Nguyễn Thị Thanh Mai, chancellor of the Việt Nam National University-HCM City, delivers a speech at the university’s 2025 annual conference on December 26. — VNS Photo Nguyễn Diệp

HCM CITY — Việt Nam National University-HCM City (VNU-HCM) has reaffirmed its pioneering role in innovation and advanced higher education as it moves into the final phase of its 30-year development journey, its chancellor Nguyễn Thị Thanh Mai said at the university’s 2025 annual conference on Friday (December 26).

The conference reviewed key achievements in 2025 and set strategic priorities for 2026, focusing on strengthening governance, enhancing coordination across member institutions and fostering system-wide unity.

Mai said that in an era shaped by artificial intelligence and rapid technological change, innovation must be the core value guiding higher education in developing irreplaceable human capital.

“As Việt Nam accelerates breakthroughs in education, science and technology, digital transformation and innovation, VNU-HCM must continue to play a pioneering and driving role, aligned with the development goals of HCM City, the southern region and the nation towards 2030, with a vision to 2045,” she said.

Progress in 2025

In 2025, VNU-HCM made notable gains in global standing, rising more than 100 places in international rankings to the 801–850 band worldwide and ranking 175th in Asia.

Across the system, the successful organisation of Party congresses and the streamlining of administrative structures helped strengthen political leadership and institutional foundations for the next development phase.

The university maintained its national leadership in training and quality assurance, launching 16 new academic programmes, including three interdisciplinary and inter-university degrees. Strategic fields such as semiconductor design, nuclear engineering and railway technology were expanded to meet national development needs, bringing the total number of internationally accredited programmes to 174.

Research and innovation also recorded strong progress, with more than 3,200 publications indexed in the Scopus database. The establishment of the VNU-HCM Innovation Centre further reinforced the “three-house” cooperation model linking the State, universities and enterprises, alongside the signing of 104 cooperation agreements with businesses.

Talent attraction continued through the flagship VNU350 Programme, which welcomed 44 outstanding young scientists and 58 international visiting professors from leading institutions, including Oxford University, Harvard Medical School and the National University of Singapore.

To further digital transformation and infrastructure development, VNU-HCM launched a new website platform, completed unified data systems for staff and learners, developed 44 MOOC-format online courses, and initiated six major infrastructure projects in its urban area, laying a modern foundation for future growth.

The Việt Nam National University-HCM City held its 2025 annual conference on December 26. — VNS Photo Nguyễn Diệp

Vision to 2030: From university excellence to a national innovation hub

Looking ahead to 2030, Mai said higher education faces the challenge of preparing learners for an unpredictable future, raising a fundamental question: which human values can technology never replace?

“The answer lies in innovation,” she said. “Universities must nurture creativity, independent thinking, self-learning capacity and social impact through large-scale personalised education.”

She stressed that innovation is not merely a slogan but a national imperative for Việt Nam to overcome the middle-income trap, at a time when the demand for talent and knowledge has never been stronger.

For 2026 and beyond, Mai outlined three key priorities: strengthening State-university-enterprise cooperation, particularly in basic sciences and strategic technologies; expanding internationalisation and global partnerships to attract more scholars and students; and accelerating educational innovation and digital transformation through learner-centred models and multi-dimensional assessment.

With a solid foundation and a clear strategic direction, VNU-HCM is well positioned to reach new heights, she said.

“Let us carry forward the spirit of innovation and unity to turn our shared aspirations into tangible results.”

Concluding the conference, she expressed her appreciation to faculty members, scientists, staff and students across the university’s system, noting that perseverance, hard work and even failure underpin every achievement. — VNS