DNC - On June 6, 2025, Nam Can Tho University (DNC) welcomed a delegation from Wonkwang University of Health Science (South Korea) to implement a training program on the use of virtual reality (VR) technology in the healthcare sector for faculty and staff of the Faculty of Medicine. During the visit, both institutions also discussed the development orientation of future training programs applying VR technology for students.

Visiting facilities – a foundation for high-tech collaboration:

The Wonkwang University delegation visits the DNC Institute of Health Sciences. (Photo: DNC Studio)

To kick off the program, the Wonkwang University delegation visited the DNC Institute of Health Sciences, a key unit in training health-related disciplines at the university. There, the delegation was introduced to the facilities supporting medical simulation training, including the pre-clinical hospital, the skills training center with modern operating rooms, and specialized teaching models.

After the field visit, the Wonkwang University delegation acknowledged and highly appreciated the potential of Nam Can Tho University in applying VR technology to medical training, particularly the readiness of technical infrastructure, simulation spaces, and the professional expertise of the staff.

The delegation visited specialized teaching models such as Laerdal and Syndaver. (Photo: DNC Studio)

Working session orientation: Collaboration to implement a VR-based training program.

At the Yersin meeting room of the Institute of Health Sciences, both sides held an in-depth working session and discussion on the orientation for developing a VR-based training program in medical education.

Representing Nam Can Tho University, the session was attended by:

• Associate Professor, Dr. Phillip Tran – Director of the DNC Institute of Health Sciences, Chairman of the DNC International Medical Academic Council
• Representatives from the International Cooperation Board, Faculty of International Medicine, Faculty of Nursing, Faculty of Dentistry, Preclinical Hospital & Medical Skills Training Center, and other esteemed faculty members.

Representing Wonkwang University, the delegation included:

• Mr. Lee Hee-Seok – Executive Director, and Mr. Heo Woo-Seok – Manager at VRAD, an organization focused on developing virtual reality simulations for medical training, featuring highly interactive clinical scenarios supporting various specialties such as nursing, emergency care, and surgery.
• Mr. Kwon Woo-Hyuk – Executive Director of Bluebeaker, an educational technology organization specializing in building VR/XR software platforms tailored for medical training, optimized for specific curricula.
• Mr. Lee Jeong-In – Head of Department at Wonkwang University Hospital, a leading medical and training center in South Korea, pioneering the application of VR in medical skills training and quality assurance in education.

Both sides agreed on the orientation to implement medical training programs utilizing virtual reality technology, initially focusing on the field of nursing—a discipline requiring high levels of practical training and frequent clinical simulations. The collaboration will also expand toward other high-skill disciplines such as Medicine, Dentistry, and Nursing.

Practical Training Session: Experiencing Virtual Reality Technology for Faculty Members

In the afternoon of the same day, the Wonkwang University delegation organized a training program on the use of virtual reality (VR) equipment and software for faculty and staff of the Faculty of Medicine and Nursing at Nam Can Tho University. The training focused on hands-on practice with virtual patient models, allowing faculty members to directly experience advanced clinical simulation technologies.

Notably, the introduced VR system supports the Vietnamese language, enabling effective implementation in Vietnam’s medical training environment, while offering flexible applications across various medical specialties.

Potential for Innovating Medical Training with VR Technology

The application of VR technology in medical training not only allows students to access clinical environments safely and intuitively but also enhances practical skills, standardizes competencies, and boosts confidence before entering real-world clinical settings. The ability to repeat scenarios and learn from mistakes in a simulated environment significantly improves learning efficiency and the quality of educational outcomes.

The meeting featured the presence and contributions of Associate Professor, Dr. Phillip Tran. (Photo: DNC Studio)

In the context of Vietnam’s medical education sector actively promoting digital transformation and the adoption of advanced technology, Nam Can Tho University’s proactive engagement and collaboration with international partners such as Wonkwang University, VRAD, and Bluebeaker represent a strategic step toward innovating teaching content and methods, gradually elevating the quality of training to international standards.