Welcome Professor Wray Buntine – Director of VinUni’s Computer Science program
We are honored to introduce Prof. Wray Buntine, Director of the Computer Science Program at the College of Engineering and Computer Science, VinUniversity, who will be accompanying our team of professors, lecturers, and students in the coming time. Prior to joining VinUni, Prof. Wray was the Founding Director of the Master’s of Data Science program and the Director of the Machine Learning Group at Monash University, Australia (ranked 58th in the world according to the QS World University Rankings 2022, and 6th globally among research universities according to Times Higher Education Golden Age University Rankings 2020).
With more than 30 years of teaching and research experience in the field of computer science at leading universities, such as Stanford University; University of California, Berkeley (USA); University of Helsinki (Finland); and Monash University (Australia), Prof. Wray is considered a leading scientist as he has authored more than 200 scientific studies and has an h-index of 42 – a number often found in top universities and research institutes. Furthermore, he is among the Top 0.14% most cited researchers in the world in the field of Information Systems and Top 0.75% in the field of Artificial Intelligence and Visual Processing, according to the most recent announcement by the PLOS Biology Journal (USA).
Prof. Wray’s research revolves around the theories and applications of machine learning, data mining, and probabilistic analysis methods. Many of his works utilize the power of computer science to create breakthroughs, such as: his paper titled ‘Theory refinement on Bayesian networks’, which was cited by more than 1000 scientific articles; his project at NASA on improving algorithms for better machine learning and decision-making; his research on the use of AI with ambulance data for suicide prevention at Google, and so on.
Below is our conversation with Prof. Wray Buntine, Director of VinUni’s Computer Science Program, regarding the Program’s development in the near future.
Q. WHAT MOTIVATED YOU TO JOIN VINUNI AS THE DIRECTOR OF THE COMPUTER SCIENCE PROGRAM?
A. I had been looking around for a challenging position in Asia, and in VinUniversity I saw a truly exciting opportunity and a great, inspiring vision. VinUni is the first university of excellence in Vietnam, a country with one of the most rapidly developing economies in the region and huge potential in its student population.
Q. HOW DO YOU SEE COMPUTER SCIENCE EVOLVING IN THE FUTURE, BOTH GLOBALLY AND IN VIETNAM?
A. To innovate and build new technologies, you will need computer scientists. To improve technology companies, you will need computer-savvy business people. To create progress in medicine and health care delivery, you will now need computer scientists on your team. In short, computer science has become and will continue being fundamental to the development of modern technology sectors.
Q. AS THE DIRECTOR OF THE COMPUTER SCIENCE PROGRAM, WHICH AREAS WOULD YOU FOCUS ON DEVELOPING AT VINUNI?
A. We are developing a strong undergraduate curriculum with core areas of programming, software and systems, artificial intelligence (including my favorite machine learning), data management, and cybersecurity. I’ll be focusing on getting all these areas to the highest standards to ensure that our graduates will be able to solve the most pressing problems in the world. Beyond that, we’re also developing innovative Masters and PhD programs, like our Master’s of Innovation in Artificial Intelligence which combines business innovation and high level AI.
Learn more about Prof. Wray Buntine at https://vinuni.edu.vn/people/wray-buntine-phd/
