1. THE 110^th FOUNDING ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF INDOCHINA AND THE 60^th  ANNIVERSARY OF HANOI UNIVERSITY

On May 16, 2016, VNU held an international symposium entitled “The University of Indochina in the Franco–Vietnamese education during the first half of the 20^th century: Historical and cultural aspects” to celebrate the 110^th founding anniversary of the University of Indochina (May 16, 1906), now Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU).

On November 12, 2016, VNU University of Science, part of former Hanoi University, held a ceremony for celebrating the 60^th founding anniversary of Hanoi University and receiving the Ho Chi Minh Order for the second time.

Over the 60 years of continuous efforts, the University of Science has contributed a lot to the national construction and defense as well as national higher education and scientific research development.

Also this year, on the occasion of the 10^th anniversary of Professor-Academician Nguyễn Văn Đạo’s, VNU’s first President, passing, VNU held a scientific conference entitled “Professor-Academician Nguyễn Văn Đạo with higher education administration” and a ceremony for the inauguration of the late Prof.Acad. Nguyễn Văn Đạo’s statue located in Nguyễn Văn Đạo Hall.

2. VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI (VNU) LISTED AMONG ASIA’S TOP 150 UNIVERSITIES 

According to QS’s (Quacquarelli Symonds) regional university ranking results for continents announced on June 14, 2016, VNU had jumped up to the 139th place to feature among Asia’s top 150 and ranked 1^st in Vietnam.

By individual indicator, VNU was placed 65^th in the top 100 for academic reputation; the 62^nd in the top 100 for student exchange ratio. Earlier, in the QS rankings: Asia 2015, VNU had been listed among the 191-200 group.

3. VNU COUNCIL CHAIRMAN’S, VNU FORMER PRESIDENT, APPOINTMENT AS EDUCATION AND TRAINING MINISTER APPROVED BY THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

On April 9, 2016, the National Assembly approved VNU Council Chairman, VNU former President Phùng Xuân Nhạ’s appointment as Education and Training Minister.

4. PRIME MINISTER APPOINTED VNU PRESIDENT

Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc signed Decision No. 1209/QĐ-TTg dated June 30, 2016 on the appointment of VNU permanent Vice President Nguyễn Kim Sơn as VNU President for the new term. 

In his inauguration speech, VNU President stated that VNU’s mission was to become the pioneer in higher education innovation and contribute to human resources training and scientific research within the ASEAN Community and in the world.

5. CEREMONY FOR LAUNCHING A YOUTH START-UP PROGRAM

On October 16, 2016, Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc visited VNU and attended a ceremony for launching a youth start-up program.

The Prime Minister emphasized that VNU needed to align its development direction with the country’s goal of building a start-up nation, be part of the national start-up ecosystem as well as pioneer a start-up nation building.

Also, at the youth start-up program exhibition, VNU introduced its 15 outstanding start-up products.

6. VNU’S COMPETENCE ASSESSMENT TEST HAS BEEN TRANFERED TO BE APPLIED NATIONWIDE

Following the success of the 2015 Competence Assessment Test for university admissions, in 2016, VNU kept applying the same test method with further promotion of the achieved results along with more realistic adjustments to perfect the new test method. Also in 2016, a number of non-VNU member universities started using VNU’s test results for their admissions. The above-named VNU’s admissions method has recently been transferred for applying to the 2017 nationwide university admissions onwards.

7. VNU – A DESTINATION FOR INTERNATIONAL POLITICIANS AND HEADS OF STATE

On September 6, 2016, on the occasion of his state visit to Vietnam from September 5 to 7, French President Francois Hollande visited VNU and had a speech about common future of France and Vietnam. The visit of French President Francois Hollande contributed to the education – training cooperation development between the two nations.

On November 8, 2016, Irish President Michael Daniel Higgins visited VNU and delivered a speech on sustainable development to its faculty and students. The Irish President’s visit not only strengthened but also promoted the comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Ireland, especially in education-training and research, which contributed a lot to Vietnam’s national education renovation and socio-economic development.

8. FINALIZING VNU’s INTERDISCIPLINARY AND MULTIDISCIPLINARY STRUCTURE

In 2016, VNU Trần Nhân Tông Institute and Institute of Natural Resources and Environment Studies were established with the Prime Minister’s respective Decisions. These two key science and technology institutions are to intensively explore fundamental issues for the national sustainable development alongside with the finalizing of VNU’s interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary structure.

The 7^th member of Vietnam National University, Hanoi - Vietnam-Japan University (VJU) held an opening ceremony for launching the new school year and its first 6 academic programs. Prof. Furuta Motoo was appointed the university’s Rector and former Politburo Member, CPVCC Secretary, former Chairman of the CPV Commission for Organisation, Tô Huy Rứa as its Honorary Rector.

Hanoi People’s Committee promulgated the Decision on the establishment of the High school of Education Sciences under VNU University of Education. The school was established based on the advanced education experimental school model with the mission to nurture and train elite students for international standard-oriented higher education.

9. THE FIFTH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON VIETNAMESE STUDIES

The 5th International Conference on Vietnamese Studies (ICVNS2016) hosted by Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU) was held in Hanoi from December 15 to December 18, 2016 with the theme “Sustainable Development in the Context of Global Change”.

The conference was a forum for nearly 1,200 scientists, 150 of those were foreigners, to discuss and suggest solutions to crucial and practical issues that Vietnam was facing as well as to promote the network of Vietnamese Studies worldwide.

10. VNU ALUMNI CLUB INTRODUCTION

On December 2, 2016, VNU founded its Alumni Club and introduced the Club’s Board of Directors including Minister of Education and Training Phùng Xuân Nhạ - VNU former President, as the Club’s Honorary Chairman; VNU President Nguyễn Kim Sơn – the Club’s Chairman and VNU Vice President Lê Quân – the Club’s Vice Chairman.

The club is expected to be a linkage between students and enterprises, promoting support from VNU’s alumni as well as widening the channel for feedback on training quality, the graduate employment rate, and labour market’s demand for developing appropriate training programs.