The International Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Data Science (Dong A University) is honored to announce that Researcher – Institute Director Tran Kim Duc has officially been awarded the doctoral degree by the University of Lille (Université de Lille, French Republic) through the VAE – Validation des Acquis de l’Expérience mechanism.

This marks an important milestone for the Vietnamese scientific community, recognizing more than a decade of his continuous contributions in artificial intelligence, applied statistics, and technology transfer.

1. VAE – A unique experiential recognition mechanism of the French education system

Validation des Acquis de l’Expérience (VAE) is a distinctive mechanism of France’s educational system, allowing the assessment and official recognition of professional achievements, research outputs, and scientific contributions when they demonstrate equivalence to a traditional doctoral dissertation.

Unlike many other educational systems, France considers scientific work outputs - publications, algorithms, models, implemented projects, and research experience - as genuine academic value. The VAE evaluation is conducted rigorously, ethically, and with a strong humanistic spirit.

2. A scientific journey acknowledged by the VAE Committee

According to the Scientific Council of the University of Lille, Researcher Tran Kim Duc submitted an exceptionally strong academic dossier, including:

• Over 10 years of research in AI and applied statistics;
• More than 30 international publications in reputable journals and conferences;
• Numerous proposed algorithms and models in SPC, Machine Learning, Federated Learning, Blockchain, and Reliability;
• Participation in, leadership of, or contribution to various projects on smart manufacturing and smart healthcare;
• Significant contributions to building the International Research Institute for AI & DS, at Dong A University;
• Teaching, supervision, and research coordination at ENSAIT/GEMTEX – Université de Lille.

The Committee affirmed that the totality of these contributions is equivalent in structure and academic value to a complete international-standard doctoral dissertation.

3. A multi-layer academic foundation

His qualifications and experience form a solid scientific foundation:

• Engineering degree: shaping mathematical thinking, modeling, data processing, and systems thinking;
• BA & MBA: strengthening management mindset, risk assessment, and technological strategy;
• Research and teaching experience: contributing to international publications, algorithm development, student supervision, and project implementation.

It is the synergy of these three academic layers that made the VAE pathway the most appropriate and precise choice.

4. Gratitude to institutions and the scientific community

Researcher Tran Kim Duc is profoundly grateful to his family, whose unwavering support has sustained every step of his journey: his wife Thi Diem Doan, who cared for their children during his time in France; his father Kim Mot Tran, whose lifelong philosophy shaped his scientific thinking; his mother Thi Lan Phan, whose resilience has continually inspired him; and his brother Kim Phuc Tran, who has guided and encouraged him since childhood.

He extends his sincere appreciation to Dong A University, especially Rector Nguyen Thi Anh Dao and President Luong Minh Sam, for entrusting him with the establishment of the AI & Data Science Research Institute, for supporting the supervision of young researchers such as Hoang Nguyen Le, Long Hai Le, and Tran Viet Hieu, and for fostering the expansion of the International Chair in DS & XAI.

He is equally indebted to ENSAIT – GEMTEX – Université de Lille, his academic home in France, and to the distinguished professors whose mentorship has shaped his scientific trajectory, including Cédric Heuchenne, Xianyi Zeng, Ludovic Koehl, Bruno Agard, Hongmei He, Sébastien Thomassey, Narayanaswamy Balakrishnan, Abdessamad Kobi, Frédéric Vanderhaegen, Slim Hammadi, Damien Soulat, Michael Khoo Boon Chong, Giovanni Celano, Pascal Bruniaux, Thi Le Hoa Vo, Arne Johannssen, Sidharta Gautama, Jaafar Gaber, Laëtitia Roux, Khanh Nguyen, and Guillaume Tartare.

He also expresses heartfelt thanks to his colleagues and friends—among them Nguyen Thi Phuong Khanh, Nguyen Dac Hieu, Tran Viet Hieu, Luong Nguyen Anh, Luong Minh Anh, Nguyen Le Hoang, Nguyen Tho, Nguyen Thi Luc, Ngo Van Uc, Le Long Hai, Nguyen Thi Thuy Van, Do Thu Ha, Ta Phuong Bac, Nguyen Quoc Thong, and Nguyen Thi Hien—as well as many other collaborators within and beyond Vietnam, whose companionship, expertise, and encouragement have been indispensable throughout his long scientific journey.

For him, this recognition marks not only the culmination of a mature research path but also the beginning of a renewed commitment to advancing human-centered AI and strengthening Franco–Vietnamese scientific cooperation in the years ahead.

Notably, during the period when his entire family was infected with COVID-19, he was simultaneously revising the manuscript of “The Shewhart-type RZ control chart for monitoring the ratio of autocorrelated variables.” By chance, he detected several anomalies in the reported results and initiated a series of intensive verification steps to identify their source. This led to multiple rounds of rigorous academic discussions with the co-authors, each conducting independent checks from different angles. Among these, the most extensive exchanges were with Nguyen Huu Du and Adel. Ultimately, he was the one who pinpointed the underlying issue after proposing the specific direction of inspection that guided the team toward the final resolution.

5. Opening a New Chapter for France–Vietnam Scientific Cooperation
The recognition of the PhD degree via the VAE pathway marks the conclusion of an important journey and the beginning of a new stage, in which Tran Kim Duc will continue to:

• Strengthen France - Vietnam scientific collaboration;
• Train and support the next generation of researchers;
• Develop high-impact, application-oriented AI research.

The International Research Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Data Science – Dong A University extends its sincere congratulations and appreciation to PhD Tran Kim Duc for his valuable contributions to both the national and international scientific communities.