VNU 12+ Program: Early identification, attraction, training, and career guidance for high school students.

The VNU 12+ Talent Incubation Program at the high school level at Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU 12+) applies to students of high schools affiliated with VNU. According to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Bao Son - Vice Director of VNU, with the mission of training high-quality, highly skilled human resources, nurturing talents; contributing to building, developing and protecting the country; and serving as a pillar and leading force in the Vietnamese higher education system, VNU is pioneering the development of the VNU 12+ training program in Vietnam.

Associate Professor Pham Bao Son - Vice Director of VNU Hanoi, emphasized the goal of the VNU 12+ program in identifying, attracting, training, and providing early career guidance for high school students.

The 12+ training model has been implemented in many advanced countries around the world and has yielded significant results. Learning from and developing these achievements, Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU) has established a High School Talent Incubation Program with the goal of identifying, attracting, training, and providing early career guidance for high school students with potential, abilities, and talents within VNU. The program aims to select, advise on career paths, and facilitate early enrollment (pre-learning) of certain modules in university-level training programs that align with their chosen career paths.
Career counseling, guidance, and early learning for each student will be organized in a personalized training format with direct coaching from qualified and reputable lecturers of Vietnam National University, Hanoi. During the early learning process, students can participate in scientific research, practical work, and internships with their supervising lecturers or the research group of their supervising lecturers.
VNU 12+ facilitates students in shortening their university training time by providing career guidance and early opportunities for learning, scientific research, practical training, and internships. Students also have early access to international scholarship programs, increasing their chances of success in university.

The program is expected to attract talented students to study at the high school level at VNU; creating a source for training, nurturing, and developing a team of internationally qualified scientists for VNU in the future, especially scientists in the field of basic science.
In 2014, the Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU) issued a regulation allowing high school students with outstanding qualities and abilities to accumulate knowledge and register for early university studies, which sparked mixed opinions. However, after 10 years of implementation, with many successful cases of students accelerating their university studies, the regulation has initially proven correct, demonstrating VNU's foresight and alignment with global trends.
The University of Social Sciences and Humanities is a pioneer in implementing the VNU 12+ program.
Speaking at the Student Admissions and Career Guidance Day, Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Quang Lieu - Principal of the High School for Gifted Students in Social Sciences and Humanities, said that with the goals and advantages of the VNU 12+ program, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities has pioneered in guiding and advising students to register for university-level courses.
Over the two years of implementing the program, the number of registered students has steadily increased, and the results are very noteworthy. In the 2022-2023 academic year, the school had 11 students registered to study undergraduate programs at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities and other member universities of Vietnam National University, Hanoi. In the 2023-2024 academic year, this number increased to 20 registered students.

Le Hoai Nam, a history major student who registered early to accumulate credits for undergraduate programs in the 2022-2023 academic year and is currently a first-year student in the History Department at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, shared: “Thanks to registering early for the undergraduate program at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, I have learned many new things and gained a deeper understanding of the knowledge, which helps me to some extent meet the ever-changing demands of my major. I have learned how to think and work creatively while studying with senior students.”
Sharing their thoughts with their professors and supervising scientists, the students all agreed that accumulating credits at the university level helped them gain valuable experience in university studies, such as self-study and teamwork with senior students. They also gained a better understanding of their chosen field of study; accumulated knowledge and many credits applicable to high school classes; shortened their university studies; and, most importantly, had the opportunity to interact with and learn from leading lecturers and scientists. They believe this is the greatest advantage of being a high school student at Vietnam National University, Hanoi, a benefit not found in any other educational institution (opinions from Tran Hung, 11th grade History major; Dinh Pham Huong Giang, 11th grade Literature major; and Bui Nguyen Minh Thuan, 11th grade Advanced Program).
Besides certain benefits, accelerated learning also puts considerable pressure on students, so careful consideration is necessary before registering for it. Students like Dinh Thi Thu Thao and Bach Gia Linh, both in 11th grade specializing in History; and Dinh Pham Huong Giang and Do Ngoc Diep, both in 11th grade specializing in Literature, shared their thoughts: when registering for accelerated courses, students need to ensure their academic ability is stable to a good level to balance the courses they register for. Otherwise, their cumulative GPA will not be high, and once they choose to accelerate, students must balance their studies with other activities in life to avoid being overwhelmed and neglecting their main studies at high school.

Regarding course registration timelines, students who have accumulated credits over the past two years agree that for social sciences and humanities majors, in 10th grade, students should assess their own academic abilities and determine if they are suitable to start accelerated learning. After determining their capabilities, they should then research the curriculum, basic courses offered by universities, and foundational and specialized courses to schedule their studies in subsequent semesters accordingly. In 11th grade, students should begin registering for one or two basic courses or foundational courses, and their first-semester results will be the best answer to whether they should continue with accelerated learning. If they can take one or two more courses and still achieve good results, then they can continue. At this point, students should consider their own abilities and learning methods at the university level; if they encounter difficulties, they should seek advice from experts or their supervisors.
With the current achievements demonstrating the pioneering nature of accelerated/early learning, Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU) has issued the very correct VNU 12+ regulation allowing high school students of VNU to accelerate their studies. This accelerated learning regulation is a strategic initiative that needs to be promoted and expanded in the future, aiming to develop the outstanding and exceptional abilities of students, and to nurture and develop talent for the country.