On May 27, 2026, the University of Science and Technology of Hanoi (USTH) successfully held the 12th Meeting of its University Council, during which members discussed and approved a number of important decisions shaping the University’s development in the new period.
The meeting took place at a time when higher education, science and technology, and innovation are undergoing profound transformation, placing new demands on USTH to strengthen its governance capacity, expand its training scale, advance scientific research and innovation, and further affirm its position within Vietnam’s higher education system and the international academic landscape.
Attending the meeting from the Vietnamese side were Prof. Dr. Chu Hoang Ha – Vice President of the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST) and Chairman of the USTH University Council; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ha Quy Quynh, Head of the Department of Organization, Personnel and Inspection of VAST and Vice Chairman of the University Council; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thu Thuy, Director of the Department of International Cooperation under the Ministry of Education and Training; Mr. Mai Anh Hong, Deputy Director of the Department of Personnel and Organization under the Ministry of Science and Technology; Prof. Dr. Vu Dinh Lam, Director General of the Vietnam Space Center; Prof. Dr.Tran Dai Lam, Director of the Institute of Materials Science; Prof. Dr. Sc. Le Tuan Hoa, former Director of the Institute of Mathematics; Mr. Nguyen Chien Thang, Deputy General Director of Vietnam Airlines and Chairman of the Board of Members of Vietnam Airlines Engineering Company Limited; and Mr. Nguyen Vu Hoang An, Secretary General of the National Cybersecurity Association.
From France and international partner organizations, the meeting was attended by Mr. Manuel Bouard, representative of the French Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Space and Vice Chairman of the University Council; Mr. Denis Fourmeau, Attaché for Scientific and Higher Education Cooperation at the Embassy of France in Vietnam; Mr. Sylvain Ouillon, Head of the Representative Office of the French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development in Vietnam; Prof. Eric Boutin, Conference of French University Presidents (CPU)— known as France Universités—and the Conference of Directors of French Engineering Schools (CDEFI); Mr. Laurent Derroins, representative of the French National Centre for Space Studies; Prof. Jean-Paul Deroin, President of the USTH Consortium; and Mr. Jean-Michel Caldagues and Ms. Barbara Dinh, representatives of the French business.
In his opening remarks, Prof. Dr. Chu Hoang Ha emphasized that the 12th Meeting of the USTH University Council was held in the context of Vietnam’s strong transformation, driven by major policies and strategic orientations, particularly resolutions directly related to the development of science and technology and higher education.
According to Prof. Dr. Chu Hoang Ha, Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW identifies science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation as key drivers of rapid and sustainable national development. Meanwhile, Resolution No. 71-NQ/TW reflects a strong policy shift in educational thinking, moving from “partial improvement” to “creating and leading national development”, thereby placing education at the center of national strategies. The synergy of these major Government orientations has opened up significant opportunities for higher education institutions in science and technology, such as USTH, to further promote their role in training high-quality human resources, conducting scientific research, fostering innovation, and advancing international integration.
Prof. Dr. Chu Hoang Ha also highlighted that in 2025, USTH achieved many remarkable results, further affirming its position as a flagship model of Vietnam–France cooperation in higher education and research. Building on more than 16 years of development, the University is now facing the need for stronger transformations in governance models, organizational structure, training strategies, and research capacity. Therefore, the matters discussed and voted on at this meeting were not only significant for the University’s annual operations but also represented strategic and pivotal decisions that will help USTH enhance its competitive advantages, strengthen its academic standing, and pursue sustainable development in the new period.
Speaking at the meeting, Mr. Manuel Bouard, Director responsible for higher education at the French Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and Space, expressed his pleasure at USTH’s strong development over the past years. He highly appreciated the University’s efforts to improve the quality of education and research, as well as to strengthen cooperation with French and international partners. He also reaffirmed the commitment of the French Government and the French Ministry of Higher Education, Research, and Space to continuing their support for USTH as a flagship cooperation project between the two countries.
On behalf of the Rector Board, Prof. Jean-Marc Lavest, Principal Rector, and Prof. Dr. Dinh Thi Mai Thanh, Rector, presented the University’s 2025 annual report, highlighting major achievements in education, research, and external relations.
In education and training, USTH successfully carried out admissions at all three levels: bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs. Undergraduate enrollment increased by 9.1%, while master’s and doctoral enrollment rose by 61.25% and 61%, respectively. The year 2025 also marked the first intake of USTH’s Master’s program in Applied Mathematics, bringing the total number of master’s programs offered by the University to seven. These results demonstrate USTH’s growing appeal to learners and reflect the University’s continuous efforts to improve quality and develop training programs aligned with emerging demands for high-quality human resources, serving Vietnam’s development in the new era.
