On March 28, 2024, University of Science and Technology of Hanoi (USTH) successfully held the 10th University Council meeting with the full participation of Vietnamese and French council members.
Distinguished attendees included Prof. Chu Hoang Ha, Vice-President of the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology and Chairman of the USTH University Council; Mr. Patrick Nedellec from the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research, Vice-Chairman of the USTH University Council; Assoc. Prof. Ha Quy Quynh from the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Vice-Chairman of the USTH University Council; Prof. Jean-Paul Deroin, President of the USTH Consortium, along with representatives from Vietnamese Ministry of Education and Training, Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Planning and Investment, French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, French Institute of Research for Development (IRD), and companies like Vietnam Airlines and Pierre Fabre.
In his opening remarks, Prof. Chu Hoang Ha praised the university’s significant advances in scale, training quality, and research achievements, especially highlighting the outstanding results of 2023. He expressed hope that the Council members would continue to contribute their expertise and dedication to elevate USTH’s quality further and reaffirm its position as a leading research-oriented university.
Mr. Patrick Nedellec reflected on 2023 as a fruitful year for USTH, acknowledging the university’s achievements in education and research. He highly appreciated USTH for successfully organizing two major events: the International Conference of the Association of Southeast Asian Institutions of Higher Learning (ASAIHL) and a conference marking 40 years of cooperation between the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology and the French National Centre for Scientific Research, which underscored USTH’s significant contributions and reinforced its standing within both the Vietnamese and international academic communities. He also mentioned that the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research is finalizing a study evaluating its international education and research cooperation models, with USTH emerging as one of the most successful examples.
Ms. Audrène Eloit, representing the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, warmly congratulated USTH on its achievements. Along with the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research, the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs considered USTH the French government’s most successful higher education project abroad, often highlighted as a model of international cooperation in higher education and research. She hoped that USTH would continue its rapid development to become a trusted university for education and research in Vietnam’s science and technology sector, and further solidify its leadership in educational and research collaboration between Vietnam and France.
On behalf of the Rector Board, Prof. Jean-Marc Lavest – Principal Rector, and Prof. Dinh Thi Mai Thanh – Rector reported on the university’s achievements in 202. They emphasized the successful enrollment at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels, which increased the training scale of USTH to 3,000 students, marking the highest number since its establishment in 2009. The launch of 2 new training programs in Pharmacy and Semiconductor Technology expanded USTH’s academic offerings, meeting the need for high-quality human resources capable of competing in the international market and contributing to the country’s rapid and sustainable growth during the fourth industrial revolution. In terms of research, USTH continued to develop strong research groups and international collaborations, published 103 articles in SCI-E journals and maintained a top-three position among institutions of the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology for international publication quality and quantity.
USTH successfully organized numerous workshops, international conferences, and science schools, drawing participation from both local and international scientists. In terms of international collaboration, USTH has signed 40 agreements and memoranda of understanding with partners in Vietnam, France, Italy, Germany, Poland, Spain, Luxembourg, and more. These agreements have opened up abundant opportunities for academic exchanges in training and research for staff, lecturers, and students.
2023 marks a significant milestone in the development of USTH as it received institutional accreditation from the French High Council for Evaluation of Research and Higher Education (HCERES). This honor puts USTH among the top six Vietnamese universities to meet HCERES’s high standards for education. Up to now, USTH is the only Franco-X institution accredited by HCERES.
At the meeting, the Council discussed and voted on many important initiatives for the university’s development, including the reappointment of Prof. Dinh Thi Mai Thanh as Rector for the 2024-2029 term, acknowledging her significant contributions to the university’s current success. They also approved the creation of an admission department to address the increasing demands of student recruitment. Moreover, the Council ratified an investment proposal of over 50 billion VND for repairs, renovations, and facility upgrades to support the expansion of the training capacity, reflecting USTH’s commitment to high-quality education and top-tier student services. Additionally, they endorsed a proposal to increase tuition fees by 6% for certain training programs.
Regarding training activities, the Council passed on the proposal of transitioning the academic year structure to a more flexible credit system starting from the 2025-2026 academic year. This significant change aims to improve training quality by focusing on student growth, better preparation for their career, and alignment with their abilities.
Furthermore, the proposal to launch two new master’s programs in Mechatronics Engineering & Automation and Science and Technology Management received the Council’s support.
The Council supported the Co-Tutelle doctoral training model, which involves joint supervision and degree co-granting with international partners, especially French partners within the USTH Consortium. Doctoral students will receive a monthly allowance of 5 million VND for 18 months of study at USTH, and scholarships from French partners for 18 months of research in France. This program is expected to significantly contribute to building USTH’s capacity for excellent research.
The 10th University Council meeting concluded successfully, laying the foundation for the future development of USTH, especially in the context of the 15th upcoming anniversary in 2024.
Some photos of the event:
