Leading the Era of AI, Autonomous Vehicles and New Fuel Technologies - Faculty of Automotive Engineering, Van Lang University Partners with the University of Birmingham

The global automotive industry is entering the digital transformation era, one in which artificial intelligence (AI), autonomous systems and green-energy optimization have become the core of innovation. As part of an ongoing commitment to keeping pace with pioneering technology trends and strengthening educational standards, Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Phu Thuong Luu, Head of the Faculty of Automotive Engineering at Van Lang University (VLU), undertook a strategic visit to the University of Birmingham during his official mission to the United Kingdom.

The University of Birmingham is one of the most prestigious research universities in the United Kingdom and worldwide: ranked 68th in the QS World University Rankings 2027, 98th in the THE World University Rankings 2026, and 95th by CWUR. It is a founding member of the Russell Group, the alliance of 24 leading UK research universities, and of the international Universitas 21 network.

This visit to one of the world's foremost centres of engineering research opened the door to far-reaching opportunities for collaboration, reaffirming VLU's commitment to shaping a new generation of automotive engineers ready to master the technologies of the future.

Connecting with the Pinnacle of Mechanical and Automotive Research in the United Kingdom

Over the course of a three-week mission, a foremost priority for Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Phu Thuong Luu was to establish a lasting partnership with the University of Birmingham, a member of the United Kingdom's distinguished Russell Group and the birthplace of numerous world-changing engineering breakthroughs.

In particular, the VLU delegation held direct, in-depth working sessions with Dr. Ji Li, Assistant Professor in Control and Automation, Deputy Lead of the CASE Automotive Research Group and Director of the Birmingham CASE Automotive Research and Education Centre. An internationally respected scholar with more than 60 scientific publications, Dr. Ji Li brings a strategic vision for the application of AI in automotive engineering. He has also led numerous large-scale research projects funded by Innovate UK, the Royal Society and industry leaders such as BYD and Lotus.

The working sessions were further enriched by the valued participation of research group leader Mr. Fanggang Zhang. Together, experts from the University of Birmingham and VLU explored and mapped out a roadmap for collaboration on trustworthy engineering solutions and the pursuit of net-zero emissions.

Exploring the University of Birmingham's Billion-Dollar Research Infrastructure

The mission extended well beyond strategic discussions to include comprehensive first-hand tours of the University of Birmingham's world-class facilities. Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Phu Thuong Luu was presented with various system models at different facilities, including:

• Engine Lab: a hands-on research and testing environment for the latest generation of engines capable of running on a wide range of fuels, including biofuels, hydrogen and hybrid systems, all engineered to maximize performance while minimizing emissions.
• Fuel Injection Lab: equipped with some of the world's most advanced high-speed camera systems, enabling researchers to capture, observe and analyze fuel-mixing processes at the microscopic level in order to optimize combustion.
• Autonomous Vehicle Lab and Library: the delegation toured the research and development area for advanced self-driving systems, where complex automated control algorithms are tested, and also visited the University's large-scale academic library, a foundational knowledge resource that provides powerful support to its research community.

Where Technologies Converge: Bringing AI, Automation and Energy Optimization into Practical Teaching

Drawing on first-hand observations and insights shared by the CASE Centre, the two institutions held in-depth discussions on three focal areas that are driving the industry forward, areas that also represent the leading-edge specializations at the heart of VLU's curriculum:

• Multi-objective control and energy optimization: applying machine-learning algorithms to optimize energy management for hybrid and electric vehicles (EVs), ensuring peak operating performance.
• Cyber-physical systems and autonomous vehicles: exchanging expertise on advanced path-planning algorithms such as A* (A-star) and Informed RRT*, the essential foundations for developing advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) and high-level self-driving vehicles.
• Human-machine interaction: using data-driven modelling to predict driver behaviour and design safe, shared-control systems.

This strong alignment in research direction confirms that VLU's Faculty of Automotive Engineering is firmly on the same trajectory as the world's leading institutions, continually embedding the most essential core technologies into its teaching curriculum.

Elevating the Learning Environment, Empowering Globally Minded Engineers

The outcomes of the visit to the University of Birmingham will translate directly into tangible benefits for students in VLU's Faculty of Automotive Engineering. Building on the teaching models currently employed at CASE Centre, the Faculty plans to continue revising its curriculum, enhancing its practical workshop facilities and making AI a powerful tool for both teaching and learning.

VLU students will graduate not merely as mechanical engineers, but as true systems specialists. They will be equipped to solve complex energy-optimization challenges, to master automation algorithms and to meet the exacting standards of the world's leading automotive technology corporations.

Beyond this, close ties with international scholars such as Dr. Ji Li and research group leader Mr. Fanggang Zhang open significant opportunities for VLU faculty and students to take part in joint interdisciplinary research projects and to access scholarships and international transfer programmes in the United Kingdom in the near future.

Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Phu Thuong Luu's strategic mission to the University of Birmingham lays a solid cornerstone that advances Van Lang University's aspiration for internationalization. By embracing the trends of artificial intelligence, autonomous vehicles and green fuel technology, VLU's Faculty of Automotive Engineering takes pride in serving as a strong launchpad, nurturing the engineering talents who will lead the era of smart mobility in Vietnam and globally.

Discover your future as a next-generation automotive engineer with the Faculty of Automotive Engineering at Van Lang University: https://www.vlu.edu.vn/academics/majors/cong-nghe-ky-thuat-o-to

News: Faculty of Automotive Engineering