On November 16, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, along with a government working delegation, visited and attended the Opening Ceremony of the 2023 academic year at the Viet Nam National University - Ho Chi Minh City. As a guest speaker at the Opening Ceremony, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh delivered an important speech to nearly 1,000 lecturers, students, and high school students on higher education in the new context and the tasks of the VNU-HCM towards the goal of "being among the top 100 universities in Asia." VNU-HCM news proudly presents the summarized excerpt from this important speech by the Prime Minister.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh speaking at the Opening Ceremony of 2023.
"I am very pleased to attend the Opening Ceremony of the 2023 academic year at the VNU-HCM with a very meaningful and practical theme: 'Higher Education and the Role of Motivation for Rapid and Sustainable Growth of the Country in the New Period.'
On behalf of the Government, I extend my warm greetings and best wishes to the generations of leaders, collective officials, scientists, lecturers, workers, and all students of VNU-HCM.
Towards Training Global Citizens
We are building Vietnam as a socialist state with three main pillars: building a state of the rule of law, building a democratic social state, and building a market-oriented socialist economy. Throughout these three pillars is the human factor. Human beings are the center, the subject, the driving force, the resource, and the goal of development.
Education, in general, and higher education, in particular, play a crucial role in promoting development. Higher education contributes to raising intellectual standards, nurturing talents, especially providing a high-level workforce to meet the requirements of economic and social development.
Along with the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the digital transformation, higher education is changing and diversifying. In particular, information technology, including artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and online integration, is being incorporated into the teaching and learning process, creating a more interactive and engaging environment, developing creative thinking, and increasing the independent work ability of learners. Currently, the development of the digital economy is an objective requirement and has become a top strategic choice in many countries. The digital economy, combined with green transformation, is like a twin pair. If digital transformation is successful, it will promote green transformation. Conversely, if green transformation is successful, it will promote digital transformation.
Global collaboration trends, international learning, and opportunities to access higher education are also expanding. Collaboration between universities worldwide is being strengthened, creating a multicultural learning environment and providing opportunities for students to participate in learning and research in various spaces. We now live in a flat world. But alongside the advantages and opportunities, the "flat world" also poses difficulties and challenges for higher education. Higher education increasingly demands innovative knowledge transmission methods to develop creative and critical thinking, enhance communication skills, teamwork, and problem-solving abilities of learners, creating a positive interactive environment in the teaching and learning process. Higher education must aim to train global citizens. Previously, we focused on developing a national workforce, but in the current era of integration, we must train and develop the workforce at the international level.
VNU-HCM Achieves Proud Results
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh Offers Flowers in Remembrance of Late Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet
With the viewpoint that education and training are top national priorities, in recent years, the Party and the State have always paid special attention to the development of education and higher education. Many mechanisms and policies have been issued and effectively implemented, bringing about positive results and contributing significantly to the country's economic and social development. Many countries and international organizations have recognized and highly appreciated Vietnam's efforts in investing in improving the quality of higher education. This includes improving curriculum, enhancing teaching capacity, and creating better conditions for students' learning and research.
In this context, I am delighted to learn that after 28 years of construction and development, the VNU-HCM has become a leading center for undergraduate and postgraduate education, scientific research, and technology transfer in the country. Most important fields are present at the VNU-HCM , such as engineering and technology, natural sciences, social sciences and humanities, economics, law, health sciences, education, agriculture, etc. Especially, the VNU-HCM has focused on establishing branches in various localities. I find this model very effective as it provides opportunities and favorable conditions for students in different regions to study university close to their families, especially in remote areas.
Compared to universities with a history of several hundred years, the VNU-HCM is still very young. In just 28 years, the VNU-HCM has achieved proud results in terms of scale, reputation, especially in the quality of education and scientific research. This year, the VNU-HCM ranks among the top 1,000 best universities in the world with 5 out of 9 disciplines leading in Vietnam, including petroleum engineering, electrical and electronic engineering, chemical engineering, environmental science, and chemistry. Of course, we still need to strive further in some social and humanities disciplines. We must develop even stronger.
I propose that the VNU-HCM should summarize its achievements and disseminate them to everyone—especially teachers and students—so that anyone who comes to study or research here can take pride in it. And when people are proud, they have the motivation, emotions, and inspiration to study and research.
Striving to be Among the Top 100 Universities in Asia
Prime Minister Plants Commemorative Tree at HCMC National University's Administration Building
The world's situation is complex and unpredictable. The prolonged consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, military conflicts, non-traditional security issues, climate change, poverty and disease, population aging, resource depletion, etc., are frequently mentioned at global economic forums. Generally, challenges outweigh opportunities and conveniences.
The very ambitious goal of our country is rapid and sustainable development. To achieve rapid and sustainable development, we must focus not only on economic issues but also on human issues, environmental issues, social welfare, and the competitiveness of educational institutions.
Higher education must not only meet the requirements of the present but also anticipate the requirements of the future. Therefore, we must develop education in depth, train in depth, not just educate and train broadly. Higher education institutions, including the VNU-HCM , must further enhance their roles in achieving the goal of training human resources, promoting sustainable economic development.
I highly appreciate that the VNU-HCM has quickly developed a plan to become one of the leading universities in Asia. The VNU-HCM needs to complete the plan soon for submission to the Prime Minister for approval. On that basis, the VNU-HCM must have a high determination, great effort, and decisive action in implementing the set goals, tasks, and solutions to stand among the top 100 universities in Asia by 2030. This contributes significantly to creating motivation, rapid and sustainable growth for the Southeast region, the Mekong Delta in particular, and the country as a whole.
I would like to add some points that the VNU-HCM needs to implement in the coming time.
Firstly, intensify the selection and training of excellent students to educate talented students in all scientific fields, especially in basic sciences. In this regard, there must be a balance between basic natural sciences and basic social sciences and humanities.
Secondly, focus on attracting, employing, and developing a team of outstanding young scientists and leading scientists. These are individuals with excellent expertise, a passion for scientific research, and play a crucial role in establishing a prestigious university.
Thirdly, concentrate on building and implementing training, research, and innovative programs in semiconductor technology, biotechnology, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, and prominent social and humanitarian issues both domestically and globally.
Fourthly, develop sustainable financial resources, construct a green, modern, and distinctive campus for the Ho Chi Minh City National University, contributing to its overall sustainability.
Trusting in the Passion and Aspiration of the Youth
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh takes a commemorative photo with new students of the VNU-HCM
Attending today's Opening Ceremony, I would like to share some of my thoughts with you, the students.
Firstly, the Party and the State always care, create the best conditions for your learning, training, research, and creativity; equip you with the most complete tools to step into life, to become global citizens. The Party, the State, and the university invest in and prepare for you, considering you as an investment and preparation for the nation. You are the future owners of the country.
To become the future owners of the country, to become global citizens, you need to have the ambition and enthusiasm for dedication, strongly promoting the pioneering tradition in learning, scientific research, and innovation. You will be the next generation, contributing to realizing the dream of building the country, bringing prosperity and happiness to the people.
You need to be proactive, actively self-study, conduct research, explore and innovate, and enhance personal capacity. I want to emphasize the positive and proactive nature of each of us. Youth must have ideals, aspirations, dreams; they must engage, experience, and contribute. You need to actively participate in social and volunteer activities, participate in projects and programs related to community development, especially helping the vulnerable, orphaned children, and people with disabilities.
Connected with the spirit of positive innovation and dedication, you should cultivate critical thinking by participating in projects and competitions related to your interests and strengths. Through this, you will become more confident to participate in conferences, seminars nationally and internationally, improving debating and critical skills.
Furthermore, you should actively participate in entrepreneurship programs and events to learn from successful people, then practice entrepreneurship in your community, contributing to promoting social development. Recently, I attended several entrepreneurship events at universities. I saw that young people are very rich in ideas and enthusiastic about entrepreneurship, even from high school.
I believe that the passion, dreams, aspirations, and youth's desires will continue to be nurtured, take flight, and become a reality.
I wish the Viet Nam National University - Ho Chi Minh City City always deserves to be the flagship of the Vietnamese higher education system and continues to have breakthrough developments, contributing significantly to the process of building and developing the country.
(*) Titles and subtitles are set by the editorial
Detailed Information: https://vnuhcm.edu.vn/tin-tuc_32343364/phai-phat-trien-giao-duc-dao-tao-theo-chieu-sau-/353638363364.html
Hạ Băng - Media Collaborator, University of Information Technology
English version: Phan Huy Hoang
