New school year message from Principal Pham Quang Minh

1. First of all, on behalf of the school's leadership, please allow me to congratulate all the ladies, teachers and students on the occasion of the opening of the new school year, especially the more than 1,600 new students of the 61st course on the occasion of their first university opening ceremony. They have passed the challenging aptitude test and surpassed many other candidates to become new students of the most prestigious university in Vietnam, currently in the top 200 universities in Asia. Thank you for choosing this school as a place to study, practice and realize your dreams.

2. The old school year 2015-2016 has passed with many memorable achievements: The school was awarded the First Class Labor Medal for the second time on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of tradition (1945-2015) and the 20th anniversary of establishment (1995-2015); The Oriental Studies training program is the second training program after the Linguistics program of the school to receive the quality accreditation certificate of the ASEAN University Network (AUN); the school's staff published more than 50 international works, including 09 works in the top journals IS/SCOPUS. Prof. People's Teacher Phan Huy Le was awarded the Ho Chi Minh Prize; The school's students received many awards in international competitions and forums; a spirit of openness, friendliness, and service is spreading among the school's staff.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Quang Minh spoke at the opening ceremony this morning, September 17, 2016

3. The new school year has begun with many successes, but also many challenges: how to improve the quality of training, scientific research, the reputation and position of the School must continue to be enhanced and especially ensure that students have jobs after graduation? To do this, there is no other way, we must be more determined, united and enthusiastic for the students, for the teachers and for this school. The mission of the School is to pioneer, to lead, the vision is the pinnacle of quality and our motto is "Cherish the past, hold the future" (Honoring the Past, embracing the Future). If we do not know how to appreciate what we have, it is difficult to achieve what we want. Appreciate both success and failure, both what we have done and what we have not done. Appreciation does not mean worship. Those who do not know how to appreciate the past will pay the price. Those who know how to appreciate the past will have a good future. On the contrary, as the Dagestan writer Rasul Gamzatov (1923-2003) said: "If you shoot a pistol at the past, the future will shoot a cannon at you.” (If you fire at the past from a pistol, the future will shoot back from a cannon).

Principal Pham Quang Minh receives a congratulatory bouquet from 2016 university valedictorian Vu Quynh Trang (Faculty of Journalism and Communication)

4. The door to the future is wide open before you. It is a horizon for those who are passionate, committed and dedicated. in the context of the country's integration into the ASEAN community, TPP and free trade agreements. Of course, in that context, competition will be fiercer and quality must be higher. Can we hold the future? How should we prepare for the future? These are questions that require all of us to answer together. To do this, you must prepare physically, mentally and financially. Let's start preparing that luggage from today. The school is ready to help and accompany you.

5. Last June, when seeing the K57 students off, the teacher had this wish: "Good luck on your journey, all the best, USSH, always with you!". Today, on the first day of school for you, especially the new students of K61, I would like to wish you: "Happy opening ceremony, radiant success, USSH, is a common roof!"