ANNUAL REPORT 2018 2018 EDITORIAL BOARD Chief: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Huynh Thanh Dat Member: Le Thi Anh Tram, MA. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Dinh Tu Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Tan Phat Mr. Nguyen Cong Mau Nguyen Van Ha, MA. Hoang Thi Hanh, MA. Tran Thi Thanh Hoa, MA. Doan Thi Minh Chau, BA. Presenter: Dang Duc Loi 4 . V N U - H C M : S Y N E R G Y P O W E R OVERVIEW Vision VNU-HCM aims to build a university system in the top of Asia, a university for the convergence of Vietnam's science, technology, culture and knowledge. Mission VNU-HCM is a home for talented lecturers and talented students where high quality human resources are trained, key scientific researchers are created; it is also one of the pioneers in important innovations and contributions to the national development, promoting the social progress. VNU-HCM is governed, operated and managed under the model of exemplary university system with a high autonomy mechanism and a high level of self-responsibility to society in combination with its self- controlling and building an environment for scientific creativity, academic freedom within an exemplary university district. Table of Contents 5. INTRODUCTION; 18. THE STRENGTH OF THE SYSTEM 91. TOWARDS THE FUTURE; 105. APPENDIXES A N N U A L R E P O R T 2 0 1 8 . 5 MESSAGE OF THE VNU-HCM CHANCELLOR Assoc. Prof. Dr. Huynh Thanh Dat In 2018, VNU-HCM was honored to be in the Top 701-750 universities in the world with 45 training programs officially accredited by AUN-QA Assessment, 13 training programs received education accreditation (ABET, CTI, FIBAA, ACBSP, AMBA, IACBE). The five member universities, including the leading scientists to boost scientific and University of Social Sciences and Humanities, technological activities, and got many promising University of Science, International University, results. VNU-HCM piloted the construction of an University of Economics and Law, and University excellent center - Center for Innovative Materials of Information Technology, have met the and Architectures (INOMAR), increasing 15% of accreditation standards of Vietnam's MOET. In the average growth of annual articles published particular, the University of Technology in SCI, SCIE prestigious international journals, simultaneously received two international including many high-impact articles. As of accreditations from HCÉRES and AUN-QA; and November 2018, VNU-HCM published nearly the International University was accredited by 2,000 papers and conference reports in all fields. AUN-QA Assessment at Program Level and had Particularly, the number of articles published in three training programs of the ABET accreditation. domestic and foreign journals was nearly 1,000, and over a half of which were published in 2018: A YEAR FULL OF HIGHLIGHTS international journals. In particular, two scientific In 2018, VNU-HCM provided the society journals in the field of stem cells, Progress in with nearly 10,000 graduates from fulltime Biology and Asian Journal of Health Sciences, programs, more than 600 engineers/bachelors were added to the Scopus database. Currently from honor programs, high quality programs, VNU-HCM has been completing the registration high quality engineer training programs (PFIEV), for two patents in the US (those by University of and advanced programs; more than 1,200 Masters Technology and the University of Sciences) and and 100 PhDs in most fields and professions, become one of the first three centers of intellectual contributing significantly to the national property and technology transfer in Vietnam. In industrialization and modernization and addition, VNU-HCM continued to innovate its international integration. With the mission of university governance capacity, merging units to becoming one of Asia's leading universities, VNU- streamline organizational structure (English HCM is well aware of its pioneering role in training, Testing Center to Center for Educational Testing scientific research, international integration, and and Quality Assessment, and French University gradually catching up to the advanced university Pole to International Training Institute). The education in the world. Every year, VNU-HCM appointment of leaders for the member selects a theme and mobilizes its resources to universities/institutes and affiliates was fulfilled, bring its key activities to a new height. In 2018, enhancing trust and stability throughout the with the theme of Science and Technology - system. The dynamism, creativity and pioneering Enhancing integration, VNU-HCM has gathered of VNU-HCM were shown through the 6 . V N U - H C M : S Y N E R G Y P O W E R organization of the achievement tests for that requires students, lecturers and university admission. A number of new disciplines administrators to actively equip themselves with were opened with coordination and cooperation knowledge and necessary skills, and be constantly among the member universities, exploiting and creative to adapt to the rapid changes of times. promoting the system's strength. VNU-HCM also The