representative of the Organizing Committee, this year’s summer school has attracted nearly 200 students, while the conference has attracted approximately 100 delegates. Conference participants include lecturers and researchers from universities in Vietnam and abroad, including the United States, Hong Kong (China), Singapore and France.

A new feature of this year’s conference is its emphasis on encouraging and enabling young researchers to learn and develop. In previous years, the Organizing Committee invited presenters individually. This year, however, the Organizing Committee will accept submissions from authors, and the papers will undergo a round of peer review conducted by a number of respected experts in the field.

At VORN 2024, 27 papers have been accepted for presentation at the conference. Nearly half of these studies address operational optimization in supply chains and logistics, while the remainder explore applications of operations research in economics, business and social networks…

Additional photos from the conference:

Article and photos: Department of Communications

News agencies and media outlets reporting on the conferences:

People’s Deputies Newspaper: NEU Seeks to Promote Applications of Mathematics and Operations Research in Education

Communist Party of Vietnam: 2024 Annual Conference of the Vietnam Operations Research Network

Business Forum: Operations Research Improves Operational Efficiency at Businesses

This is an automated translation. If you notice any errors, please contact the Department of Communications, National Economics University at phongtruyenthong@neu.edu.vn.