Welcoming the new 1,677 students of the 62th academic year, VNU USSH Rector Prof. Dr. Phạm Quang Minh remarked that in a globalized and flat world as today's, highly developed science and technology produce enormous material values. Unfortunately, the values of this kind are not what the nations were looking for; they were seeking the spiritual ones imbued with their traditional cultural identities.

“VNU USSH, the university that you have chosen, is the very institution where the nation’s core values are nurtured, studied and transmitted in the form of a spiritual power unbeatable by any weapons. What currently sought by the nations is not hard but soft power. Please, be ensured that with its long tradition of training and research together with a highly-experienced faculty, the university will train you to be successful scientists, managers and businessmen; but first and foremost, you will be turned into good citizens”, said Prof. Dr. Phạm Quang Minh.

Speaking at the ceremony, VNU President Nguyễn Kim Sơn congratulated USSH on its achievements in the past academic year, including enhanced prestige both domestically and internationally; praiseworthy training and scientific research activities.

Sharing with VNU USSH’s staff, lecturers and students, VNU President said that we were currently implementing an educational philosophy, an output-based approach towards the expected outcomes serving as benchmarks for scientific research and training activities.

In the world and Vietnam’s current context with unprecedented big and fast changes, VNU President Nguyễn Kim Sơn said, "Learners need to change their learning styles to adapt to the changing requirements of the age. Adaptability and adjustability have become top priority. But these abilities are attainable only for those learners having basic and solid background knowledge. Basic knowledge, core professional skills, complementary skills, good foreign language and computer skills are keys to success in the new age”. He also noted that students should avoid over-emphasizing supplementary skills while neglecting basic knowledge or vice versa, and that learners’ adaptability, negotiability and critical thinking would help them become good global citizens.

VNU President expected the students to have good learning methods and pay strong attention to nurturing great ambitions and farsightedness. Being students of a national top university, they learn not only the basics to get a job, but also to live and develop together. Study and research should always be based on social responsibility and a humanist ideal.

To meet the expected output requirements, VNU President Nguyễn Kim Sơn suggested that the University innovate. The lecturers need to have an active role in leading students to keep up with the times. To do so, they must scientifically pioneer and master the professional, international integration and negotiation skills. VNU President also suggested that VNU USSH should: renovate university administration; build large social and human capital databases sufficient for management, learning and research purposes; create an open and explicit academic environment as the basis for new knowledge creation; and focus on the construction of facilities in Hoa Lac – a core knowledge town of Hanoi.