Beyond the expansion of training scale, USTH has also continued to enhance and affirm the quality of its academic programs. In 2025, four additional engineering programs — Mechatronics Engineering Technology, Aeronautical Engineering, Automotive Engineering, and Electrical Engineering and Renewable Energy — were accredited by the High Council for Evaluation of Research and Higher Education of France (HCERES).
In scientific research, USTH lecturers and researchers published 183 high-quality international papers in SCI-E indexed journals, obtained two patents, and contributed to three outstanding publications recognized by the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology in 2025. These achievements not only reflect the growing research capacity of USTH’s academic staff but also demonstrate the effectiveness of strengthened collaboration within national and international research networks, the promotion of interdisciplinary strengths, and the sharing of scientific resources. They also provide clear evidence of the University’s consistent orientation toward closely connecting education with research, and linking fundamental research with applied research and innovation.
The University also successfully organized numerous international conferences, scientific workshops, and specialized academic courses, attracting the participation of experts and scientists from Vietnam and abroad, thereby contributing to the enhancement of USTH’s reputation and academic standing.
In external relations, USTH signed 56 cooperation agreements and memoranda of understanding with domestic and international partners in 2025, opening up new opportunities for academic exchange, research collaboration, internships, and professional development for staff, lecturers, and students. USTH has increasingly become an attractive destination for international students, with a growing number of students from French and European universities coming to the University for internships, research, and exchange programs.
The year 2025 also marked several important milestones in USTH’s development. The University had the honor of welcoming French President Emmanuel Macron, who visited USTH and delivered a speech to young Vietnamese intellectuals as part of his high-level visit to Vietnam. This event once again affirmed USTH’s important role in the bilateral cooperation between Vietnam and France. With its outstanding achievements in training and research, USTH was ranked among the Top 10 universities in Vietnam for the second consecutive year in the VNUR rankings announced in January 2026, placing 6th, one position higher than in 2025.
In addition, many collective and individual achievements of USTH were recognized at both national and international levels. Assoc. Prof. Dr. To Thi Mai Huong, Deputy Head of the Department of Research, Innovation and International Cooperation, was honored with the 2025 L’Oréal–UNESCO For Women in Science Award. USTH and Prof. Dr. Dinh Thi Mai Thanh were honored at the 11th National Patriotic Emulation Congress. Notably, Prof. Dr. Dinh Thi Mai Thanh, Rector of USTH, was awarded the Officer rank of the Order of Academic Palms by the French Government, in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the development of USTH and to the promotion of education and research cooperation between Vietnam and France.
With a serious and effective working spirit, the University Council discussed and approved a number of important matters related to the University’s development in the next phase.
Specifically, the University Council approved the proposal to submit to the President of the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology for consideration the appointment of a new Principal Rector for the 2026–2028 term, following the conclusion of Prof. Jean-Marc Lavest’s tenure on August 31, 2026.
The Council also endorsed the project to restructure USTH’s academic and administrative units, with the aim of building a new organizational structure suited to the University’s development needs. This includes the establishment of the Department of Medicine and Pharmacy, the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center, and the Division of Science Management and Supporting Subjects.
The University Council agreed on the proposal to open a new Master’s program in Chemistry, a Bachelor’s program in Artificial Intelligence, and to develop the training program in Nuclear Science and Technology to draw on the strengths of USTH’s French partners and the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, particularly in the application of nuclear energy in medicine, the environment, and agriculture.
In addition to organizational and academic matters, the University Council approved the establishment of the USTH Science and Technology Development Fund. The Fund is expected to create additional resources to promote research activities, innovation, the development of science and technology products, and support for research groups within the University.
The Council also approved a mechanism for jointly affiliated lecturers at USTH, aiming to attract and effectively mobilize highly qualified experts, scientists, and lecturers from research institutes and public non-business units in Vietnam. Once implemented, this mechanism will enhance the University’s training and research capacity, while further strengthening its connection with the research ecosystem of the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology.
The University Council also approved the proposal to adjust tuition fees for training programs, with an increase of no more than 6% compared with the previous academic year. This adjustment is based on careful consideration of changes in the consumer price index, operating costs, and the need to invest in improving the quality of education, scientific research, infrastructure, laboratories, and student support services. The increase has been calculated cautiously to ensure a balance between learners’ access to education and the University’s need to maintain and further develop an internationally accredited learning environment.
The 12th Meeting of the USTH University Council concluded successfully, laying an important foundation for the University to further promote its role as a symbol of the strong and enduring bilateral partnership between Vietnam and France, while making active contributions to the development of education, science, and technology in Vietnam.
This was also the final meeting of the University Council for the 2021–2026 term, marking the completion of a term that recorded many important achievements in university governance, training development, scientific research, and international cooperation. Building on the results achieved, the Vietnamese and French sides will continue to coordinate on the proposed members of the new University Council for the 2026–2031 term, which is expected to be established in November 2026, thereby continuing to guide and accompany USTH in its development in the years to come.
