How can Mathematics and Physics truly become a solid foundation for engineering students? This question is becoming increasingly significant in the context of practice-oriented and technology-driven education.

To explore this question, the Faculty of Fundamental Science, Industrial University of Ho Chi Minh City (IUH), organized the seminar titled "The Current State of Teaching and Learning Basic Sciences for Engineering Students" on the morning of April 16, attracting a large number of lecturers, scientists, and experts.
 

Representing the University, Dr. Ngô Ngọc Hưng, Dean of the Faculty of Fundamental Science (far left), and Dr. Nguyễn Trung Nhân, Head of the Office of Academic Affairs, presented flowers in appreciation to the keynote speakers and presenters at the seminar.
 

Attending the seminar on behalf of IUH were Dr. Ngô Ngọc Hưng, Dean of the Faculty of Fundamental Science; Dr. Nguyễn Trung Nhân, Head of the Office of Academic Affairs; and leaders from various faculties and departments. The event also welcomed many experts from universities specializing in Mathematics and Physics.

As engineering education becomes increasingly connected to real-world applications and technological advancement, foundational sciences such as Mathematics and Physics remain core pillars. However, the issue is no longer simply whether these subjects are taught, but how they are taught so that students can apply them effectively.

At the seminar, five presentations focused on analyzing the current situation and proposing solutions to improve the effectiveness of teaching and learning in basic sciences across engineering disciplines.

Opening the program, the report “The Structure of Basic Science Courses and Emerging Issues” by Dr. Nguyễn Đức Phương (Industrial University of Ho Chi Minh City) pointed out:
“When benchmarked against major engineering institutions in Vietnam and internationally, the structure of Mathematics and Physics modules at IUH still has areas that should be further refined to better maximize their foundational role in engineering education.”
 

Dr. Nguyễn Đức Phương (Industrial University of Ho Chi Minh City) is presenting his report at the seminar.
 

From a teaching perspective, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Đinh Công Hướng (Industrial University of Ho Chi Minh City), in his presentation “Effective Solutions for Applying Basic Sciences in Selected Engineering Fields”, emphasized:
“Mathematics and Physics are present in almost every area of engineering. If students do not master these subjects, pursuing the discipline will become much more challenging. This is not only a matter of knowledge, but also of proper orientation from the very beginning.”

 

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Đinh Công Hướng (Industrial University of Ho Chi Minh City) is presenting at the seminar.
 

Providing further insights from practical training experiences, Dr. Lý Anh Tú (Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology), with the presentation “The Position and Role of General Physics in Modern Higher Education: Challenges and Directions for Innovation”, analyzed the demands for renewing both content and teaching methods of this subject in today’s context.

 
Dr. Lý Anh Tú (Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology) is presenting at the seminar.
 

Notably, Prof. Dr. Sc. Đỗ Đức Thái (Hanoi National University of Education), a mathematics expert and chief editor of the 2018 General Education Curriculum for Mathematics, shared in his presentation “Teaching Mathematics for Engineering Programs in the Country’s New Context” an illustrative comparison:
“Mathematics is the silent backbone of engineering disciplines because it reaches into every corner.”
According to him, teaching Mathematics to engineering students should be tailored to specific disciplinary groups and focus on developing modeling competencies, a key factor in transforming academic knowledge into practical problem-solving tools.

 
Prof. Dr. Sc. Đỗ Đức Thái (Hanoi National University of Education) is presenting at the seminar.
 

From another perspective, Dr. Phạm Văn Hiển (Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Education), in his presentation “Teaching Mathematics as Teaching the Language of Science”, stated that teaching Mathematics is not merely about formulas, but about teaching students how to approach and use the “language of science”, the foundation that enables them to understand, analyze, and apply specialized knowledge effectively.
 

Dr. Phạm Văn Hiển (Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Education) is presenting at the seminar.
 

Speaking at the seminar, Dr. Nguyễn Trung Nhân stated:
“In the context of digital transformation and the demand for educational innovation, training cannot stop at theory. Maintaining admission subject combinations that include Mathematics and Physics as mandatory components for engineering programs in recent years has been one of the orientations to ensure input quality and align with training requirements.”
Reflecting on the seminar's discussions, many proposals were put forward to enhance the effectiveness of teaching and learning in foundational sciences. These included designing first-year Mathematics and Physics courses closely linked to majors, increasing the use of simulation and practical activities to improve visualization and learning outcomes, and strengthening collaboration between the Faculty of Fundamental Science and specialized faculties in curriculum development.

 
Panoramic view of the seminar.
 

In summary, beyond knowledge transmission, the key issue remains: how can foundational sciences become practical tools that help engineering students learn, understand, and apply knowledge effectively from their very first years at university?