amended Higher Education Law passed by implemented new models to connect training the XIV National Assembly dated July 1, 2019, with scientific research and businesses. In 2018, with many changes in university governance and VNU-HCM continued to expand cooperation with autonomy, affirms that VNU is the university to prestigious universities in the world such as carry out national strategies and develop different Kyushu University (Japan), Tsinghua University regions of the country. In that context, to be (China), Deakin University (Australia), Auckland worthy of its role and responsibility, VNU-HCM University of Technology (New Zealand), Saint- need strategies to develop in the right direction, Petersburg University (Russia), National towards a modern education able to compete in University of Laos, as well as promoted the international environment. Therefore, VNU- cooperation with the University of California, Los HCM decided to choose the theme "University Angeles (USA), Hebrew University, Jerusalem Autonomy - Innovation and Creativity" for the (Israel), etc. These international cooperation year 2019 with the key missions: activities not only helped VNU-HCM to approach First, to renovate the operational structure of the world advanced education but also contributed some member universities, continue to improve to solving urgent national problems. VNU-HCM the VNU-HCM model, streamline the paid special attention to cooperating with the organizational structure, implement the computer locality and serving the community to meet the management, and improve the emulation and needs of local socio-economic development commendation system. through signing cooperation agreements with Secondly, to innovate training modes and the provinces and city such as Ho Chi Minh City, methods at VNU-HCM to meet the requirements Tay Ninh, Ben Tre, Quang Ngai to implement of the Industrial Revolution 4.0 and the digital many in-depth programs and projects. The year economy; systematically develop high quality 2018 was also one that marked significant training programs; promote assessment, milestones of VNU-HCM lecturers and scientists. verification, and assurance of training quality Many of them were awarded noble domestic and according to international standards; and international academic awards and titles. Some effectively improve its ranking in the region and lecturers were honored among the top 100 Asian the world. scientists, granted membership of French Third, to develop key scientific and Overseas Science Academy, and awarded the technological organizations and strong research Ta Quang Buu Award, Golden Globe Award for teams; investment in equipment to improve Science and Technology, or L'Oréal-UNESCO for research capacity; implementing interdisciplinary Women in Science, etc. These titles and awards and research projects for social service; and elevated VNU-HCM's position on the higher promote start-up innovation and pilot formation of education world map. With the successful spin-off businesses and start-ups. implementation of the theme of "Science and Fourth, to improve the efficiency of financial technology to enhance the integration", VNU- resources management, increase non-State HCM actively promoted its science and budget revenues; diversify basic construction technology activities, created new changes in capital sources; implement the use and utilization mechanisms, policies, and resources, laying a of common felicities; and speed up compensation solid foundation for its development in the coming for land clearance and resettlement. years. Fifth, to actively participate in potential regional and international cooperation networks; 2019: UNIVERSITY AUTONOMY - strengthen local cooperation, especially with the INNOVATION AND CREATIVITY two key regions: Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Globalization and internationalization have Delta. narrowed down the gaps in the world map of The year 2018 ended with a lot of encouraging higher education, promising new breakthroughs achievements in all fields; and the year 2019 is in higher education. In addition, the Industrial coming with strong aspirations and beliefs in a Revolution 4.0 along with the development of bright future. For the whole VNU-HCM system, digital, metadata, and information technology we need to work together to grasp opportunities will be the tools and means to make changes in and overcome challenges to successfully the university organization, management and complete our missions and duties. On the eve of governance. 2019 and the Tet holidays, I would like to wish all This is not only a great opportunity for the lecturers, officials, and employees in the Vietnamese higher education to approach an entire system of VNU-HCM good health, advanced higher education but also a challenge happiness and success. A N N U A L R E P O R T 2 0 1 8 . 7 8 . V N U - H C M : S Y N E R G Y P O W E R OVERVIEW A N N U A L R E P O R T 2 0 1 8 . 9 VNU-HCM BOARD OF REGENTS OF THE FOURTH ASSEMBLY ASSOC. PRO. DR. HUYNH THANH DAT, Chairman Assoc. Pro. Dr. Nguyen Hoang Tu Anh, Member; Assoc. Pro. Dr.