This content is included in the concluding announcement of the meeting of the Central Steering Committee on Science, Technology Development, Innovation and Digital Transformation, held on September 30th.
Four institutions, including Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang University, and Hanoi University of Science and Technology, will receive significant investment from now until 2030. Specific goals include striving to be among the top 150 universities in Asia and having at least one field ranked among the top 100 globally according to reputable rankings.
Currently, according to QS – one of the two most popular and largest university rankings in the world – Hanoi National University and Ho Chi Minh City University are ranked 161st and 184th in Asia respectively, Hanoi University of Science and Technology is ranked 388th, and Da Nang University is in the 421-430 group. In terms of subject areas, no Vietnamese university has yet entered the top 100 globally.
Hanoi National University in Hoa Lac – a multi-functional, smart, modern, and sustainably developed integrated university city.
In addition, each university needs to create 50 innovative startups and science and technology enterprises annually.
During the period 2026-2030, each university will attract a minimum of $50 million in investment for scientific research, technology development, and innovation; and 10 successful startups will be valued at $200 million or more.
Universities must also ensure that at least 60% of their science, engineering, and technology programs are taught in English, prioritizing dual degree programs with universities in the top 200 worldwide. Simultaneously, 50% of the curriculum must include practical courses or experiential learning through projects and research, and internships at businesses are mandatory for students.
The four universities must have at least 30% postgraduate students, of which approximately 40% are doctoral candidates.
Finally, the proportion of budget allocated to research and technology transfer (including funding from innovation activities) in the revenue structure must reach at least 35%.
Some experts believe that universities will find it difficult to meet this criterion. Among the 13 universities with trillion-VND revenue, only the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City has a revenue from science and technology accounting for 27.6%, while the rest have 11% or less, and most are insignificant.
In the immediate future, for the 2026-2027 academic year, Hanoi National University, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, Hanoi University of Science and Technology, and Da Nang University of Technology should waive tuition fees for all doctoral students and provide scholarships to this group through a mechanism that pays salaries to teaching assistants and research assistants. As part of their training program, doctoral students must participate in exchange programs at leading research institutes and universities worldwide for at least 10 months.
Schools must also ensure adequate facilities for practical training and experiments. In addition, universities should establish mechanisms to allow lecturers to work for one year in laboratories, research and development centers of leading businesses or prestigious research institutes and universities worldwide after 5-7 years of service.
In November, the four universities need to have action plans in place to achieve their ranking goals, urgently proposing science and technology infrastructure investment projects, focusing on strategic technology sectors.
The Ministry of Education and Training, the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Public Security, state-owned enterprises, along with the cities of Hanoi, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City, all have the responsibility to promote the above objective, thereby fostering the tripartite cooperation model and the startup and innovation ecosystem.
VNExpress newspaper:Four universities are receiving significant investment to aim for a place in the top 150 in Asia.
