Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Phạm Bình Minh with students at the Việt Nam National University- Hồ Chí Minh City after he inaugurated its new academic year. VNS Photo Văn Phúc

HCM CITY— Young people, especially university students, are not only “ future owners” but also “people who shape the future of the country,” Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Phạm Bình Minh told a ceremony held to mark the start of a new academic year at the Việt Nam National University- Hồ Chí Minh City on Saturday.

Việt Nam had among the highest rate of young people in the world and was amid a demographic ‘golden’ period.

Including its nationals living abroad, the country had 24 million young people.  

“They should be the vanguard … in accessing new things in each field. They should study to improve their knowledge and skills and become global citizens.”

They should also learn foreign languages.

Amid the global integration, young Vietnamese had to compete with their peers in Southeast Asia region and the world, a major challenge.

To help young people become global citizens and compete globally, higher education should continue to be reformed comprehensively.

The international integration of the country’s higher education had been strengthened.

Việt Nam was a member of many international educational organisations, and many joint training programmes with developed countries had been created.

Under them, many quality universities had been established in the country.

“The global integration in higher education has helped develop human resources. The quality of human resources and technologies is decisive in ensuring the country’s prosperity and competitiveness,” he said.

Việt Nam National University- Hồ Chí Minh City is one of the country’s leading universities with outstanding achievements in global integration.

Its 66 training programmes account for 42.8 per cent of the country’s number that meet international standards.

Of the country’s seven higher education institutions of international standard, two belong to the VNUHCM.

“The VNUHCM is in the vanguard of training quality human resources for the country’s development and global integration,” Minh said.

It should have policies to allow its scientists, lecturers and students to pilot creative new models of research and studies.

Its training programmes should develop human resources who would be competitive in the international labour market and have the knowledge and skills required to innovate and start business.

It should continue to research into advanced technologies to help develop HCM City and the country.  

Since 2012 the university has been inviting senior national leaders to the opening of the new academic year to inspire its students.

Also at the event this year many outstanding students were awarded scholarships. VNS