EduAsiaNews, Ho Chi Minh City — Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City/VNU-HCM), is accelerating a series of major breakthroughs as it pursues its ambition to enter Asia’s top 100 universities by 2030. The drive is underpinned by education reform, strengthened research capacity, and an expanded global network.
The target was announced at the university’s annual conference on December 26, alongside adjustments to VNU-HCM’s development strategy for the 2026–2030 period. The main focus is achieving a qualitative leap in academic education and scientific research.
VNU-HCM President Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Thanh Mai said the university will intensify collaboration with businesses and state agencies, broaden international partnerships, and accelerate education reform. “All these measures are directed toward breaking into Asia’s top 100 universities,” she said.
A key strategy is strengthening trilateral cooperation among the university, industry, and government. This approach is expected to translate research outputs into practical solutions while improving the efficiency of resource utilization. VNU-HCM is also prioritizing the development of basic sciences linked to strategic technologies, with the aim of training high-caliber human resources and producing impactful scientific and technological outputs.
At the global level, VNU-HCM continues to deepen international integration by expanding collaboration with leading universities, research institutions, and corporations worldwide. The university is actively attracting foreign experts and creating opportunities for faculty members and students to study and work in advanced academic environments. It has also positioned itself as a key organizer of Ho Chi Minh City’s annual internationally oriented science and technology forums and workshops—an effort to build a global innovation ecosystem that brings together academia, industry, and investors.
For the 2026–2030 period, VNU-HCM aims to recruit 1,500 doctoral-qualified lecturers and experts, with half of them expected to attain the rank of professor or associate professor. Institution-wide targets include 41,200 Scopus-indexed publications, 100 international patents, the establishment of eight basic science laboratories incorporating strategic technologies, and the full operation of an innovation center.
In education, VNU-HCM targets English-medium instruction for 60 percent of STEM programs and an on-time graduation rate of 70 percent. The university also plans to build one to two international-standard hospitals to support education, research, and healthcare services.
By the end of 2024, VNU-HCM employed 3,677 lecturers, including 1,323 PhD holders, 41 professors, and 349 associate professors. Its talent-attraction programs have brought in 71 leading scientists and 58 visiting professors from reputable overseas universities.
In 2025, VNU-HCM continued to lead Vietnam in international scientific publications, producing 3,288 papers, up by 120 from the previous year. The university also secured 11 patents and signed 1,237 science and technology service contracts with total revenue of VND 269.67 billion, or about US$10.2 million.
Nevertheless, the university acknowledges that the share of research outputs with commercial value remains limited, and that revenue from technology transfer has yet to match the capacity of the business sector and Ho Chi Minh City’s economic potential.
Looking ahead, VNU-HCM plans to accelerate education reform and digital transformation by developing smart learning environments that foster creativity and lifelong learning. Experiential, research-based, and industry-linked learning models will be expanded, while student assessment will gradually shift from standardized testing to multi-dimensional evaluation based on learning outcomes, innovation, and professional experience.
More than three decades after its establishment, VNU-HCM remains Vietnam’s largest higher education system. Its international standing continues to strengthen, with a ranking of 801–850 globally in the QS World University Rankings 2026 and 175th in Asia in the QS Asia University Rankings 2026, while also leading the nation in Scopus-indexed publications and internationally accredited academic programs. (*)
