The objective of this IUCis to harness the partner university for its societal role as driver for progress in the province and the country. The programme represents the 2^nd phase of the IUC with Hué University. In line with the evaluation and recommendations of the 1ste phase, the 2^nd phase articulates the consolidation of achieved progress, sustainability of initiated change, and the valorisation and expansion of achieved and envisaged impact.

The focus of the programme remains creating an enabling environment for research-based education and strengthen the institutional capabilities. The structure of the constituent projects proved valid and thus remains unchanged: one transversal project and three thematic projects. Project 1 aims at transversal institutional strengthening on 3 aspects: university management, quality insurance and research-based curricular development. The three thematic projects focus on important issues in development of the region and country: aquaculture and crop production (P2), ecosystem management (P3) and rural health care development (P4).