Opening Ceremony of the academic year 2019-2020

On Thursday, 26/9/2019, the University of Science and Technology of Hanoi (USTH, the Vietnam – France University) formally held the Opening Ceremony of the academic year 2019-2020.The Opening Ceremony was attended by the representative from the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST) – Prof. Dr. Phan Ngoc Minh, Vice-president of VAST, Chairman of the University Council; the representative from the French Embassy – Mr. Etienne Rolland-Piegue, Counselor for Cultural Cooperation and Activities of the French Embassy in Vietnam and Director of Institut français du Vietnam; the representatives from USTH – Prof. Etienne Saur, Principal Rector and Assocc. Prof. Dr. Dinh Thi Mai Thanh, Rector, as well as the assembly of staff, lecturers, researchers and students.

At the ceremony, Prof. Etienne Saur, Principal Rector has summarised all the achievements that USTH has accomplished last year, and proudly stated that the academic year 2018-2019 was a success for USTH with many remarkable accomplishments. The academic year 2019-2020 is an important milestone marking the 10-year journey of establishment and laying the foundation, opening up a whole new chapter of development for USTH with enormous potentiality and also challenges. Playing a vital role in achieving those goals, Prof. Etienne Saur claimed, is the driving force of human resources.

Therefore, Prof. Etienne Saur recommended the young lecturer staff of USTH to always pay attention to work ethics, to build up an inspiring and encouraging research environment, and to nurture the scientists of the future. Prof. Etienne Saur also gently advised the students to work hard and have a strong determination in order to pass the many exams and challenges, but still not to forget to spend time participating in extracurricular activities to improve soft skills and to create memorable experiences during their student life. Especially, Prof. Etienne Saur extended the warmest welcome to all new students of intake 10 at USTH, and expressed his hope that they would be the bright future of USTH and of Vietnam.

Prof. Dr. Phan Ngọc Minh, Vice-president of VAST, Chairman of the University Council has also given encouragement to the staff, lecturers and students in the upcoming academic year. In his new position as Chairman of the University Council, Prof. Dr. Phan Ngoc Minh expressed his determination to build USTH to become an international standard university of excellence in science and technology, with the partnership and constant support from VAST.

Speaking at the Opening Ceremony, Mr. Etienne Rolland-Piegue, Counselor for Cultural Cooperation and Activities of the French Embassy in Vietnam and Director of Institut français du Vietnam emphasised that his presence is the evidence for the commitment of the French Government to support developing USTH into a new model of excellent university in training and research as stated in the Inter-governmental Agreement on USTH development during 2019-2023, signed on 2/11/2018. Mr. Etienne Rolland-Piegue also trusted that with the support from The Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, the French Embassy and 40 French universities and research institutes, USTH would become a university capable of providing a generation of Vietnamese youngsters prepared to conquer contemporary scientific, technological, environmental and economic challenges.

The Opening Ceremony was also a day to honor individuals and groups with outstanding achievements and contribution to USTH in the previous year.

Prof. Dr. Phan Ngoc Minh has awarded the full scholarship covering 3 years of tuition fee at USTH worth 140 million VND to Hoang Huy Tu, First Prize in the National Contest for Excellent Students 2019, which has granted Tu a direct entry to the Bachelor’s program in Chemistry of USTH.

Prof. Etienne Saur and Assoc. Prof. Dinh Thi Mai Thanh has handed the certificate of merit to students who achieved the high prizes at National Olympiad contests in Physics and Maths 2019 as well as students who have contributed significantly to USTH activities in the academic year 2018-2019.

On this occasion, our strategic partners also show their support to USTH by providing our students with scholarships: the Vietnam Bank For Agriculture And Rural Development – Agribank handed 12 scholarships for students with best academic reports of each program, and the Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group VNPT handed 5 supporting scholarships to students with difficult situations.

Speaking on behalf of new students of intake 10, Tran Anh Tuan, best academic report of the Bachelor’s program in Pharmacological, Medical and Agronomical Biotechnology (PMAB) expressed his gratitude to the encouragement from USTH leaders and partners, and his determination to become an excellent student, a future scientist with a burning passion for pure scientific values.

Lastly, as a formality in a traditional Opening Ceremony, Prof. Etienne Saur, Principal Rector of USTH has beaten the drum to open a new academic year with a lot of excitement and determination.